Challenges of Asian American Teens | Asian American Poll

CHALLENGES OF ASIAN AMERICAN TEENS
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:07:47 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

What is the biggest problem faced by Asian American teens?
Pressure from parents to excel academically | 79%
Identity conflicts related to growing up a minority | 19%
Problems related to dating & sex | 2%
Gang influence, pressure & violence | 0%

What of these is the most common mistake made by Asian parents?
Not spending enough time with their kids | 18%
Pushing kids too hard for good grades | 34%
Being too strict in controlling kids' behavior | 45%
Neglecting the kids' social or cultural development | 3%

What factor contributes most to helping Asian teens grow up to be productive, well-adjusted adults?
Stable home environment | 93%
Cultural bias favoring academic success | 3%
Advantages provided by above-average affluence | 4%

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WHAT YOU SAY

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

A Curious WF who loves Asian culture/men,

I think most people appreciate it. I just find it only annoying when I start a conversation in perfect college educated English and the White person insist on speaking fourth grade Chinese.

I was 17 and working at a burger joint the first time it happened. Being a rude teenage told him to "F*** off, and by the way your wife has a great A**" in Chinese.

My personal feeling is if the individual is predominintly an Asian language speaker, they will appreciated it. However, if they have learned English or if English is the predominent language, then speak the Asian language to them might cause a loss of face. Because they might get the impression that their English is not good enough. Or if the AA are native English speaker it might be annoying because it is easier to have a conversation in English.
AC dropout Friday, November 30, 2001 at 13:07:00 (PST)

T.H. Lien,

I don't know which Chinese school you are going to. But most private ones are of course going to be lacking. They are mostly baby sitting services for kids on the weekend.

In the city of New York there is a famous Cantonese school which will grant high school credit. It is very strict and a couple of my friends flunked out.

Most schools in the city teach mandarin these days. Its considered more useful. Like Traditional Characters, Cantonese is only useful in the oversea population now. There are so many mandarin speakers immigrating now, the other dialects will only be useful in certain immigrant pockets or provinces in China.

As for including the basics. The other dialects don't have basics. Mandarin has two romanized systems. The one from China and Taiwan. HK had some crazy romanization for Cantonese when the English were there. But I don't believe any of the other dialects have a popular romanization to begin with.

Learning a new language is hard. Learning Chinese in the States is weird. If they offer it in high school and college where you attend, you will begin to notice a lot of native speakers. They are there for the easy grade or genuinely interested in increasing their literacy skills. Yes that means a lot of disadvantage for non native speakers. But if you are not there to become a professional translator, the grade will not matter.

As for the mixed asian point. I don't expect them to proactive about their asian roots. As long as a majority of them don't become crimial and are positive contributors to society. They will be passive beacons of Asian Heritage in America. Which I hope will have a positive influence on non-asian in the States about asians.

I just don't understand how some people can be so against inter-racial dating and marriage. Some AA because of the environment they were brought up in are no longer suitable for long term child bearing relationship with other Asians. Why should they be forced into relationship that will be bound to fail.
AC dropout Friday, November 30, 2001 at 11:09:32 (PST)

This is some what off the subject, but I'm just wondering - How do most AA feel about non-Asians learning to speak Asian languages or studying Asian culture and history? I have heard that some feel that non-Asians are "intruding" by doing so but hopefully this is not a majority opinion!
A Curious WF who loves Asian culture/men Ditzygirl2312@aol.com Thursday, November 29, 2001 at 14:15:34 (PST)

AC Dropout:

Teaching style is of course part of Chinese culture to which we ABCs have to acclimate. However, as I know from my experience, it is far easier to assimilate to a culture when one has a firm grasp of the langauge, rather than trying to understand a culture without knowing the language in which its members conduct their daily lives. Until a learner knows the target language, a lot of the acculturation can wait, and the teaching style should be whichever inspires the students to study hard, and to make the effort to interact with others in their generation using Chinese language, something that is blatantly lacking in Chinese schools.

Further, the trouble with many Chinese schools, and in fact a lot of Chinese language education in the States, is that they fail to inculcate even the basics. Only the students who go in already speaking come out continuing to speak, and those who don't haven't got the opportunity to learn, nor any inspiration from the teachers, because the wide range of abilities in the class is so discouraging I am the only Hakka from my Chinese-school class (taught in Cantonese) who now actually speaks Cantonese. The others gave up on the whole thought of even learning the language after sitting in a classroom where they did not understand the simple directions and being unfavorably compared to those who did (because they spoke Cantonese at home!) by the teacher. (The fact she told us Hakka is a variant of Cantonese spoken by uneducated people didn't help either).

Finally, mixed-race Asians are not around to help Asian-Americans gain acceptance by acting as a "bridge between two cultures" or whatever other nonsense people like to put out. Biculturalism is not an automatic consequence of being mixed-race - most mixed-race Asians would prefer not to be in that "in-between" position and assimilate more heavily to one side or the other as a result. We have enough burdens without that additional one that should be the responsibility of Asian-Americans in general.
T.H. Lien Thursday, November 29, 2001 at 13:03:13 (PST)

But Jade Chow,

That is correct, I think there are a few people who think like you do. But there are also many Asian females who date outside their race, because they hate being around Asian people. They think that spending time with Asian people is a waste of their time. They also know that they can further their careers and their social status by being with a white or black male. This is not always the case, but this point must be made.

I know a several girls who date, regardless of race, or so they say, But when an Asian male friend will begin to date a white or black female, the complaints will come out. I think it can work both ways.

But as an Asian male, I'm gonna tell it like it is. Most Asian males do not feel that they have to date outside their race to legitimize themselves. In many cases they just don't want to. They feel, like I do, that love is all inclusive of family, friends, culture and even your skin color. It just feels like you are keeping the culture without having to assimilate. I mean of course, there are times when we will meet a girl outside our race. But it's kind of funny how Asian women make race such a big deal. As much as the guys who make complaints about Asian women being with white guys, but the problem is basically that Asian girls lose a lot of their culture when they assimilate, in many cases.

Of course all that I am saying is from my experience and from many "white washed" Asian girls who just won't stop talking about race. You know the ones that purposely hug the white or black guy even closer when I walk by. I've seen that happen way too many times. Maybe to make me jealous and angry. Something that a lot of women are capable of doing. But I ain't mad, just do your thing. Because a lot of things are gonna change in this century. Powers will switch from the West to the East and the same problem will befall those who are not of Asian descent. And race will always be an issue when it comes down to it.
musa eroskv@asianavenue.com Wednesday, November 28, 2001 at 18:19:59 (PST)

T.H. Lien,

Chinese schools is only the basic of learning Chinese. Of course you will need to interact with people in your generation for full use of the language. Practicing the phrases "I'm hungry," "I'm tired," "Yes I finish my homework" will get you only so far.

Yes, reading chinese translated manga, singing KTV (karaoke), watching movies and watching soap opera will help. But the true test I tell my friends is to try to pick up a guy or girl in Chinese.

What's a point in learning a language if you're not going to use it to promote love and romance. ^_^

For all those against inter-racial dating and marriages. I have only one thing to say. If you are truly interested in seeing Asian in the mainstream of America. The mixed children will be your greatest allie. Who else would be a better person to promote asian culture to white america than a happa who cherish both their roots. Granted it is pretty shallow if the only reason to get into a relationship is because you want your kids to look like Keuna Reeves, but you get the point.
AC dropout Wednesday, November 28, 2001 at 15:04:08 (PST)

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