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GOLDSEA |
ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
ASIAN AMERICAN CHARACTER & PERSONALITY TRAITS
o generalization does justice to the infinite variety of character types among Asian Americans. There is simply no way to distinguish us from any other American ethnic group. Really? Please move on to another page.
Let's start by acknowledging at least that in fact generalizations do exist about traits thought to be prevalent among Asian Americans.
Some are the goofy kind based entirely on media stereotypes -- passive, nerdy, diligent, sneaky, etc. Others are conclusions formed by us Asian Americans based on years of experience and observation. Who better to evaluate our traits against those of our fellow Americans? Most of us live and work side by side on a daily basis with the broadest possible spectrum of humanity. Unlike Asians across the ocean, our opinions of Whites, Blacks and Hispanics aren't based on those annoying Hollywood stereotypes. And unlike Hollywood scriptwriters, we don't see our fellow Asian Americans through the distortion of vulgar commercial motives.
So what do we know about ourselves?
We are more sensitive. We are boorish. We have more integrity. We betray one another. We are more intelligent. We are superficial. We are aggressive. We avoid confrontation. We don't yak as much. We gossip too much. We have more respect for traditional values. We only pay lip service to traditional values. We value education and cultural attainments. We only care about making money.
Who among us doesn't indulge in generalizations? Some are frivolous, some are based on insights gained from long years of experience and observation. Most remain locked up in the privacy of our own minds.
How do we Asian Americans stack up in the character and personality departments compared with our fellow Americans? Share those nuggets of wisdom and perceptive powers. What better way to improve ourselves than to start by understanding ourselves?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:53:34 PM)
typical azn female makes some good points, but one comment of hers that was very disturbing was her distinction between "americans and asians". I hear the same distinction used by ignorant people (ie. jay the hapa)who only consider black and white people to be american.
wonderer
Monday, July 01, 2002 at 22:15:07 (PDT)
Dear Wonderer, the Captain, and Typical Azn female,
These studies have been researched by world reknowned doctors in the world and found the same conclusions. It also depends on the environment, but regardless of all of that most of these, in a large proportion are true.
If you have any questions, ask a Psychologist or pertain to a Psychology book. Thanks for your interest in the subject.
Hey, this is cool! I actually like communicating with people with different says.
Ray
Monday, July 01, 2002 at 18:10:02 (PDT)
Glad to be an American, but will always look Asian
Don't forget that your hardware is Asian, even if your OS is American.
It's like running Windows OS on the PC -trying to emulate the Apple PC. When and if you go for changing (I don't mean in a permenant way necessarily) your OS to Asian (Korean in your case), you'll find it to be an experience that you can't get by using your American OS when interfacing with the Koreans.
Hardware beats software.
NYhomeboy
Monday, July 01, 2002 at 15:13:36 (PDT)
I definitely don't like
those asians who shy away from asians.
Don't hate!!!
Some people have their preferences.
They like to hang out with just whites, blacks, hispanics, or whatever.
It seems to me that it really depends on what types of females you are attracted to. If you just like asian girls, you probably wouldn't have a problem acting more "asian" (reserved, looking down on the floor innocently). If you like white girls, you'll probably work more on being aggressive, outgoing, and act like your white counterparts.
Whatever your preference may be, don't hate. I consider myself a "FOB" (fine oriental being) I have friends of all color. I'm not out spoken, but very confident and not shy. I am attracted to predominantly white girls, but I don't shun my asian friends or people of other color. I don't mind talking to my asian sisters at all.
Let's just all get along.
RycherX
tate007@yahoo.com
Monday, July 01, 2002 at 13:52:36 (PDT)
Glad to be an American and not just Asian:
Um, yea, you can blame it on your being "Asian" for having BAD SOCIAL SKILLS.
I know that some AM are very reserved and shy, hence the stereotypes that ALL AMs are reserved and shy. But, contrary to popular belief, lo and behold! there do exist AMs that have GREAT social skills and can talk and chat w/ Americans and Asians.
Hey, my AM can talk the shit outta most of my WF friends on the phone. Ever thought about that?
And to Ray:
"Studies show that Asians tend to be shy when spoken to, looking down on the floor innocently; Whites tend to stand or sit upright, acknowledging their presence, perhaps their authority; Blacks tend to more freely exercise emphasizing their points through a loudness and no pardon me the interruption attitude."
Yea, there definitely ARE exceptions to those stereotypes you mentioned there! Hey, come to the midwest and smell the green tea AND the coffee! I know for a fact that most of my other Asian friends aren't shy, in fact they won't be shy.
