So, you thought you understood who the targets of bullying are:
1. overweight kids
2. sensitive and emotionally reactive kids
3. gay kids
4. kids who look different
5. shy kids or kids with no friends
Well here's the latest on bullying victims-Asian American kids particularly those between the ages of 12 and 18 face more bullying than members of any other ethnic group. These results are from a 2009 survey conducted by the U.S. Justice and Education Dept. which interviewed 6,500 students from the ages of 12-18.
Here are the numbers:
54% of Asian-American teens reported being bullied in the classroom.
31.3% of White teens reported being bullied in the classroom.
38.4% of Black teens reported experiencing this.
AND
34.3% of Hispanic teens have to contend with this type of harassment in the classroom.
Parents: If you think this disparity is bad then how about this? 62% of Asian American teens report experiencing online harassment compared to 18.1% of White teens.
And, we thought that we were the great American melting pot?
Any thoughts about why we are facing this trend?
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My comment about pissing off bullies was tongue and cheeck but more about empowermet. This was meant as a mindset not to be pushed into the contained cubicles set by society as how they perceive asians" should be".
I believe alot of asians have been making those inroads without the intention of being defiant. Most want to be accepted and not uniquely set apart. Thats why I love to see certain players in the NFL that are asian in which it is generally not thought of as our domain. I even saw bull rider at a county fair who was asian.
Breaking down barriers sometimes doesn't come easily or quietly. Often times the most disgruntled are those who believe that they have been invaded or have to defend their perceived, traditional turf.
As a homebuilder, I sometimes get this in various forms from typcial contractors to product reps to buyers. In most cases awareness and education tend to help this situation to the unfamiliar or unaquainted of asians in their society.
Although a slow process,I hope and believe most of us would like to be accepted into areas of society typically not persued or ventured by asians.
For instance, growing up as a happa (japanese-caucasian) in a mexican neighbor didn't deliver me into popularity club but more of an obvious target. Yet realizing the prototypical stereotypes of Asians as quiet and submissive I was anything but; I was a sharp tongue smartass who wasn't submissive which pissed people and kids off that I didn't conform to their perceptions of their stereotypes they have been accustomed to.
My advice to Asians: Piss off those who want to pigeon hole you into their insecure stereotypes in order to make themselves feel more superior. And still get straight A's. Success is the best revenge.
I unfortunately didn't follow this route and surelly paid the price sometimes physically but othertimes I backed down the supposed " big dog". It unnerves those which that it doesn't fit into their nicely set rules and caste systems. Knowing my place and not aggrivating the pot I am sure would have gotten Martin Luther King nowhere.
So, there is a choice, and sometimes what seems to be extreme and inconvenient for those who don't want to deal with the situation usually rationalize or ignore the depth and frequency that happens in a specific and measure way such as a drone attack by not only the bully but by the bystanders who don't want to be associated with the physically and culturally distinct asians. The stereotype runs the opposite way also if we do stand up for ourselves we probably are in asian gang perpetuated in movies and such.
The straight A's and the high percentage of asians in college is the best revenge though.