Thank You. But that wasn’t a compliment.

Positive stereotypes don’t exist

The Model Minority Myth (MMM)

The cultural expectation that Asian Americans face to be:

  • smart

  • hard-working

  • harmless

It can result in:

  • social isolation

  • performance anxiety

  • loneliness

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Being called a “Model Minority” is NOT a compliment

All Asian Americans are good at math

The expectation that Asian Americans are:

  • good at math

  • good at STEM subjects

  • capable of teaching or helping others with math

It can result in:

  • added stress to perform well

  • fear of seeming like one is “not Asian enough”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Being called “good at math” is NOT a compliment