Asian Ancestry & Your Career | Asian American Poll

ASIAN ANCESTRY & YOUR CAREER
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:23:09 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

What's the most important way in which your Asian ancestry hurt your career?
I wasn't considered for some assignments and/or promotions. | 32%
I was excluded from opportunities to socialize. | 35%
I was burdened with more work demands than my colleagues. | 12%
I was subtly put down for being different. | 16%
I was singled out for sexual harassment. | 5%

What's the most important way in which your Asian ancestry helped your career?
My linguistic/cultural skills were key to my success. | 2%
My ancestry caused me to focus on fields that later proved highly lucrative. | 1%
It filled me with the drive and determination to succeed. | 97%

What's the most important way in which your Asian ancestry influenced your career choice?
My career choice was motivated by the desire to defy stereotypes. | 46%
I chose a field that would best utilize my cultural skills. | 3%
I chose the field dictated by my family. | 0%
My ancestry didn't influence my career choice. | 51%

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WHAT YOU SAY

[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]

To answer the following question:
"Do Asians in America really fight for equality in the workplace?"

You bet we do. I just quit my alright paying job and told my boss to "take this job and shoved up your arse". In normal circumstances, I wouldn't even think of saying that to my boss or let alone quit a job without leaving two weeks notice but I figure if I didn't set an example to him; he's gonna treat other asian americans the same. By the way, my boss is caucasian. I've been working for that guy for five years and all I hear from him is how asians are quiet and don't have the potential to become management material because of that trait. I sure show him when that incident occured. He was flustered with red all over his face and was speechless when I warned him that I might consider filing a lawsuit for his open criticism of Asian Americans. The reason why it took me so long to muster the courage to say that to him was not because I was afraid but because he didn't openly express his views to me until this past year. Another reason why i did this is that I am an American and that's what Americans do. We fight for what we believe in.
asian machoman Friday, April 19, 2002 at 15:11:55 (PDT)

[This post was moved from the TV Forum. --Ed]

Asian-American History Educated -
what are you talking about? why is this different than Hispanic or Black women? I am not disagreeing, just trying to follow the thread.
can't see the start of this conversation Sunday, April 14, 2002 at 17:39:12 (PDT)

To Jan(AF)

Heed some of the insight I have to offer. Let's see, how does being of Asian ancestry, being an AA woman, and sexual harassment relate?

AA women are preyed upon, systematically by WM--this has been done for hundreds of years--a proven historical fact. It is an ongoing plight of those of Asian ancestry, to say the least, to maintain their identity, to remain Asian, especially for AA women.

It has little to do with race; it is about identity. Look into Asian American history, and you will understand the relation, and how this definitively differs from the situation of Hispanic women, Black women, and etc.

Asian-American History Educated Saturday, April 13, 2002 at 02:58:58 (PDT)

"Corporate America said the same thing to me during the review period. "Not having the opportunity to demostrate mangerial skill may need to extend promotion period to manger for another year." When I got that review I had success implemented a Y2K change with a team of 20 consultants under me. Unknown to the company I was working for I was working on my own start up in the manufacturing market for 3 years already. Had offices in Asia in the and USA and was managing my own employees on the side. I was also privy to promotion review session of people who I was supervising. Although I was not able to attend the promotion review session for myself, I have a pretty good idea the people who nixed me and what they said. It is mostly a perception issue, and not grounded in reality. I left the firm at the 3.5 year mark and devoted my energy to my company. Which has steadily expanded to the "mid-size" level within 2 years, with offices in 3 countries.

I guess I should thank the people who nixed me, because I motiviated me to try an untested idea of mine on a full time basis. But I know not every asian who is squeezed out of an up-or-out-fast-track corporate culture company will be a fortunate as myself, especially in today's overall market. So I just wanted to see if other asian had the same problem of locating mentors above them, while mentoring people below them"

-ok AC Dropout,

here's a question for you:

I am not sure if I should suggest someone from my company for an openging in my dept as I am not sure of what they would be like to work with. Generally, I think they are nice enough, and they are a FOB who is in a dept where they are not quite getting along. I am in a similar situation myself, I feel as if I am on the receiving end of some veiled hostility. Should I suggest this other person or not?

I am not exactly in a secure position, so my suggesting them at all may not be a good thing for either them or me. But I would feel that I should suggest it because if I do not, I would be not helping someone that I like.

what do you think?
woe Saturday, April 06, 2002 at 16:09:16 (PST)

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