Asian Pacific Americans

History
Early Immigration
1. work in the railroads and mines
2. gold rush of 1849
3. Foreign Miners Tax – charged to the Asians, but not to European
Americans
4. farm labor - transformed CA agriculture from wheat to fruit
5. transcontinental railroad
a. low pay
b. 1000 men died in the construction
6. Chinese Exclusion Act - first law to exclude immigrants based on
nationality
Not repealed until 1942
7. 1790 federal law stated only whites could be naturalized citizens;
remained in effect until 1952
8. Very few available Chinese women
a. 1880 California law prohibited marriage between a “negro, mulatto, or
Mongolian”
b. Mail order brides; arranged marriages
9. Wave of Japanese immigrants followed the passage of Chinese Exclusion
Act
a. Japanese men were allowed to bring family with them
b. Enclaves of Japanese unlike Chinese and Asian Indians before them
10. Alien Land Law of 1913 – prohibited noncitizens from owning land;
American born children could own land, however.

Japanese American Incarceration during WWII

1. Seemed mostly based on too much competition by Japanese farmers with
their white counterparts.
2. 2/3 of the incarcerated were US citizens!
3. Most of Japanese on West coast were sent to camps, but not those in
others parts of the country.
4. Men recruited from the camps to serve in the military
We’ll put you in jail, but then expect you to fight and die for us!!

Repeal of Restrictions
1. 1943 – Congress repealed Chinese Exclusion Act (once China became an
ally
2. Immigration Act of 1965 – immigrants from all countries allowed into US
if they had valuable occupational skills or family members in the US
Current Demographics
1. Pacific Americans have more persons living in their households than other
groups
2. 48% of their households have 4 or more people (compared to 31% of
E.A.)
3. 90% of Asian Americans live in cities with higher cost of living

Culture Values and Identity

Cultural Values
1. more influenced by other’s opinions
2. loyalty to group
3. personal goals less important than group goals; personal sacrifice
expected
4. clear norms and sanctions for deviant behavior
5. koseki – formal family tree
a. family history carefully recorded
b. consulted for education, job, or marriage
c. any abnormalities ground for disqualification
6. conflicts are hidden
In US – the squeaky wheel gets the grease
Asia – the nail that sticks out gets hammered
7. failure is group responsibility; much social support given to the individual
who fails to accomplish
8. big distinctions between ingroup and outgroup members; ok to mistreat
outgroups as much as you want
9. interpersonal harmony and cooperation expected
10. belief in fate or karma
see Table 6.1 page 209

Ethnic Identity
1. strong ethnic identification expected
2. may cause negative attitudes toward nonAsians

Discrimination and Stereotypes

1. Hawaiians increasingly aware of minority status the more time spent on
the mainland
2. perceived economic and educational competence actually makes whites
dislike Asians more

Development and Family Issues

Family Relationships
1. hierarchical and interdependent
a. based on age, birth order and gender
b. fathers and eldest sons are dominant
 c. expected to conform to traditional roles
d. adult children care for elderly parents and other relatives
2. Confucian values
a. Father as undisputed head of family
b. Mother to nurture father and children
c. First sons valued above other children
d. 3 obediences
a. One’s father at home
b. One’s husband after marriage
c. One’s sons in old age
3. gender double standard;
marriage permanent unless woman commits adultery (but not the man)
4. exception: Pacific Islanders have matriarchal society
a. marriages more egalitarian
b. Christians missionaries introduced patriarchal values

5. suppression of emotions; physical and verbal expressions of love

uncommon
6. communication is indirect; use of an intermediary
7. family unit more important than individual; bringing shame to one’s
family is avoided at all costs
8. lowest divorce rate of any group; may put up with abuse to avoid stigma
of divorce and shame to family
9. expected to respect, honor, and obey their elders

Lee – 5 types of Asian families:

1. traditional
a. speak native language
b. practice traditional customs
c. live in cultural enclaves i.e. Chinatowns
d. belong to social groups from same background
2. cultural conflict
a. blend of American and native born people
b. intergenerational conflicts over traditional vs. American values
c. children have more status and power in US society; upsets
3. bicultural
a. usually young adult immigrants or 2nd generation born in US
b. raised in Western style cities of traditional parents
c. often bilingual
d. most do not live in ethnic neighborhoods
4. American
a. born and raised in US
b. do not maintain ethnic identity
c. individualistic
d. egalitarian
 5. Interracial
a. intermarry with mainstream culture or other minority
b. cultural differences may lead to conflict or be integrated

Academic Achievement
1. equal or exceed E.A. at every educational level
2. no real differences in IQ scores
3. no genetic basis for differences
4. Asian American parents value academic achievement more than E.A.
5. do 40-50% more homework; decreases the longer they are in the US,
however
6. believe success comes from effort and positive attitude
7. higher expectations of their children
8. parents less involved in school activities
9. more peer support for academic achievement
10. relative functionalism theory – education used as the means to becoming
successful in America i.e. education = success
11. few Asian Americans success stories outside of academics; no Asians in
sports, entertainment or politics
12. may cause Asians to focus on academic areas and not so much on any
other activities
13. actually like doing homework more and are no more maladjusted for it
14. Although they have more education, often underrepresented in supervisory
and management jobs

Mental Health
1. acculturation associated with less psychopathology
2. stressors include
a. cultural barriers
b. language
c. social support
d. financial problems
3. see mind and body as inseparable
4. ethnic matching – do better with Asian Am. therapists who share value
system
5. less willing to join groups which are seen as temporary; you don’t leave
your group