|
|
|
|
|
GOLDSEA |
ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
WHAT FOBs THINK OF AMERICAN-BORN ASIANS
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:03:23 PM)
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.
This interactive article is closed to new input.
Discussions posted during the past year remain available for browsing.
CONTACT US
|
ADVERTISING INFO
© 1996-2013 Asian Media Group Inc
No part of the contents of this site may be reproduced without prior written permission.
|
|
|
|
WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
FOBs are less humanitarian than ABAs. Confucian FOBs especially know how to devalue human dignity. They show less respect to other people than Americanized people do. Chinese FOBs especially are too clueless about being appealing, the males in particular. They need to care more about positive qualities in human character instead of just talking down and disrespectful about other people. I am a FOB and i learn a whole lot from Americanized people. ABAs are very appealing people cuz they care about their appeal. FOBs especially the guys care too much about money and overlook humanitarian values.
As a FOB, i am guilty of being fobbish at times but i care about learning how to be Americanized and i think FOBs in general should be more conscious about our personality, behavior, attitude and speech. The reason why lots of people doesn't like Asians is because of the FOBs who are too mean and disrespectful.
Us FOBs need to care about being better people.
FOB who like ABAs
Andys1123@aol.com
Friday, February 21, 2003 at 22:13:31 (PST)
[198.81.26.234]
I found this article uniquely captivating in the respects that intra-racial issues like this are seldom approached. Being that I am an Asian-American, and currently residing in a predominately Asian community, I feel I have some authority to comment on such a topic. As much of a cultural melting-pot that Southern California is, there are very clear distinctions between what we Americans would classify as Asian-American and "FOB". If I may generalize, a large percentage of "FOB's", though they may be proficient in specific disciplines of study (i.e. Maths and Sciences), they lack in others (i.e. English, Humanities, etc...). I am not stereotyping and I am not making this up. Coming from a primarily Asian-dominated High School, there have been statistics and studies that support my claim. Though math and science are important tools for building a career, one of the most neglected skills in the Asian household is literacy (Don't get me wrong, I am sure there are exceptions). Through my studies and my own experience, I have come to the conclusion that aptitude in both English AND the vernacular (on a local level) are essential in order to possess a self-awareness in a community and a social conciousness as a whole, such that one may recognize and execute his or her proper role and fuction in society. What good is a math equation if you cannot communicate quick-wittedly and effectively? Historically, Americans have always had a difficult time adjusting to foriegners, and Asians are no exception. Language barriers, in part, create the stigma of the "FOB" but there has got to be a serious change in the role of family priorities and academic expectations if this horrible word is going to disappear. Personally, I find the word offensive and most definitely denotes a negative connotation. I would not enjoy being called one. I was born and raised in the California and I am just as American as George W. Bush.
Check out my band while you're at it:
http://www.nutwoodrocks.com
Steve Lai
WEiNr2071@aol.com
Thursday, February 20, 2003 at 17:31:42 (PST)
[68.64.221.49]
this site is interesting to me.. i just found it today.... here I leave a quick note... I will follow up later..
about this issue.
I am a foreign student studying in the US for a while now. I have done my undergrad here and now I'm doing graduate studies so I am not so Fresh off the boat. I have many 2nd generation and 1.5 immigrants friends and they are all different. It is almost impossible to generalize. However one thing I regret about them is that often, they do not know their history and language. Perhaps this is not their fault but their parents for not educating their childeren. I notice a lack of communication between parents and children. If they do communicate, it's very elementary. And precisely because of this, there is a possiblity of problems. Because one cannot understand each other besides the surface and appearence, there exists a possiblity of negative impression or generalization of what you call FOBS or even to the people of their own ethnicity or culture.
and for FOBS who do not understand the source of the problem, we go ahead and make assumption that ABA's are really confused people who do not like who they are and so forth....
this describes the build up of any prejudice; a lack of understanding and plenty of misunderstanding.
I have noticed that ABAs who can communicate better with their parents are much more secure and strong people.
I must go now.. but I will write more later because this particular topic interests me...
anonymousFOB
Monday, February 10, 2003 at 10:07:54 (PST)
[65.165.175.253]
i know this girl who came to america 7 years ago, but she still can't speak a lick of english. she's 20, and all her friends are fobs. that's sad. she's never had any american-born friends, and evidently, that has hampered her development in learning the language.
ESL doesn't work.
Monday, February 03, 2003 at 01:29:41 (PST)
[63.161.167.211]
i am a FOB and there is no doubt in my mind that ABA in general are more well-mannered than FOBs. ABA are simply more respectful and have more positive qualities than FOBs. of course, thats generalization but thats the way i see it. a lot of FOBs, especially Chinese, doesn't care about showing repsect to other people. most Asians that are racists are FOBs. ABA are more postive-minded. ABA are more conscious about a lot of things too. FOBs couldn't care less about nobody but themselves. There are simply a lot more appealing ABAs than FOBs. FOBs need to wake up and realize how people look at them. nuff said.
ABA are cool peeps
Monday, February 03, 2003 at 00:52:50 (PST)
[198.81.18.187]
there is truth im what you guys are saying but the fact remains it is mostly chinese people who do. koreans rarely do it, the vietnamese also dont change their names as much and korean and vietnamese names are not that easy to pronounce either.
D of E
Saturday, February 01, 2003 at 10:13:12 (PST)
[172.179.249.38]
It's funny how it's known that FOB's are looked down upon by ABA's. But few mentions about the reverse. Please, someone tell me if I'm alone here. I'm not FOB nor am I ABA. But I've been here in the states long enough to come off as an ABA. Whenever I'm in 'chinatown', I feel like FOB's dont regard me as 'one of them' and therefore I'm treated as a foreigner. Am I the only who have experienced this repeatedly?
D of E (cbabc):
You said, "...the other chinese then see this and adopt a christian name too, most likely to show that you have 'class'."
From my observations, asians adopt christian names b/c their asian names doesnt sound as nice in english. This has little to do with 'class'. I mean, would you to be call 'Ho'? It may be a nice vietnamese name, but in english it has negative connotations.
be
Thursday, January 30, 2003 at 21:42:54 (PST)
[68.11.170.196]
i just change my name to american so these americans wont have a hard time pronouncing it since they are not to bright...im giving them a easier time
phil the thrill
Thursday, January 30, 2003 at 11:27:23 (PST)
[169.226.236.128]
Hi I am a FOB and i think ABCs are really cool. They are decent-mannered and respectful. Very nice people. They are cool.
ABAs are cool
Thursday, January 30, 2003 at 03:44:14 (PST)
[198.81.26.234]
NEWEST COMMENTS |
EARLIER COMMENTS
|