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ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Shift in Asian American Career Choices?
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:09:53 PM)
or the first century Asians in America were almost entirely menial laborers, mostly in farming and construction. Around the turn of the century a few were able to start small businesses, mostly restaurants, markets, laundries and gardening services. It wasn't until the 1950s -- a century after Asian immigration began -- that young AA infiltrated professional ranks, primarily in medicine, engineering and accounting. The next few decades saw Asians multiply in those fields, while a small minority ventured into law, journalism and marketing. But even at the start of the new milennium, most promising Asian Americans continue crowding into medical and engineering fields, with corporate finance and management emerging as a serious alternative.
Risking security?
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The AA bias in favor of secure, well-paying professions is powerful. About 62% of all U.S.-born Asians under 30 attain professional or managerial positions compared with only 25% among the general population. In some top medical, engineering and business schools Asian Americans even make up pluralities. But the most recent decades have seen an explosion of adventuresome young AA exploring less cut-and-dried careers. For example, between 1980 and 2000 Asian American California law school enrollment quadrupled to 12% of the total. Once completely absent from film and journalism schools, Asian Americans now account for about 5% of their enrollments -- in excess of our representation in the general population.
But those AA moving outside the comfortable medicine/engineering/corporate finance orbits exhibit a telling gender imbalance: females outnumber males 3:1, reflecting an unyielding expectation that the overriding priority for Asian males is to establish the most financially rewarding career within their abilities.
But there are signs that the current generation of American-born Asians may be pulled more by its passion than family or cultural expectations. "I want to work at something I love," is a refrain heard with increasing frequency by alarmed parents. And yet the pressures of family and cultural biases aren't so easily shaken off. As college graduation draws near and shears are raised to cut apronstrings, prodigal sons and daughters may yet abandon the prospect of chronic unemployment and family disapproval for a safe life inside the fold.
Are promising young Asian Americans moving away from traditional careers? Or are they continuing to yield to family and cultural expectations?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
Hi sistas and bros
I'm scared shitless. After law school i got offered a job with law firm.
2 months later i didnt pass probation. I'm now unemployed and broke.
I havent told my parents. I have been lying to them the last month. They have told all their friends how great i am, how great their daughter is to be working for XYZ law firm, etc
I feel i cant tell them beause i feel likea failure, and that I have lost my career. I woudl rather lie than face this kind of pressure and disappoint them. I know they will be distressed and depressed with the news. I cant hold my face to them.
But its getting harder and harder to face them It is like i avoid all contact with them now
What should i do. I feel stressed. No other person except Asian background people truly understand
Replies appreciated. I have two weeks to come up with something
Help
thecrouchingdealer@hotmail.com
Friday, September 13, 2002 at 23:58:24 (PDT)
[139.134.64.153]
I think law is emerging as the professional field of choice for those of us who doesn't want to do engineering/business/medicine. If you look at the top law schools around the country, Asian Americans usually make up 10 - 15% of the student population.
1L
Thursday, September 12, 2002 at 14:37:33 (PDT)
[149.142.31.49]
My dad has always wanted me to go into either of these three: Medicine Engineering, or Business. The traditional Asian fields. He kinda wanted me to move towards business because he like many Chinese Americans are money hungry. He himself, is the owner of 8 restaraunts. Not bad considering he was once a penniless immigrant. When I told him that I wanted to be a professor of psychology, he went off on me. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, he left the land in where he grew up and traveled to the other side of the globe and worked his butt off for years to finally achieve financial and economic prosperity to hear me go into a field that in his eyes, wasn't prominent. Not to mention, I was a good student who got into many top schools, a trait in which most people believe would rightfully enter the traditional Asian fields. HE was very disappointed in me but I don't care. This is my life, not his. I know he wants the best for me, but what he wants is not what I want. I say to all those Asian kids who are constantly being pressured by their parents, do whatever that is right for you. Your parents mean good, but sometimes they can be a little too controlling.
Count Bassee
Wednesday, September 11, 2002 at 22:56:23 (PDT)
[198.81.21.161]
Can some of us be more openminded:
I have to agree with Ed on this one. Nowhere in the article did he state his position on this topic. As a matter of fact, the question he raised is a very interesting one.
I'm asian american and I have noticed an increasing number of asians (particularly second generation and beyond) are not pursuing the traditional asian career (medical, engineering, business). The question is why. Personally, I think asian american are learning from their surroundings that well paid jobs dont correlate with happiness.
Ever since I was a child, my father have re-iterated the importance of financial success every opportunity he had. He was raised in Asia where money bought power, freedom, and security. As I grew up, I started becoming more observant of my surrounding and noticed that money does not ensure happiness. For that reason, I pursued a career in the design industry for the love of it.
I found a job right after graduation. Although I didnt hate anything about my career at that point, it was still one of the depressing times of my life. All b/c of one reason -- my salary not meeting my parents' expectations. Their disappointment and shame towards my career were glaringly evident. Despite the fact that I was making more than average for my level, my career was still made into a mockery. Despite the academic and personal achievements, I was still perceived as a disgrace. Despite the countless praises from employers, colleagues, professors, etc...I still felt like a failure to my parents.
They had no clue how powerful each one of their expressions or comments had on me. I actually thought of taking up a second career to increase my salary so I could gain their respect. I worked long hours and looked into voluteering my time in my industry to gain more experience so I could climb that corporate ladder quicker. Three monthes after my first full time job, I got a promotion; but they still didnt see me or my career any differently...and b/c of that my self-esteem remained as low as ever.
It took me about 9 monthes to realize that there is nothing wrong with following your heart when it comes to career choices. My cousin recently graduated, one as a writer and the other as a teacher. Their parents are like mine, and they too went through the same phase I did. All I can do is praise them for being taking the non-traditional route, and remind them that their salary doesnt determine their worth.
It's only been a few years since I've gone through that identity crisis. Soon I'll be switching careers. But it wouldnt be for my parents' sake, but for my own sake. I still dont dislike my job, I just dislike the superficial corporate environment...but that's another issue.
Anyways, back to your comment. You stated, "I literally felt sick to the stomach reading that trashy article, which does not represent Asian Americans of this generation one bit."
Perhaps you cant relate to this discussion, but it represent a lot of the asians I know, including myself.
be
Wednesday, September 11, 2002 at 20:08:27 (PDT)
[64.219.86.60]
If you're choosing a career only because of the money, then you're just a slave to materialism. What's so crazy about someone wanting to choose a career that he or she loves?!? Questioning that decision is ridiculous. The author of this article on the left ASSUMES that money is the ultimate authority, but that's an extremely poor assumption because not everyone is obsessed with money. There are a lot of unsatisfied lawyers and bankers out there that absolutely hate their jobs. If the author had an real senses and some ideological values, he or she wouldn't even have made a big deal out of this non-issue. I literally felt sick to the stomach reading that trashy article, which does not represent Asian Americans of this generation one bit. Please don't censor this because I'm sure there are other Asians who feel the same. When will Asians STOP creating their own stereotypes? It's okay for Asians to be artists, journalists, or anything that they love or have a true passion about. They are being true to themselves. Who are you to belittle or question their desires or thinking??
Can some of us be more OPEN-MINDED for once?
Wednesday, September 11, 2002 at 08:04:39 (PDT)
[66.107.44.253]
[To quote Keanu Reeves: "Whoa!" You confuse statement of issue with a statement of position. The article takes no editorial position on the matter, merely lays out the issue for discussion. Judging by the emotion, may we assume that you've been mocked for your career choice? --Ed]
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