Ok, maybe not 99 of them, but here are some of them that resonate with me, in particular....
- Being asked where you are from or what you are ethnically
- 'Where are you from?', (my answer: London), 'no, like where are your parents from?' (my answer: my mum's from China and my dad's from Hong Kong)
- Your parents want you to be the perfect grade - A student
- Your parents only want you to become a lawyer, doctor (curse you Grey's Anatomy, ER, no not really), accountant, IT person, and not become an actor, singer, dancer, artist
- Being given a dumb Asian nickname by your parents
- Your parents judge your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife or friends because they are a different race or ethnicity to you
- Your parents only want you to marry a person, who is the same race as you and thus, don't want you to marry a Black, White, Latino person
- Going to a family reunion and barely knowing anyone there
- Not knowing how to speak your native language well
- Experiencing native Asians picking on you because you are were not born in an Asian country, technically meaning you're not 'Asian enough'
- You can't dress up as a superhero for Halloween or fancy dress without being an Asian Superman, Captain America or Wonder Woman
- Being asked if you know math(s) and to help them with their math(s) homework
- Your parents buy you only Jade - related jewellery, bracelets and bangles, earrings and necklaces
- If you are of Chinese origin, people ask if you are Japanese (I get this all the time) & vice - versa with Japanese, Korean
- 'What type of Asian are you?' - actually, it's good they ask of this, as they are asking a specific question which deserves a specific answer
- Asians eat dogs - I don't. Never have done and never will
- Being asked to read or write Chinese, Japanese, Korean and yet you can't - I can't read Chinese
- 'How do you say (enter a phrase or saying) in Chinese, Japanese etc?'
- You must be good at karaoke - I like a sing-a-long, but I wouldn't go on American Idol or X Factor or become a singer
- Being labelled submissive or passive and not being able to answer back
- 'You Asians are so smart' #1 - yet this doesn't account for say, the lack of positive Asian representations and characters appearing in the media, movies and TV
- 'You Asians are so smart' #2'- and yet we read of cases of young Asians and Asian Americans committing suicide and killing themselves because of the pressures they face at home and by society
- Because you are Asian and like drawing, some people assume you draw Manga and Anime characters. I draw a lot, but I do realistic art
- Because you are Asian and are into music, it's assumed you must be good at playing the violin or the piano
Yeah so, model minority my arse
Image source: Imgur
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