One of the most pervasive myths about people of Asian descent in America hails them as a “model minority” — meaning they don’t have the same struggles that other racial minorities face. If you learn one thing today — which is Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Equal Pay Day — please know that the “model minority” stereotype is complete and utter bullshit.
That’s why organizations and activists are using March 7 to both mark how long it takes for an Asian-American woman to make the same amount of money for the same work as a white American male and highlight the limitations of grouping all Asian-Americans together for such a complex issue. As this piece in The Establishment notes:
The AAPI community is not monolithic — it includes over 50 different ethnic and racial groups. Economic hardship and gender discrimination impacts our communities in complex ways — and it’s about time that we start talking about it.
Check out this infographic that really breaks it down.
At first glance, having the “model minority” stereotype might seem helpful. Unfortunately, it can do more harm than good.
The “model minority myth” paints all AAPI people as wealthy, healthy, and educated. While there are many problems with this narrative (including that it pits Asian Americans against their own communities and other communities of color) — one particular issue is that it paints an incomplete narrative of the Asian community and frames it as the only narrative.
...The myths about AAPI women make it challenging for members of our community to speak openly about the value of their work and the financial struggles they may face.
Watch a video on #AAPIEqualPay by the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum below:
