Thursday, April 2, 1998

Asian-American stereotypes discussed

By KHYBER OSER
Collegian Staff Writer

Terrell Jones peered at the audience, making eye contact with everyone in the Simmons Piano Lounge.

"As I look around the room, I can't see who is Catholic. I can't see who is majoring in engineering," Jones said. "I can see who's a woman. I can see who's a person of color. The easier it is to identify someone, the easier it is to stereotype that person."

Terrell Jones, associate vice provost for educational equity, speaks at a program held by the Asian-American Student Coalition. The program discussed the issues of Asian-American stereotypes. (Collegian Photo/Tania Jacobsen - click for full size image)

Stereotypes was the hot topic of discussion last night at "No Dogs and Chinese Allowed: Stereotyping the Asian American Community," the first event of Asian American Awareness Month. Sponsored by the Asian American Student Coalition, about 20 people attended the informal lecture and discussion led by Jones, associate vice provost for educational equity, and Sam Richards, lecturer of sociology.

Discrimination against Asian Americans is often overlooked, Richards said.

"Making jokes and stereotyping Asian Americans is still not viewed as bad by many, if not most, people," he said.

During the discussion section, Sunita Thakkar (junior-psychology) said sometimes she feels like an outsider because of how people perceive her as an Asian American.

"I'm an American citizen," she said. "Why is it that I'm always seen as being foreign?"

Jessica Lee, AASC co-director of membership, said she saw a newspaper article headline after the Olympics that read "American Beats Kwan," referring to an ice-skating competition in which American skater Tara Lipinski defeated her teammate Michelle Kwan.

Lee (junior-psychology) said she was insulted because the headline implied that Kwan was not American. Yet at other times, Lee said, Caucasian Americans embrace Asian Americans as representative of American success.

"Caucasian Americans seem to label Asian Americans as the model minority and say 'Look at them. They're a minority and they're doing well,' " Lee said. "It divides us from the rest of the minority groups."

Other subjects discussed at the program were the causes and sources of stereotypes in general. Cindy del Rosario, president of AASC, said people must combat stereotypes even though it may seem hopeless.

"I think the key is to speak up and correct people," said del Rosario (junior-journalism). "But sometimes I do that and I still feel like it's never going to change."