Navigating The Model Minority: The Impact of Internalizing the Stereotype on South and East Asian American Leadership Potential Open Access

Abstract

Asian Americans are underrepresented in leadership roles, a phenomenon labelled as the “bamboo ceiling.” However, not every Asian subgroup experiences this ceiling. Specifically, South Asians (SAs) attain more leadership roles than East Asians (EAs). Adopting social psychological lens, I delved into how SAs’ and EAs’ internalizations of the model minority stereotype contribute to their different leadership potential. The model minority stereotype stems from a singular categorization of Asians in the U.S. that portrays Asians as successful and competent yet socially aloof and alienated. The stereotypical lack of sociability contrasts with the American leadership ideal that increasingly emphasizes on relational skills. To the extent that individuals see themselves as conforming to this image, their perceived leadership potential likely diminishes. Historical and cultural factors shape the extent to which SAs and EAs internalize this stereotype, which, when combined with varying levels of assertiveness, account for the discrepancy in their leadership potentials. Survey responses from 192 respondents (77 SAs and 115 EAs) provide data on their perceptions of how others view Asians and how they view themselves, as well as their assertiveness, and leadership potential. Results showed that internalization of lack of sociability aspect of the model minority hampers the leadership potential of EAs not SAs. Moreover, assertiveness mitigates the adverse effect of internalizing the model minority stereotype only for SAs. These findings have implications for theorizing about whose appraisal individuals might reflect on and policies that may ameliorate the impact of the bamboo ceiling, especially for EAs.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Background 3

Methods 14

Results 21

Discussions and Conclusions 28

References 33

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Sociology
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies
Keyword	Leadership Asian American Reflected Appraisal
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Karen A. Hegtvedt, Emory University
Committee Members	Irene Browne, Emory University Heeju Sohn, Emory University Maggie Penn, Emory University

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