If Knowledge is the Key, Then Show Me the Lock: Unlocking the Model Minority Stereotype of Asians in Various Global Contexts

The Asian model minority stereotype is like a bikini. What the myth reveals is suggestive, but what it conceals is vital for its use and perpetuation. What is the model minority stereotype and how does its ideology and logic fit within a Black/White racial paradigm? How can a “positive” stereotype of Asians be considered racist? What knowledge is needed for unlocking the model minority stereotype of Asians?

Dr. Hartlep’s talk will focus on the model minority stereotype of Asians in various global contexts. For instance, what does the stereotype look like in China, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, South Korea, and the United States? His discussion will focus on various aspects of this global stereotype by highlighting research that he has undertaken for several research projects: (1) The “Model Minority Stereotype Project” website, (2) The Model Minority Stereotype: Demystifying Asian American Success (2013), (3) The Model Minority Stereotype Reader: Critical and Challenging Readings for the 21st Century, and (4) Killing the Model Minority Stereotype: Asian American Counter-Stories and Complicity (Forthcoming).

Author Bio

Nicholas D. Hartlep