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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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Discussions posted during the past year remain available for browsing.
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
Count Basse,
I was just wondering if you are someone of Chiu Jau or Hokkien Descent.
The Chiu Jaus and the Hokkiens are the perhaps the 2 most wealthiest of the Southern Chinese in Southeast Asia and even in HK.
For some reason, these 2 groups dominate when it comes to $$$$, more so than the other groups such as the Cantonese.
I noticed you've mentioned Yung as your surname. Yung is a common surname among the Chiu Jau and Hokkien Chinese.
Just curious.....
LSD
Wednesday, September 25, 2002 at 11:26:14 (PDT)
[66.212.81.190]
'Well I did read somewhere that Overseas Chinese are the richest people in the world, even more so than Overseas jews. That should say something. Most rich Chinese are from Southeast Asia though, not the USA.'
Jews are actually power-oriented people like the Japanese. As a whole, they control many sectors like the financial institutions, academia, and corporations.
Chinese on the other hand are the true money making individuals regardless of influence, power or status...etc. They don't care whether they're are famous, influential or domineering. $$$$ is the bottom line to the individual and their families.
Chinese are known as the small merchant. They obtain wealth attain through small means, unlike the Jews and the Japanese with large companies and such...!
LSD
Wednesday, September 25, 2002 at 11:21:30 (PDT)
[66.212.81.190]
Count Bassee,
That has more to do with Immigrant Chinese in southeast asia would make monopoly deal with the monarchs in those country. But that is a whole other matter.
AC Dropout
Tuesday, September 24, 2002 at 15:51:33 (PDT)
[24.90.98.143]
Well I did read somewhere that Overseas Chinese are the richest people in the world, even more so than Overseas jews. That should say something. Most rich Chinese are from Southeast Asia though, not the USA.
Count Bassee
Monday, September 23, 2002 at 23:47:28 (PDT)
[138.23.60.252]
"I don't want to take that risk so I decided not to go into business (Which is a risk all in of itself), some people are willing to take that risk for the dough, not me I want to work a job in which I love and happy with. Alot of Asian parents don't seem to understand that."
Well there are the "iron rice bowl" careers. Postal worker, cop, fireman, civil servant. Guarantee paycheck for life and good benefits.
I think with most parents as long as you are able to show that you are stable and have a descent income, they won't be breathing all over you.
But before you reach that stage of course they will be giving you their opinions all the time.
AC Dropout
Thursday, September 19, 2002 at 13:13:53 (PDT)
[24.90.98.143]
Count Basse,
2 of my cousins dropped out of HS to work in their dad's restaurants in Upstate NY. One of them currently wants to expand their restuarant business into other areas of the East Coast. They weren't the bookish/geek types, so they decided to work full time when they were in HS.
You have to understand that many Chinese youths during the 80's and early 90's led a life of crime as Triad Members. This was a common trend in NYC at that time. My cousins were fortunate not to take part of them. They almost did, but their dad's restaurant business was what kept them away from the gangs!
Not all Chinese Americans are educated. Many of those from immigrant backgrounds/neighborhoods are often not as fortunate! Come to NYC and u'll see....
The perverse thing about racism is that sometimes it might be a recipe for success...Chinese Americans who are in schools with predominantly White Kids usually perform better than those with their own people. Being too comfortable makes you LAZY!
Most Asian parents want their kids to have a stable job. I never heard of my parents say work in a job you enjoy, $$$ is the always the bottom line to them. The real truth is that most of them want their children to be self sufficient, get married and have kids. Most don't care if their kids were millionaires or not, having a decent job is what matters to them...
LSD
Thursday, September 19, 2002 at 11:51:00 (PDT)
[66.212.81.229]
>>>Really, so what are u doing now? >>>
Still sticking to my decision, he told me that he'll never be happy about it but he'll always support me because I'm his son.
What specific field did ur dad wanted u to pursue?
Well he always had a dream that his kids will one day be called "Dr. Yung" (referring to medicine). Well I will be a doctor one day, when I get my Ph.D. in psyche that is.
