Asian American Attitudes toward Wealth | Asian American Poll

AA ATTITUDE TOWARD WEALTH
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:06:59 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

Assuming you are an Asian American, how important is wealth in your assessment of a person's attractiveness?
It's one of the most important. | 19%
It's just one of many factors. | 36%
It's less important than other qualities. | 29%
I don't care about a person's wealth. | 16%

Assuming you are an Asian American, which best matches your feelings toward your own wealth?
I'd give up weekends to double my income. | 20%
I'd work longer hours for 50% more income. | 39%
I'm happy with my current income. | 24%
I'd give up some income for more free time. | 17%

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WHAT YOU SAY

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Cawaii Girl,
Yes I do think there is a difference. I see your point and agree with it. There are some things I admire about my FIL, and that is his real estate investments.
So I have learned alot from his wealth as far as practical lessons in investing and I give him credit for my observations of that.

I do prefer a modest middle class life with no boasting and showing off, with lots of time spent with my loved one then a shallow existance with many "things" that depreciate in value, grow old and eventually become dust as people do in the end.

It is funny but I hear of how my FIL never once held my husband when he was a baby, never was home, never once changed a diaper, and was always stressed from "wanting to make more".

Did my husband get the wonderful benefits of good food, or a car bought for him in high school, or perhaps some wonderful materialistic goodies from all of this greed from my FIL? Did he even recieve the basics of good food, shelter, and security that should have come from all of the greed?

Nope. He got shipped to America, lived with relatives who did not even feed him , worked like a dog delivering chinese food for a relatives restaurant when he was still a kid and ended up eating at a school friends house and practically growing up there.

But, my FIL has his two nice luxury cars, his 5 houses and his hefty wallet. But was it all worth sacrificing his children?

That is where my understanding ends. He has "so much" to brag about and is always going for the "next rung in the ladder"... but was it all worth it in the end?
hannybunbun Friday, August 09, 2002 at 06:42:22 (PDT)

Asians are denied social and political power. So they compensate by trying to accumulate money.
Troubadour Thursday, August 08, 2002 at 07:33:57 (PDT)

There is a difference between how Caucasians and Asians view wealth. Most Asians come from the old school of thinking: work hard, save up, and then enjoy.

That is why we Asians might have higher standards of what being wealthy means, hannybunbun.

These days, the Asian community doesn't really see having a Beemer or Benz as meaning much. :)

That's because we're always looking forward to climbing up the next rung on the success ladder.
Cawaii Girl Friday, July 26, 2002 at 09:25:02 (PDT)

To AM Truth,
Can I borrow you for a few days to meet my in-laws and most of the their friends and family? Maybe go some place and educate them to a new and healthier way of thinking? Hehe.. just joking... sort of :)
It is interesting, but in this society, one of the first things people ask when meeting somoene is "so, what do you do?", I know it is usually only a conversation starter.. but I guess if you look at the root of it, status also gives us a first.. and often false.. impression upon meeting someone.

My MIL puts down my husband , even in front of people, comparing him to his brother all of the time because he graduated with a Finance and Business Degree.. and his brother with engineering. She always makes it seem like he is better than my husband, and his wife is better than me because she wears expensive desinger clothes and gets her nails done every week etc.

As I say this, I want to stress that I am not saying that having money is not important. We need food, clothes, money to experience things and have our house and car, take care of our familys, buy that pair of jeans that fits like no others will! I am saying that the emotional and spiritual and importance of PEOPLE and LOVE needs to be balanced...and get first place.

It is pretty sad, the emotionless and often blank stares I get when trying to discuss something emotional with them. I gave that up and keep things very surface and seem to get along very good now most of the time. I often thought that EVERYONE had a deepness, an emotional cord, a light in their eyes that could be reached. But now I see that some people only have one thing in their eyes that make them glimmer....dollar signs.

I still have not given up, but I am beginning to see that some people are shallow to the core and I have to accept that. But it does not make me want to be around them! What fun and connection is there to hear for the hundred thousandth time about how many houses someone owns, how expensive their dinner was, and how many thousands their friends blew in the casinos?
Maybe it is not so much the money.. but the boasting and bragging that turns me off...
hannybunbun Friday, July 19, 2002 at 08:24:51 (PDT)

Am Truth,

"There is nothing wrong to have money and everyone should have more than enough money to live comfortably. Just don't use money as the only barometer to judge people and others and for your self worth. You are worth more than just your money or status."

Though I'm not a religious person, I really respect your views, and am very impressed by your great attitude. Even those of us that don't believe in God can still aim to get in touch with our spiritual sides. I believe that each human being has an intrinsic worth just because they are a human being, regardless of how much money they make, what kind of car they drive, or what handbag they carry.

My boyfriend is 1st generation Chinese-American, and he works his butt off, saves money like crazy, but doesn't let money rule his life, and he couldn't care less about displays of wealth. He usually shops at Old Navy and considers spending lots of money on clothes ridiculous. That's one of the things I respect about him the most. He works hard so he and his family will have a better quality of life, not for the money itself.
curious girl Friday, July 19, 2002 at 07:45:26 (PDT)

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