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Are Asians good at math? Why wearing racism as a compliment just doesn’t fit
Can it be funny to be compared to a calculator? Fox Television AnimationThe narrative that “Asians are good at math” is widespread in the United States. Children are aware of this. The academic performance of college students can be affected by it. Superficially, the narrative “Asians are good at math” sounds like a compliment. After all, what’s wrong with saying that someone is good at something? But, as I explained in a newspaper article, there are two problems. First, the narrative is false. Second, it is racist. And in the midst of an outbreak of violent attacks against people identified as Asians, it is worth remembering that the heart of anti-Asian racism has always been dehumanization. I am an experienced teacher and STEM education researcher. Research tells us that racism is part of students’ classroom experiences in these disciplines. If we don’t understand how racism works – even in supposedly “neutral” areas like STEM – we can unwittingly recycle racist ideas. Unmasking the myth As with many racial stereotypes, people are genuinely curious whether the narrative “Asians are good at math” could be true. There are videos on YouTube with several million views asking this question. Don’t the test results prove the narrative? In fact, they don’t want to. In international exams, it is true that Asian countries are among the best performers in mathematics. But it is also true that other Asian nations are ranked 38th, 46th, 59th and 63rd. Interestingly, these best performers also lead in reading – but there is no narrative that “Asians are good at literature”. Internally, it’s the same story. The research shows considerable variation in mathematical performance between different Asian ethnic groups in the United States. If all Asians had an innate gift for mathematics, we shouldn’t see that kind of variation. A better explanation has to do with educational policy and federal immigration laws. Countries that invest in teacher training and a high-quality curriculum do better on international tests. In the United States, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 gave preference to STEM professionals in Asia. This policy affected my own parents, who managed to immigrate to the United States under that law, not because South Asians are naturally good doctors. ‘Mongoloid’ for ‘minority model’ So, if it’s not true, why do we say that? Today, Asians are often seen as the “model minority” – hardworking, academically talented and professionally successful – but this has not always been the case. In the 18th century, Asians were classified as “Mongoloids”, a racist term based on the pseudoscience of craniometry. While “Caucasians” (white people) were considered complete human beings with superior intellect, all people of color were considered to be sub-evolved. From the end of the 19th century, a new image of the Asian people was born: the national threat. Chinese immigrants were seen as an economic threat to white American workers, and Japan became a military threat during World War II. Asians in the United States continue to experience racism today. In fact, the idea of a “model minority” has always been a way of pitting Asians against supposedly “non-model” groups – in other words, non-Asians of color. The implication is: if Asians can do this, why can’t you? A supporter of Andrew Yang, wearing a hat with the slogan “Mathematics” from his campaign, on Friday, November 22, 2019, in South Carolina. AP Photo / Meg Kinnard People, not robots Although the narrative “Asians are good at math ”is false, it still has a real impact on people’s lives. Like the “model minority” myth, he falsely positions non-Asians of color as mathematically inferior. It can also be a source of pressure for Asian students. But the real impact of the “Asians are good at math” narrative is more profound. Take, for example, a scene from an episode of the adult cartoon “Family Guy”. The main character, Peter, is remembering to take a math test. As the photo passes over other students, each takes a calculator out of their pocket. Peter pulls out a boy with Asian features, nudges him with a pencil and says, “Do math!” It may seem funny at first, but the underlying message is clear: Asians are not seen as human beings; they are calculating machines. Asians are literally objective, seen as capable of doing things at a speed and scale that “normal” people cannot do. In other words, they are dehumanized. Calculators are only capable of procedural tasks, not creativity. For Asians, this implies that while they may be successful in the technical STEM disciplines, the humanities and creative arts are not for them. Part of what is happening has to do with how society understands “good at math”. Mathematics is widely considered to be one of the most difficult subjects to learn. Those who can do this are often seen as “nerds”. Movies about mathematicians like “A Beautiful Mind” and “The Imitation Game” often portray them as antisocial. Mathematicians can be considered brilliant, but they are not seen as “normal”. We usually think of dehumanization in terms of intellectual deficit. For example, Americans in the 21st century still associate African Americans with monkeys, a racist trope. What is happening to Asians is different, but still harmful. They become hyperintelligent robots. Resisting the narrative We can all play a role in resisting this false narrative. Teachers can help by monitoring the types of learning opportunities they offer to Asian students. Do they treat them like calculators – giving them just routine procedural tasks – or do Asian students show their creativity and present ideas in front of the class? To help teachers track down prejudices, my research team developed a free web application called EQUIP. Most people easily recognize openly racist behavior and language. But I believe that we also need to learn to identify racism in its most subtle forms. The next time you hear someone say, “Asians are good at math,” don’t hear it as a joke – hear it as racism. [ Deep knowledge, daily. Sign up for The Conversation’s newsletter. ]This article has been republished from The Conversation, a non-profit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Niral Shah, University of Washington. Read more: What is a hate crime? The narrow legal definition makes it difficult to accuse and condemn Racism is behind anti-Asian-American violence, even when it is not a hate crime. Why cash payments are not always the best tool to help the poor for whom Niral Shah does not work, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has not disclosed any relevant affiliations beyond academic appointment.