The Model Minority vs The Inferior Minority

In this text, Museus explores the concept of the Model Minority Myth in the context of student learning. He begins by discussing a real-life example of student racism. The specific incident he uses is a racially themed party in which a predominantly white campus dressed in racist costumes. Museus explains that these types of parties represent cohesion among the students and campus subculture. In other words, the racially themed parties likely expressed the views and values that initiated the formation of that group. He then explains the direct association between these racist acts and how it makes the marginalized students feel discriminated against, targeted, and unsafe on their own campus. Racist parties are just one form of prejudice that can be practiced in an academic setting. This type of behavior is described as contentious in terms of manifesting and reinforcing the previously rooted perpetuated stereotypes that are used to stigmatize minority groups. “Stereotypes, while they are not synonymous with prejudices, are key components in the creation and perpetuation of prejudice” (3).

This concept of stereotypes is then applied to the ideas of the Model Minority and Inferior Minority Myth. Museus conducts in-depth interviews with students of different backgrounds to gain a proper understanding of how these stereotypical myths hinder the student learning process for these students. These interviews do a good job of providing readers with a first-hand perspective, which gives the research more credibility and genuinity. This could be utilized to refer to specific incidents or examples to help expand my research.

Museus, S. D. (2008). “The model minority and the inferior minority myths: Understanding stereotypes and their implications for student learning”. About Campus, 13(3), 2–8. https://doi-org.proxy.library.ucsb.edu:9443/10.1002/abc.25