WP2: Report on Asian-American Upbringing Survey
The intertwinement between tiger parenting and the Model Minority stereotype are proven to have deep-reaching effects within the Asian American community. WP1 introduced this intricate relationship between these influences and how they affect the mental health and choices made by Asian Americans. However, as I explore further into this terrain, it became evident that the consequences of these phenomena extend far beyond the topic of mental well-being, It reaches even furthur into the core of individual autonomy, personal passions, and the capacity to make independent choices, particularly beyond the confines of academics and careers.
In this report, I explored insights, building on the foundation of my previous research in WP1. I present data from survey responses obtained from a specific demographic: Asian Americans. Despite the small sample size due to time constraints and a limited resource pool, I find these results still reveal strong trends and patterns within this demographic community.
Survey Link (to reference questions): https://forms.gle/4iPmVa8x4GGX7AUm6
Notable Data Points about Survey Respondents:
66.7% are between the ages of 21–25 years old.
16.7% are between the ages of 15–20 years old.
16.7% are between the ages of 26–30 years old.
100% are Asian American.
91.7% have immigrant parents.
Data Analysis:
The first section of the survey inquires about the level of parental strictness the participants experienced during their upbringing. This is in regard to the freedom of how leisure time is spent, academic/career pursuits, early curfew time, limited technology/social media use, etc). The results, with 50% of respondents rating a 3 and 41.7% rating a 4, reflect a significant trend suggesting that a majority of the respondents experienced a moderate to high degree of parental strictness during their upbringing. This data aligns with the prevalent notion of tiger parenting, which is characterized by strict discipline and high academic expectations. Since the data is clustered at the 3–4 range, this indicates that most respondents did not have experienced extreme or mild strictness levels. However, it can be inferred that nearly all respondents have noticeably perceived some level of strictness throughout their upbringing.
The next question dives deeper into the effects of parental strictness:
The most notable data point this graph demonstrates is that 100% of the respondents have experienced some sort of mental health issues due to their strict upbringing. I gave the options to mention other unlisted challenges, or even pick a “none” option, but neither were chosen. It can be inferred that the most researched and prevalent mental health issues revolving around tiger/strict parenting are also very relevant to this pool of Asian Americans. It should also be noted that all respondents chose 4 or more options, with depression being the least chosen, meaning that their mental well-being was primarily being affected by parental strictness since the options provided were catered towards the challenges faced by victims of strict parenting.
Next I explored how the expectations resulting from tiger parenting influenced the respondents’ academic/career choices.
The data from this graph affirms my research in WP1, where I highlighted the influential role that parental expectations play in shaping the life trajectories of Asian American individuals. This reveals that it’s likely for many in this demographic to be bound by the weight of familial expectations, which are deeply rooted in the desire for academic achievement, professional prestige, and financial stability. What I find most interesting from this data point is that nearly all respondents actually acknowledge the influence their families have had over their academic and career choices. This emphasizes the importance and unmet need of fostering conversations within families about promoting individual autonomy, passions, and mental health. Consequently, it also highlights the lack of support systems, which could help allow Asian American individuals to pursue their passions and interests.
Moving on from tiger parenting, I dive deeper into the affects and influences of the Model Minority aspect of the respondents upbringings.
This unanimous response is a testament to the profound and pervasive nature of the model minority stereotype, which I discussed in WP1. The fact that every single respondent reported “yes” underscores the ubiquity of this pressure and the challenge it presents to this demographic. This stereotype not only shapes external perceptions but also self-perceptions and internal expectations of feeling compelled to excel academically and professionally. Furthermore, this unanimous response reinforces the relationship between tiger parenting and the Model Minority stereotype. The pressure to conform to these expectations are not solely imposed by parents but is also perpetuated by societal beliefs and norms. As I mentioned in WP1, this relationship can create a cyclical pattern, where Asian Americans experience external and internal pressures to constantly adhere to these expectations.
The next section inquires respondents on if external pressures and influences have ever prevented them from pursuing their genuine interests/passions. I find this section the most insightful due to a few personal testimonies that were provided.
Added up, 91.6% responded “yes”.
Orange: “Throughout my academic and early career stages, I followed my parents’ desired path for me, which was much more traditional. Recently, I’ve actually secretly quit my “stable” corporate job and pursued an esthetician license. I am now a working esthetician with lower pay, but I finally enjoy and love what I am doing, which I now realize matters to me more.”
Green: “I never felt confident in fully committing to something such as my passion for music. So I found myself googling options that related to my passion but did not deviate from the traditional career-paths that are deemed successful. For example, I am now trying to pursue something within data analyst/financial analyst for music platforms rather than actually becoming a musician/artist.”
Purple: “It was when I actually started taking accounting courses in college when I realized I hated it and couldn’t take it anymore. I haven’t told my parents yet but I’m pursuing my passion within the music festival industry on the side. Honestly, I’m allocating more time towards that than school now”.
The personal testimonies provided reveal a common narrative characterized by the struggle between personal passions and external expectations, primarily from family and/or societal norms. What I found most interesting is that the respondents who are actually deterring from their parents’ path (Orange and Purple) are doing so in secrecy. Despite the fact that both of them are fully grown adults, they still fear the judgment of their parents and believe that they still have some sort of control over their decisions and career. However, since they are adults that live away from their family, they ultimately do have more freedom of pursuing their desires, which they did. It’s unfortunate that it takes physically separating yourself from your family and hiding your passions and aspirations to pursue your passions.
The next and final part of the survey is a follow-up to the previous question.
The most notable data point from this graph is the unanimous concern for financial security. This highlights the practical and pragmatic aspect of career decisions. The pursuit of traditional, stable careers is often motivated by the need for financial stability, which can lead individuals to prioritize financial security over personal passions. The options I provided all correlate and relate with one another, revolving around the relationship between tiger parenting and the Model Minority stereotype. For example, the concern for financial security could be a learned behavior/thought, in which one’s parents may have instilled the idea that only careers within STEM can provide financial security. Pressure for prestige, community and cultural norms, and fear of failure can also root from familial expectations and one’s mindset/thought process, which was molded by their parents throughout their upbringing.
While it’s essential to acknowledge that the sample size for this survey is relatively small, the results still reveal significant trends and patterns within this specific demographic. The impact tiger parenting and the Model Minority stereotype has had on the mental health and life choices of Asian Americans is evident. As the questions trickled down to specific external pressures, this survey seems to reveal financial security as the paramount concern. This pressure, which stems from both the expectations from tiger parenting and the Model Minority stereotype, often deters Asian American individuals from pursuing non-traditional paths that align with their passions. Additionally, pressures like family expectations, fear of disappointing parents, societal norms, and the pursuit of prestige can also be closely related to the idea of financial security. Asian families tend to correlate financial success to becoming a home and car owner. Disappointing Asian parents could include the lack of owning a home and a car. Societal norms include Asians being deemed more successful both financially and academically. In an Asian family, prestige can almost be synonymous with money and success.
With this in mind, I wonder if financial security/concerns truly is a roadblock towards pursuing individual interests. Especially in today’s society, where non-traditional careers and passions are being highly promoted and discovered through social media, finding success and financial security non-traditionally seems much more achievable and reasonable. I have not had the chance to survey the younger Asian American demographic/generation, but I wonder if the ideals behind tiger parenting and the model minority stereotype have become more relaxed and lenient as technology and entertainment flourishes in modern society. I wonder if the conversation of autonomy and independence is more accepted in Asian families nowadays, considering the current prevalence and potential of the arts.
