Parsing Asian Women

Whenever a discussion arises about Asian women in America, I am amused, amazed and, sooner or later, annoyed. No one seems able to attain common ground when talking about Asian women. More likely than not, that's because each has in mind a different socio-economic segment. Obviously, any effort at sorting human beings into classes commits every sin of generalization. But that's the only way to dispel some of the confusion that clouds understanding of Asian women in America. Insight is only achieved by seeking patterns.

     At a minimum classification provides a rudimentary vocabulary with which to compare notes. As with women of other races, I've found that the attitudes of Asian women toward race, status, money and men are almost invariably dictated by socioeconomics. Obviously many women succeed in defying neat categorization. To those individuals, my apologies.

1. Asian American Princesses

Origin: Born in the U.S. or immigrated before the age of 12.

Socioeconomic Status: Parents are successful entrepreneurs, investors, executives, professionals and academics. Typically pursue careers in media, marketing, law, finance or the arts.

Language: Native English fluency with little or no Asian language ability.

Education: One or more degrees from respected universities.

Attitude toward Money: Grew up with material comfort or luxury and are secure enough to resist flaunting obvious status symbols. Are turned off by people who feel a need to flaunt money or status symbols.

Attitude toward Race: Are comfortable with Asian heritage but prefer to be low-key about race. Are conscious of a culture gap with other classes of Asian Americans but make an effort to identify with them and to be supportive. Are aware of racial prejudices among Whites and other ethnicities, but are generally more understanding and tolerant toward all races. When it comes to socializing, they gravitate toward others from the same socio-economic level.

Attitude toward Men: Are impressed by men who are secure enough not to show off and have the cultural awareness to see each woman as a unique individual rather than a racial type. Asian American Princesses are offended when lumped with Asian women from lower classes and often privately see themselves as sharing more in common with upper-class white women.

Estimated Share of Asian Single Adult Female Population in U.S.: 8%.

2. Transpacific Princesses

Origin: Immigrated after the age of 12.

Language: Accented or stilted English with fluency in Asian language.

Education: One or more degrees from top or second-tier universities and proficiency with a musical instrument.

Socioeconomic Status: Parents are successful entrepreneurs, professionals or high-level corporate executives. Some parents continue to live overseas but send children to study in the U.S. and establish a second home. Pursue attainment in arts and culture, often as stepping stone to marriage.

Attitude toward Money: Have grown up with material comfort or luxury, but coming from societies in which most wealth is of recent vintage, transpacific Princesses assert their status through conspicuous consumption. They are drawn mostly to people with money or those who have attained social or cultural distinction. Most tpac princesses come from families with money but not necessarily social status in their homelands. Consequently, they entertain hopes of improving their social position in the U.S. the way turn-of-the-century American heiresses sought European titles.

Attitude toward Race: Espouse pride in Asian heritage but carefully avoid associating with Asians of lower socioeconomic status. Typically lack the cultural sophistication to make subtle socioeconomic distinctions among non-Asians, so are often receptive toward Whites from lower socioeconomic strata. Generally show little interest in persons of other minority groups unless they possess obvious social or cultural status.

Attitude toward Men: Mostly interested in Asian men with demonstrated wealth or status but some are receptive to white men with sufficient credentials to impress other tpac princesses or to provide entry into an acceptable stratum of American society. The majority, however, are as conservative about interracial relationships as their white American counterparts.

Estimated Share of Asian Single Adult Female Population in U.S.: 3%.

3. Middle Class Asian American Women

Origin: Born in the U.S. or immigrated before the age of 12.

Language: Native fluency in English with little or no Asian language ability.

Education: One or more degrees from first-, second- or third-tier colleges.

Socioeconomic Status: Parents are typically merchants, restaurateurs or low- or mid-level professionals. Aspire to careers in medicine, tech, sciences, finance, management or media but about half end up in clerical, support or service jobs.

Attitude toward Money: Having experienced financial insecurity, they put more emphasis on money and success than other middle-class Americans. Are deeply impressed by conventional measures of success like educational credentials, professional position, nice homes, prestige cars and name-brand clothing.

Attitude toward Race: In their youth they strive to be accepted as Americans but as they experience persistent racial biases in the adult world, they put more importance on their Asian identities, especially as they consider marriage and families.

