Aarya Patil Week 6: Pursuit for Perfection
In a society where high standards and quality are always expected, it is interesting to see how some cultures, specifically Asians, display an unshakeable dedication to perfection.
The importance of education in Asian households is an important factor in this. The belief that education is the first step towards a stronger and brighter future is ingrained in society as a whole. This mentality may be due to the struggles many immigrants faced when they came to the United States. People came from all over the world in hopes of a better life for themselves and their families. Instead, they were faced with hatred and discrimination, and the real opportunities were now just a fantasy. They were forced to work hard for what they wanted despite all the racism when they first entered America. One specific example of this is the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This act banned all Chinese laborers from immigrating to the U.S. This was the formal law implemented to prevent all members of a specific ethnic group or race from immigrating. The idea of the "American Dream," which is engrained in American culture, is the conviction that anybody can succeed through perseverance, hard work, and drive, regardless of background. The American Dream became a struggle as well as a desire for Asian immigrants. Even while discriminatory laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act made it more difficult for them to realize their goals, their unwavering quest for excellence and determination to establish their worth as valuable members of American society served as motivators.
Moreover, the competitive character of Asian society, especially in highly populous nations like India, heightens the pursuit of excellence. Because there are few possibilities and a lot of talented people, people feel pressure to perform better than their colleagues in order to get positions that they want in academics, the workplace, and other areas. The constant quest of greatness is sparked by this fierce competition. The Model Minority Myth puts a great deal of pressure on Asian communities to meet extraordinarily high standards for professional and academic success. It was expected of Asians to achieve academic excellence and to put in great effort to combat systematic racism and discrimination. Many Asians strived for perfection, frequently going above and above to match societal norms out of fear of deportation and a desire to prove their status as citizens.
Furthermore, the importance of cultural expectations such as maintaining a good reputation is highly valued in many Asian cultures. People may feel pressured by society to achieve perfection in order to satisfy the demands of their friends, family, and society. If these standards are not met, people are faced with disappointment and guilt. Personally, I am thankful to say that I have not faced such high levels of pressure, although several of my friends say that they have been pushed to be “perfect” all the time. This is unfortunately a common issue, which hopefully the new generations will be able to overcome.
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) | National Archives.
Hi Aarya! I completely agree with the important points you made in this blog. However, discussions like these can often be debatable in different groups. I think you did an amazing job in countering that problem and solidifying your argument by including the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Model Minority Myth as evidence supporting your claim. Part of the effectiveness your writing holds is due to the significant truths you mentioned along with your eloquent wording. By maintaining expert wording which is complimented by a formal and direct tone, you successfully enter into reading your writing and finding undeniable truths in your claims. Personally, I found your topic extremely relatable as I know the pressures the importance of education in an Asian household exerts. So, I appreciated the effective and accurate delivery you contributed to this pressing topic.
ReplyDeleteHi Aarya! This was a very insightful blog to read and I completely agree with you. I like how you included historical events such as the Chinese Exclusion Act as it definitely did make it harder for Chinese immigrants to achieve the American Dream. The competitive nature of Asian communities, due to the Model Minority Myth, often put a lot of pressure on children to do good which may affect negatively in the later future. It is great to hear how you have not felt such high levels of pressure personally, but it is truly upsetting for those who have. We can only hope that the next generation will be able to overcome these expectations and strike a more healthy balance between striving for greatness and taking care of their wellbeing. Overall, I really liked your blog, good job!
ReplyDeleteHi Aarya! I definingly understand with the caliber of perfection in which Aasin parents expect as they had a difficult time in their wake of achieving of the American Dream. I feel like the competitive nature of communities really accelerates the model minority stereotype. Your word choice throughout the blog produces a very formal and direct tone which is enjoyable in this context. I am fortunate to not have high levels of pressure, but I also find it unfortunate for those that have large pressure. I hope that as we continue on with pursing the American dream we can overcome this stereotype.
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