Gene-ius?

I am an Indian - Asian girl with a certain disinclination for mathematics. Ever heard of one? Perhaps Mathematics never spoke to me in the same way Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet did, or appealed to me in the same way that Homer’s Iliad made me question the morals of all our beloved Gods and Goddesses. By the age of thirteen, it became clear to me that my career would lie in the realm of the humanities. Mathematics has ensured that there have been many sleepless nights and tear stained pages. Part of the reason why I continue to do well there is seldom attributed to my own hard work but always to my ethnicity. “You’re Asian, naturally you will do well in Math”.

How utterly dehumanizing.

This kind of stereotyping calls into question the Model Minority theory. A belief system where cultural expectations placed on Asians as individuals require them to be:

● Intrinsically intelligent

● Naturally STEM inclined

● Docile, submissive, obedient and uncomplaining.

So what could be so horrific about being seen as any one of these points? How could the Model Minority Theory do more harm than good?

It must first be addressed that this stereotype stems from an important cultural aspect within Asia where emphasis is placed on hard work and perspiration. Diligence is thoroughly integrated into Asian culture and the notion that hard work reaps reward is perpetuated through generations. The first issue of the Model Minority Theory presenting Asians as “intrinsically intelligent” is the fact that it creates an environment where Asians are consistently held to unrealistic standards. They are societally not “allowed” to receive a grade lower than an A and are seldom given a pass for receiving an abnormal, underwhelming grade amongst their peers. In other words, the academic performance of an Asian must be nothing short of “perfection” or they face beration from peers and parents, and a lack of support from teachers.

Further, the notion of innate intelligence undermines the hard work and effort made by millions of Asians in order to reach success. This is also reflected in college admissions. Time and time again, achievements deemed “impressive” from students of other ethnic backgrounds are deemed “regular” for an Asian student and exceptional grades from other high schoolers are deemed “expected” from those who are Asian. So what is the message that the world is putting out for all Asian students worldwide? Hard work will be rewarded, except for Asians, because our intellect is all inherent. This is wholly disheartening.

My second, and main issue with the Model Minority Theory is that it refuses to account for students like me whose talents and passions lie elsewhere - in the humanities. The Model Minority theory serves to undermine and objectify Asians as natural calculating machines (as their intelligence is solely attributed to strength in STEM). They are seen as capable of achieving tasks or solving mathematical problems at a speed and scale that “normal” people cannot recreate. In my mind, this is simply dressing up stereotyping as a compliment. We all know that calculators are capable of only procedural tasks, not creativity. This simply perpetuates the idea that Asians are boring and incapable of generating insightful, philosophical, and creative thought. How dismissive is this to Asian students, who like me wish to specialise in this field?

Due to the Model Minority Myth, my inability to possess a natural talent for mathematics was attributed to a deficiency and a lack of effort on my part and I lived for years feeling ashamed and at times abnormal. The fervid pressure to conform to the ideal STEM excelling pupil is so intense that it comes as no surprise that Asians have the highest rates of suicide in university. In fact Asian-American college students are 1.6 times more likely than all others to make a serious suicide attempt and they are 3 times less likely to seek out professional therapy or counseling. Many of us experience this clash between STEM and the arts in the household - i.e. constantly being shunned for not pursuing a career in STEM and being called “useless” or “untalented” for wanting a career in the arts. The mental health toll is unfathomable to an unkeen observer. Seen through the eyes of someone who has lived and breathed the criticism for deviating from the traditional Asian norm, especially in school by my own instructors, feeling unworthy is the most excruciating torture.

So, if I leave you with anything, let it be the following: The Model Minority Theory is not a compliment. It is a detrimental stereotype that serves to undermine the success and ambitions of Asians. I would like to encourage every Asian student who knows in their heart that their talents and dreams do not lie in the field of STEM, to pursue the humanities and the arts. The time is now to break the conventional stereotype and to not be afraid of public disapproval. Doing precisely this has worked extremely well for the likes of Night Shyamalan, Awkafina, Frieda Pinto and Lucy Liu. It could for you too! Intelligence is not exclusive to shining in STEM and as Albert Einstein himself so eloquently put it “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”