Chapter 6 Asians and Asian Americans Introduction and Overview Terminology Asian Americans Heterogeneous group of people having origins in the Asia Pacific region Southeast Asia the Far East or the Indian subcontinent including Cambodia India Malaysia and Pakistan Current classification Asians and Pacific Islanders API History of Asians in the United States Timeline 1763 Arrival of Filipino crewmen in Louisiana Fisherman 1843 Arrival of the first Japanese immigrants 1850 Arrival of Chinese immigrants 1882 Passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act which barred the entry of Chinese laborers 1884 1924 Increase in Japanese immigrants Worked in jobs similar to that of indentured servants of the colonial era 1908 The Gentleman s Agreement limited Japanese worker immigration 1922 U S Supreme Court ruled that Asians are ineligible for naturalized citizenship Relevant Legislation 1924 National Origins Act imposed immigration quotas 1942 Executive Order 9066 authorized interment of Japanese Americans during WWII 1988 Civil Liberties Act authorized payments to 66 000 surviving internees 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act eliminated national origin quotas 1965 Civil Rights Movement included the involvement of Asians Selected EEOC cases EEOC v Presbyterian Homes EEOC v MBNA America EEOC v Bally North America Inc WILL BE ON EXAM ONLY EEOC v Monetary Collision Frame and Auto Body Inc Chellen EEOC v John Pickle Co Inc Education Employment and Earnings Education More than 53 Asians have college degrees Misperception Asian Americans are well educated Reality Some Asians are well educated while others are poorly educated Represents a bimodal distribution of educational attainment Participation Unemployment Occupations and Earnings Men participate more than the women Those with higher education levels work in managerial and professional specialty jobs Earnings Total average earnings for men and women are higher than those of Whites and other ethnic groups People with poor language skills and low education may have to work in sweatshops Racial Microaggressions Intentional or unintentional daily verbal behavioral or environmental indignities that communicate negative or derogatory racial insults May result in loss of business when directed to Asian Americans Average Asian American household income is higher than average American household income Asian American Entrepreneurs Reasons for Higher Level of Entrepreneurship in Asian American Encountering the glass ceiling in other organizations Limited language skills low education and lesser opportunities Presence of informal networks that increase the likeability to start small businesses Educated people may start businesses in response to discrimination Research on Experiences of Asian Americans at Work Research Evidence on Experiences of Asian Americans at Work Presence of positive and negative stereotypes Subject to access and treatment discrimination the glass ceiling and name based discrimination Asian women earn less than men Work in computer and electronic product manufacturing retail and healthcare industries Work for family owned businesses enduring long hours low wages and no benefits Recommendations for Individuals and Organizations Individual Recommendations Voice the desire to be considered for management and other promotional opportunities Obtain as much education as possible in preferred rather than expected field Organizational Recommendations Do not overlook Asians in nondiscrimination policies and affirmative action programs Work to remove perceptual barrier and guard against perceptions of language difficulties where none exist