Attitude toward Men: Varies with the environment in which they grew up. Those raised in predominantly Asian areas seek out Asian men who show signs of success and shun those who lack ambition or credentials. Generally suspect non-Asian men of harboring stereotypical preconceptions about Asian women. They are especially scornful of non-Asian men who try to impress them with Asian phrases, cultural knowledge or exhibit other signs of being "Asiaphiles". Middle-class AA women who grew up in predominantly white areas often share the preferences of non-Asian counterparts, including even biases against Asian men. They are also less likely to focus on educational or professional credentials.

Estimated Share of Asian Single Adult Female Population in U.S.: 52%.

4. Lower Income Asian American Women

Origin: Born in the U.S. or immigrated before the age of 12.

Socioeconomic Status: Families arrived as laborers, refugees or illegal immigrants and never succeeded in climbing the socio-economic ladder. They grew up in ethnic enclaves or public housing. Most enter clerical, menial or service jobs, but a minority manages to achieve professional status.

Language: Native fluency in English with little or no Asian language ability.

Education: High school and some college.

Attitude toward Money: U.S.-born women in this class are more likely to share the biases of the lower-income Whites, Hispanics and Blacks they grew up with. Yet they often harbor strong racial biases against other minorities. They generally take cultural cues from mass media. Foreign-born low-income Asian women hold values carried over from their native lands. Both types are awed by money but have no frame of reference against which to measure success and wealth.

Attitude toward Race: Having little contact with successful Asian Americans, they tend to see Asians as occupying a low place in American society. They often look up to Whites as enjoying social, economic and cultural status. At the same time, they harbor a spurious sense of superiority toward members of other minority races. They often pay lip service to the idea of Asian pride due to peer pressure, but have little sincere interest in Asian culture. They often suffer feelings of disadvantage, oppression and even inferiority stemming from their marginal places in American society.

Attitude toward Men: Often see Asian men as being economically and socially disadvantaged and frequently seek out relationships with men of other races who seem to offer better economic prospects. The foreign-born are impressed by men who have some Asian language ability or cultural knowledge. High percentage of outmarriage.

Estimated Share of Asian Single Adult Female Population in U.S.: 18%.

5. Low-Income Recent Immigrant Asian Women

Origin: Mostly born in the poorer Asian nations, immigrated in teens or later.

Socioeconomic Status: Parents are stuck in menial occupations due to inadequate English or lack of marketable skills. Grew up with poor living conditions, often lacking basic comforts. Many are forced to work at menial jobs from their teens to help support their families.

Language: Fluency in native Asian language with limited English.

Education: Junior high or high school. A small minority attend college.

Attitude toward Money: Earning a decent living is the overriding priority. Impressed by superficial signs of material success.

Attitude toward Race: Little ability to make social or cultural distinctions within the context of American society, consequently, have little or no consciousness of Asian American identity, merely of being recent immigrants and members of a minority race. Harbor racial attitudes imported from native lands. Tend to look up to Whites as enjoying economic and social advantages and see other minorities as being even more disadvantaged than themselves.

Attitude toward Men: Value men with solid jobs or other earmarks of economic stability. Shun men in the arts and other non-conventional occupations. Many see older white men with established careers as more desirable marriage partners than young immigrant Asian men.

Estimated Share of Asian Single Adult Female Population in U.S.: 15%.

6. Asian Female Foreign Exchange Students

Origin: Born overseas and came to U.S. on student visas to attend college, then stay on.

Socioeconomic Status: Parents are middle-class in their homelands. Students come to the U.S. for higher education, often with an eye toward securing permanent visas through specialized skills or marriage. They hope ultimately to bring over parents, sibling and extended families.

Language: Fluency in native Asian language with limited to good but not fluent English.

Education: College and an advanced degree or two.

Attitude toward Money: Value economic security and status achieved in technology, science, finance, professions, academics or other education-intensive fields. Admire wealth but look down on those who flaunt wealth not acquired through direct personal effort.

Attitude toward Race: See race relations from a globalized perspective. See Asians as enjoying cultural advantages that promote education, discipline and long-term success. See Whites as enjoying social and economic advantages in America but see those as being counterbalanced by weak personal and family values.

Attitude toward Men: Preference for men with impressive credentials over those with strictly financial success. An aversion toward men who try to impress women by showing off wealth or status. Generally more interested in Asian men but open to non-Asian men who exhibit good character.

Estimated Share of Asian Single Adult Female Population in U.S.: 4%.