And some of my white classmates, they don't even like acknowledging their own presence, nonetheless someone elses, so they'll slouch over like a sloth.
Besides which, some of my African American friends can be extremely shy, painfully shy around other people, including other African Americans.
typical azn female
Sunday, June 30, 2002 at 15:15:30 (PDT)
Ray,
What "studies" are you talking about? ie. who conducted them, what population?
wonderer
Friday, June 28, 2002 at 22:10:50 (PDT)
Dudes, the culture is different. It is obviously not innate, you yourself are an example.
Of course, glad didn't explicity state that it was an asian prob.
To truly understand, you'll have to give yourself to imagining their circumstance. Obviously this will take some research and patience.
Wall flower. Pssh. Just be lucky they don't see you as a fruit or something =p (my own imagining, don't take it as their view)
the Captain
Friday, June 28, 2002 at 13:28:32 (PDT)
In a Psychologist's point of view, every person responds to a situation differently, including Whites, Asians, and Blacks. Studies show that Asians tend to be shy when spoken to, looking down on the floor innocently; Whites tend to stand or sit upright, acknowledging their presence, perhaps their authority; Blacks tend to more freely exercise emphasizing their points through a loudness and no pardon me the interruption attitude. But there are exceptions to these like all typical stereotypes. To fully understand this, look at World History on how each race was raced upon on their struggles and success. I'm not a Psychologist, but I have studied it in College for my film degree. It's amazing what one could learn in College, ain't it? As for those struggling choosing on what to call themselves whether it's Asian-American of just plain Asian, it's your decision, but as along as have a U.S. citizeship, it is fair to call yourselves Asian-Americans, being part of a country of many opportunities and love for its citizens politically. If you think about it politically, America has always stood up for the rights of every citizen whether they are a Asian, White or Black. Individually is where America has a bit of a problem because everywhere you turn in the world there will always be a form prejudism in race, creed, eye color, hair color, homosexuality and etc. You know what I mean. Every kind of person has its forms of evil.
Ray
Friday, June 28, 2002 at 07:33:52 (PDT)
wants to know, Glad to be an American and just not Asian:
Congratulations, you've just discovered the existance of different cultures and the fact that you're don't fit with them socially. You can chalk it up as the culture's problem if it makes you feel better, calling them wallflowers or whatnot. But in general if you go to a gathering where the majority present are from one culture, it's polite to adapt to their norms rather than make them adapt to yours. In such a situation, people are expecting to be judged by their own culture's standards, not someone else's.
T.H. Lien
Thursday, June 27, 2002 at 14:21:49 (PDT)
Glad to be an American:
Sounds like you are just too social and outgoing for those wallflowers! Good for you, and too bad for them, it's their loss.
wants to know
Thursday, June 27, 2002 at 11:27:38 (PDT)
Glad to be an American and not just Asian,
Let me get this straight. There are hundreds of thousands of Koreans that hang out together at Korean clubs and churches and so on. You want all of them to change their attitude so that you'll hang out with them.
Get real. Maybe you should contemplate why you are considered an outsider by these groups instead.
AC Dropout
Thursday, June 27, 2002 at 10:14:59 (PDT)
Glad to be an American and not just Asian,
You call yourself Asian? You might as well be white!! Do yourself a favor and put chalk all over yourself. I won't call you a "sellout" because you are white to begin with.
Glad to be an American, but will always look Asian
Wednesday, June 26, 2002 at 20:32:49 (PDT)
This issue again? Well it is a very personal issue for a lot of people. Some cases it could be that the person is shy a trait attributable to any race. Other cases the race issue rears its ugly head. They are so many problems in a world that is not color blind. For people new to the US they are often in for a shock when they come to the US, since they often come with rose colored glasses, believeing in the ideal that the US is the most welcoming place in the world where all men are created equal. They're oblivious to the fact that anything that makes you different makes you a target of hate or ignorance. You know I've never been to another country, are people just as intolerant of difference in other countries? Whoops forgot France. Anyway intolerance is such a insidious thing. How can you accept that you're treated differently because of your skin color? Can you change your skin color? Whoever has never experiencd discrimination is blessed, but should not be ignorant of its existance and its evil. Check out this link I found http://admin.santafe.cc.fl.us/~acres/ESL/essays/tackle.html You can feel the pain these people experienced and how in some cases it affected the way they behaved for the worst.
If you're still not convinced of the negative impact of descrimination, then I guess the Rodney King riots never happened. I strive to eliminate my own stereotypes, trying to greet any new friend with an open heart and mind. That's the true Christian way.
brother in christ
Wednesday, June 26, 2002 at 13:49:21 (PDT)
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