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GOLDSEA |
ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
WHAT FOBs THINK OF AMERICAN-BORN ASIANS
y FOBs we mean anyone who has ever been called an FOB. -- "fresh-off-the-boat", anyone not born here. In other words, half the AA population. Even the 2 million AA who immigrated as kids and speak English like -- or in some cases, better than -- native-born Americans rarely escape the sting of being dismissed by American-Born Asians (ABAs) based on real or imagined differences.
The stereotype of the hopeless FOB who just doesn't get American culture is all too familiar. But intra-Asian prejudice is a two-way street.
No less insulting are the images held by FOBs. ABAs are the descendants of the lowliest of peasants forced to flee their homelands to become indentured servants, sniff some FOBs. Born and bred to accept second-class status in a white society, sneer others. Slackers who don't know the meaning of ambition and sacrifice -- and who lack the guts to do anything about it in any case.
FOBs run the socio-economic gamut. A significant minority (perhaps a tenth) are highly successful trans-Pacific business families seeking a safe haven for their fortunes. The vast majority are engineers, scientists, physicians and academics braving the uncertainties of new lives for a chance to work hard for more money and better opportunities. A few are refugees and illegals risking their lives to escape hopeless, grinding poverty.
It's safe to say few FOBs feel in any respect disadvantaged relative to American-born Asians. In fact, given a dozen years most do as well or better than ABAs financially, if not socially. They can be excused, then, for harboring some less-than-flattering assessments of ABAs. By the same token, in their struggle to acculturate, FOBs often come to appreciate the trails blazed by the ABS, or at least, by their ancestors.
Assuming you're FOB or straddling the FOB-ABA fence, what's your image of ABAs? Let's hear the good as well as the bad.
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:03:33 PM)
Although I'm not Chinese (I'm Indian), my view of ABA's are no different than FOBs- they're all the same, no difference. It is all in the attitude, not where you came from.
As for us Indians, we suffer the same problem, only we have to deal with hundreds of different ethnic races and languages. To make matters worse, they immigrate to America, joining the ABCD's (American Born Confused Desis or Americanized Indians, such as me), adding to this FOB-vs-ABA problem.
As an ABCD Indian, I may not be able to relate to the "FOBs" real well, but I do have the same golden rule they have- treat others as you want them to treat you.
Basically, I don't care where a person came from, as long as that person is willing to show that he doesn't exclude others when it comes to treating people.
X
XMK18@aol.com
Tuesday, March 12, 2002 at 12:21:23 (PST)
I came to the California as a small child which would make me part of the 1.5 generation. I think my perspective on the FOB-ABA thing is a little different since technically I'm considered a FOB, but my culture and attitude is definately ABA. Although I wouldn't consider myself to be a FOB, I can't help but respond to this article.
The largest thing that separates FOB's and ABA's is language. I think that many FOBs view ABAs as less Asian than they because most ABA's don't speak their parent's language. Similarly, I think that many ABA's feel that FOB's are somehow inferior because most don't have a mastery of English.
merrylin
Friday, March 01, 2002 at 11:19:02 (PST)
I came to the US as a kid, and speak good English, or write good English at least (I'm in AP English). I've never been dismissed as a FOB, in fact, I can't even tell who's an ABA and who came when their kids! Probably because I live in Ohio, even if my high school does have a sizable Asia population. (over 70 out of 1700 students).
Asian Kid
Monday, February 25, 2002 at 15:39:14 (PST)
I was called an ABC once, and it wasn't out of flattery. I didn't like the way it sounded even though that IS what I am. I really don't see what the big deal is, since we are all Asian. I don't care if you are an FOB or an ABA- I will respect you as long as you respect me. To quote an unnamed source, "Why can't we all just get along?"
Tigretail
Saturday, February 23, 2002 at 15:23:14 (PST)
I don't know about west coast AB's but in my experience, a vast majority of the ABC's on the east coast are of Taiwanese foreign student descent, and less HK. The offspring of thousands of Nationalist rich/middleclass forced to move to Taiwan after losing the mainland, many came to the US during a period in the 60's and 70's when many Taiwanese students were wooed by American universities. After graduation, the environment in Taiwan had changed, and my parents and their peers stayed here in the US instead of returning. Their children grew up entering Ivy League Universities together.
As a member of that large ABA group- I'd say most have a good idea of their culture, and many like myself are descendents of large landowners in China- a hundred years ago. One of my great-grandfathers was ruined by opium. We have real heritage, and more "Historical Chinese Legacy" than the FOB syndrome nowadays, the children of rich communist system leaders. I'd like to think I know more about China's history than the FOBs raised in the new Chinese government.
This kind of thinking (slowly evolving)- is evident of my ABC upbringing into a proud chinese family.
TM 20
Thursday, February 21, 2002 at 08:46:36 (PST)
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