Not All Asians are Doctors or Engineers!

Let us start thinking about this topic from an apparently unrelated perspective: our choice of movies and the types we watch frequently differ undoubtedly. However, one thing is for sure. All of us have come across one Hollywood action movie or the other, where amidst all those Americans, there is this one Asian man who is an awkward tech geek (or perhaps a Math nerd). His role? He is supposed to provide technical assistance, like hacking the security system of the area the hero is going to trespass, or perhaps guiding the hero with the location and all. Relatable, isn’t it?

In fact, the marginalization and stereotyping of Asians in mainstream Hollywood movies has been the cause of a major debate in the industry for quite some time. Films like ‘Ghost in the Shell’ have fuelled such debates. Pun Bandhu, a talented Thai American actor who took training at the prestigious Yale School of Drama, once said, “We’re the information givers. We’re the geeks. We’re so sick and tired of seeing ourselves in those roles”. You see? Amidst many of the other stereotypes Asians fall prey to, this is a major one to be considered.

Now let us view this topic from yet another perspective (this one, probably even more relatable): As society continues to break free from all kinds of stereotypes and prejudices, we see changes in our previous generations also. And that includes our parents as well. If you are a student, your parents will probably let you decide what you want to ultimately do in life depending upon your goals and your ambitions. To be more specific, your career choice. BUT, at the same time, somewhere during the process of choosing your stream in higher classes, or while going for the subject you like the most, you will feel that your parents might try to influence you in a certain way. To take up that ‘best stream’. To take up those ‘safe careers’. In short, to take up Science. Specially, if you perform well in Academics, all adults around you start forming this mindset that you are going to take up Science, and then probably, be a Doctor or Engineer, or go for other such STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers. And if that didn’t happen to you, it DOES happen to many students. Not just in India, but all over Asia.

The point is, even if we keep aside the effect this stereotype will have on the psychology of Asian parents and students, we cannot ignore the effect it will have on the Asian community altogether. If students continue to get discouraged to enter fields like administration, economy, and literature, these important fields cannot have a bright future ahead in Asia. Science and technology, of course is of great significance and has a vital role to play in the overall development of the world. But so do all other fields. Every field needs improvement, just like the way Science and technology do.

Does that mean students should be discouraged from taking up Science and pursuing engineering and medical as careers? Not at all. But the student should at least be allowed the freedom to make an independent choice.

Also, since we are discussing how Asians are expected to be in STEM careers, here we must consider the impression the world has formed of Asians and STEM over the years. ‘Asians are good at Maths and Science. They are meant to be doctors and engineers’- This belief has pervaded not just Hollywood movies, but American pop culture and media for decades. It was perhaps best exemplified in a now infamous 1987 Time magazine cover that showed six young students sitting behind a computer holding books, with the caption “Those Asian American Whiz Kids”. While on one hand, this idea DOES seem like a complement for Asians, its actually just dressing up racism as a compliment. At the end of the day, it IS a stereotype, and it doesn’t really make things easy for the Asian Americans who already have to face a lot of other kinds of discrimination.

Although it’s true that many Asian countries have topped International exams on science and maths, that doesn’t include all Asian countries. It is, after all, the largest continent. Asian countries top English exams as well, but they are not considered good at literature. We must understand how racism works. How, with the help of this idea, the whole community is actually distinguished from the rest of the world. It ultimately acts as a barrier in the way of Asians being able to mingle freely with others. Most importantly, as mentioned earlier, this stereotype DOES not benefit Asians working in STEM fields. They are not given any advantage over Americans or Europeans at work. Instead, they have to keep on facing other kinds of discrimination and biases (the STEM stereotype included).

So to change the mindset of the world, we Asians ourselves have to become liberal. Unless and until, we change our mindset and get rid of those preconceived notions, Asians will keep on being thought of as those tech geeks and Math nerds, and you will get to see some more of those stupid Hollywood movies.