Just tell ur dad that many sons, regardless of ethnicity rarely follow their dads' footsteps.
Oh definitely, most kids do not want to do what their parents do for a living except for doctors kids. I think doctors try to program their kids so they could one day become doctors themselves. I've noticed that most of the kids entering the medical field say their parents are their biggest influences. As for my dad's job, I don't want to own a restaraunt, much less 8 of them. My dad is definitely making good money, he brings home the dough for the family (he even bought me a Lexus for my 16th birthday as a reward for my grades) but in all seriousness the job is very stressful. The yearly potential earnings for owning a restaraunt is tremendous depending on how well you run your business and how lucky you are of course, on the same token the potential for failure is also high. Nearly 5 out of 10 restaraunts fail within the first two years, that's a 50% chance of failure. I don't want to take that risk so I decided not to go into business (Which is a risk all in of itself), some people are willing to take that risk for the dough, not me I want to work a job in which I love and happy with. Alot of Asian parents don't seem to understand that.
If your dad wanted u to go into business, then u should be working in one of his 8 restuarants,
I already have, that experience influenced me not to go into that field.
which something 2 of my cousins did because they were underachievers in school!
A Chinese underachiever in school? OMG, I don't think I've heard of that. J/K, well every ethnic group has it's overchievers and underachievers, but it comes shocking when you find them in a group that's stereotyped to be educated. In fact, I've read somewhere (U.S. Census bureau I think) that Chinese Americans are statistically the second most educated ethnic group in America, only to the Indians.
Just wait a few years later, he probably just wants u to be self-sufficient and THAT IS IT!
Hope so
Count Bassee
Tuesday, September 17, 2002 at 22:26:07 (PDT)
[198.81.17.33]
Help,
Just look for work, seek a career center or an outplacement service, and get a job!
I understand there are no Asian Career Advisors out there to console u! You have to help urself, I once went into the same situation that ur are now facing.
I'm currently out of work for the 2nd time, but I don't live with my parents this time around. Just tell ur parents a white lie, if u don't want them to worry or to yell the hell out of you.
What AC said are good suggestions!
Good luck with ur determinations!
LSD
Tuesday, September 17, 2002 at 13:45:25 (PDT)
[66.212.81.229]
'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. When I told him that I wanted to be a professor of psychology, he went off on me.'
Really, so what are u doing now?
What specific field did ur dad wanted u to pursue?
Just tell ur dad that many sons, regardless of ethnicity rarely follow their dads' footsteps. If your dad wanted u to go into business, then u should be working in one of his 8 restuarants, which something 2 of my cousins did because they were underachievers in school!
Just wait a few years later, he probably just wants u to be self-sufficient and THAT IS IT!
LSD
Tuesday, September 17, 2002 at 13:35:39 (PDT)
[66.212.81.229]
Help,
Just find another law job. Then tell your parents you were not happy with the firm that let you go, and decided to quit, but have found a position at another law office you enjoy.
A little white lie.
Just don't tell your parents your jobless right now. You'll make them worry needlessly.
Your concern is to get an income. So go find a job.
Your parents concern is that your going to use their money. So find a job.
Once you find a job you can tell them whatever version of events that lead to your layoff.
If you go home and say "Hey I lost my job, now lend me $1000 dollars to get by." That will not go over too well.
But if you go home and say "Hey I lost my job, but not to worry I found another one. Oh here $100 dollars for mom and dad to buy food, because you guys have been so supportive of me." That will go over better.
Good luch, best wishes.
AC Dropout
Monday, September 16, 2002 at 12:09:00 (PDT)
[24.90.98.143]
I too felt pressured to meet my father's expectations when I was in college. I began as an engineering student, but eventually my unhappiness began to be reflected in my grades. My inherent interest was in art, but my father would not listen to me. Instead of going with my own choice I chose the alternative of going into business.
After many years I would consider myself financial stable...and not very happy or content with my job.
My advise to anyone who is still on the path of discovering what to do with their career is to choose what makes you happy because ultimately your the one living your life.
Nate
Monday, September 16, 2002 at 10:08:11 (PDT)
[158.121.126.76]
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