Glossary of Terms
Stereotypes of AAPIs
Bamboo Ceiling
Similar to the term “glass ceiling” for women and other historically oppressed groups, the term “bamboo ceiling” has been used to describe the specific obstacles and barriers that Asian Americans face in reaching the upper echelons of leadership and management. The result of this “bamboo ceiling” is the lack of leadership representation amongst Asian Americans, even though they, as a group, are far more likely to have a college degree than the general population, according to a 2011 study by the Center for Talent Innovation. Further, they have little trouble getting hired, but representation is significantly reduced at the senior management levels—for instance, Asian Americans account for only 1.4 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs and 1.9 percent of corporate officers overall.
“Model Minority” Myth
A model minority is a minority demographic whose members are perceived as achieving a higher degree of socioeconomic success than the population average, thus serving as a reference group to outgroups. This success is typically measured relatively by educational attainment; representation in managerial and professional occupations; and household income, along with other socioeconomic indicators such as low criminality and high family/marital stability. The concept of model minority is primarily associated with the culture of the United States, though many European countries have concepts of classism that stereotype ethnic groups in a similar manner.
“Forever Foreigner” Stereotype
The perpetual foreigner stereotype is a racialized form of nativist xenophobia in which naturalized and even native-born citizens (including families that have lived in the country for generations) are perceived as foreign because they belong to minority groups.
Yellow Peril
The term "Yellow Peril" refers to Western fears that Asians, in particular the Chinese, would invade their lands and disrupt Western values, such as democracy, Christianity, and technological innovation. However, ideas about Western progress at the time also included beliefs that are recognized as problematic today, such as white supremacy and the virtue of colonizing non-Western lands.
For a list of other stereotypes of Asian Americans.