At times, even stereotypes that look like praise on the outside can unknowingly alter the way people see and understand us, and even the way we see ourselves. 

I remember sitting in one of my math classes near the end of one year, staring down at a test I’d been working towards for months. I had been looking forward to a moment like that. A moment of quiet satisfaction, knowing hard work had gotten me somewhere and had finally meant something. 

Afterwards, the comments floating around would often carry the same message: of course I did well, because I was Asian and by extension “supposed” to excel in academics. 

Or on different days, with a different outcome, the assumption flipped: if I was Asian, why didn’t I do well?

At first, you don’t even realize it. After all, shouldn’t getting to be called a genius and complimented all the time feel good? These comments and assumptions all cumulate into one core issue: the model minority myth. 

The model minority myth is the stereotype that minority groups, specifically Asian Americans, are universally smarter, experience more financial success, are more naturally talented than other groups, especially in subject areas like math and science. Although appearing positive on the outside, the stereotype can cause immense harm and take negative tolls on everyday life. Whether at school, work or anywhere else, the model minority stereotype causes significant negative impacts in many ways. 

At its foundation, the model minority stereotype completely erases individuality. Simply putting a group together and seeing them as all the same entirely ignores the individuals’ uniqueness. In a school setting, this erasure of individuality among Asian students also negatively impacts learning and diversity. Not every Asian student is “naturally good” at academics, nor do they always achieve perfect grades. In fact, the model minority myth that Asian students are “naturally good” at every academic endeavor often undermines the hard work someone may put into their success. Not all Asian students have the same backgrounds, resources or support systems, causing differences that often go unnoticed and unsupported under the model minority myth. 

Let’s normalize that Asian students may be far from academically perfect. Let’s acknowledge that if an Asian student does achieve a 100 percent, it’s because of the individual’s work, not because of their race. Outside of grades and school, the model minority stereotype also fails to recognize individuals who possess different interests than the stereotype contains, such as having non-STEM related passions. For example, according to The Reynolds Center, Asian Americans have reported higher rates of feeling unsupported in their workplace, highlighting how the stereotype that all Asian Americans are overwhelmingly STEM oriented can create harmful effects. Ultimately, whether it is about academics, careers or financial stability, the model minority myth completely fails to recognize individuality and the different experiences of individuals. 

The model minority stereotype also puts immense pressure on individuals, which can also lead to harmful tolls on mental health. The pressure to perform perfectly prevents students from seeking needed support and help, leading to a large amount of mental weight for students to carry alone. According to The Annie E. Casey Foundation, many Asian American students constantly feel anxious from not living up to expectations of the model minority myth. Specifically, the standards and expectations under the stereotype can also cause many Asian students to fear to seek help or even discuss mental health struggles. 

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, many Asian Americans avoid sharing information about struggles due to cultural stigmas and standards under the model minority myth that Asian Americans must always be successful and never express any weaknesses or struggles.

This self-silencing can have catastrophic consequences. As reported by The Asian American Foundation, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies suicide to be the primary cause of death among Asian American youth aged 15-24 in the US. A commonly shared cause stems from pressure students put on themselves and the feeling of the need to conform to and achieve up to one’s ethnic group combined with fear of asking for help. At a minimum, failure to meet such standards can also lead students to experience so-called “Asian shame,” negatively affecting wellbeing as a whole.

Moreover, the lingering idea that comes behind the model minority myth also divides individuals and groups. According to the Rice University Wiess School of Natural Sciences, the false idea that Asian Americans are always and should be more successful than other minority groups hides the successes and work of other groups and ruins a sense of unity, ultimately driving a wedge between racial groups. 

I do not get 100s on every single math test, 100s on every science test or 100s on every history or English essay I wrote. In fact, there have been times where I’ve even struggled to earn Bs on assessments, far from the standards of the model minority myth. Let’s normalize that Asian students may be far from academically perfect. Let’s acknowledge that if an Asian student does achieve a 100 percent, it’s because of the individual’s work, not because of their race.

Our community both inside and outside of school is diverse, and this diversity should be recognized and celebrated, rather than simplified into harmful stereotypes. A crucial step to making members of our community feel much more connected is understanding and addressing the model minority myth. Rather than falling into assumptions, we, as a community should ungroup individuals and consider each person individually. Let’s move beyond labels and live in a community where everyone’s story is separate and valued equally.