In a democratic society which boasts capitalism as the predominant economic framework, equal footing is impossible to achieve. Although many a politician has purported a platform of universal equity, North American society today still bears witness to large disparities in education, health, and socio-economic status. The byproduct of such a fundamental societal model, the backlash, if you will, is the existence of an extremely competitive society, with the individuals of the populace all vying for a position in the elite minority.
It is only natural to ask, therefore, whether the incessant drive for better grades – better known as “keening” to today's youth – is this an evil Asian value (a view commonly espoused by teachers, friends, and neighbors) or merely the byproduct of the inherent struggle to survive in a Western, Capitalist society? It should be universally recognized that no matter how frequently equality is purported by our judicial, legislative, and executive branches, it simply does not exist. It may not even have to foray into the potentially sensitive issues of racism, but simply be due to factors such as language and cultural barriers. Honestly, what American company would want a socially awkward Chinese man working as VP of External Affairs, no matter how amazing his credentials? So, is this whole episode of “Tiger Parenting” and the Asian drive to do well in school, merely because of cultural background, or is it more likely the unconditioned response of a racial group to maintain sustenance in a wholly alien environment? Are the values of hard-work and the drive to better one's life a solely Asian value, or is it rather deeply ingrained in the American dream? Have Asians merely taken on the American values of yesteryear?
To implement a familiar model, that of the high-school, it seems as if a certain Asian population is found culprit of said action. Our beloved U-Hill is home of the U-Hill Eagles, but also home to much of the known convicts charged with “keening.” Let's face it, most of us at U-Hill try to do well in school, sometimes even in excess. Some say that it is driven by the ubiquitous forces of the Tiger Mom or Dad. Others believe that it is part of “Asian culture.”
I have to admit that in many Asian families, a heavy emphasis is put on education. That hardly espouses the breadth of a culture though. It is an attitude, found in varying amounts in every family, and every society. This emphasis on education is often referred to as an value. It is an unconditioned response that has developed over time to become what it is today. Some have a sixth sense, able to detect supernatural frequencies. Yet for others, the senses of taste, touch, and smell are supplemented by a need to do well in school. The “school” sense.
But why is it that this quality seems to be most prevalent among Asian students? Well, the most obvious answer is because in many schools, there are A LOT of Asians. In schools with a more balanced demographic distribution, keening is less prevalent, and so less noticeable. The race for grades and emphasis on education have become integral parts of Asian life; and very well has been for the last few decades. Competition in Asia is far more intensive than in North America. In cities with ten times more people than whole countries, the dividends of resources become even more scarce. It did not evolve into a part of the culture like KimChi or Chinese Folk-dance did. It came to being as a tool for survival. In earlier times, if one was not literate, his outlook for life would become deplorably bleak.
Enough with the pity story you say. This is North America, you should let your children date, be creative, and enjoy all of these wholesome North American ideals. Put aside all of your worries, and come bask in the rain of freedom. This is Korea, China, or Japan anymore. There's no need to worry about competition; we have all the resources you need! Sure, it was tough in Asia with all that competition, but this is North America now. Surely you can discard your weird traditions and values and conform to our society?
To this I beg to oppose.
The development of North American society is not unlike that of Asia; it is underscored by the competition of a large group of people for a relatively limited amount of resources, whether it be land, political capital, or economic gains. Unlike other socio-economic models, such as communism, capitalism inherently brings with it the unequal distribution of wealth.
When all is said and done, capitalism is really a fundamental ideology where a select few people are afforded great opportunity, but the rest become delegated to lives of squalor. Once again, in such a society, there only exists a limited amount of resources, or supply, but there is an endless demand for the limited supply, which will ultimately will result in the price-raising of each item of supply. This is known as “raising the bar.” When the bar is raised, demand will drop. The price of each unit of supply will be raised until the terminal result reaches market equilibrium. As more and more people are entered into the pool of demand, the supply must increase to meet that demand. However, more often than not, the supply does not increase. With the economy in stagflation, the amount of jobs available are decreasing at monumental rates. The number of students being accepted into top notch universities does not increase much either. What this creates, is essentially more competition, as the bar is raised; the price for supply is inflated. Essentially, jobs require higher credentials, and access to good education is becoming increasingly difficult and competitive.
Education is really the fundamental building block to achieving success further in life. If you are a musician, you need musical guidance. If you are an artist, the Rhode Island School of Design might not be a bad choice. If you are an athlete, collegiate basketball may be a great place to start. I think in the past, we have too much restricted our definition of education to this race for academic success. Education is learning, and learning is all around us. Therefore, how can one say that an emphasis on education is bad?
It is precisely this “Asian emphasis” on education which has caused much debate and controversy over the last few years. Why is it that Asians seem focus excessively and solely on academic achievement? It is because education has taken on an increasingly vital role to security in life.
In the past, one would attend a grammar school, and then move on to vocational school or a community college. Nowadays, a high-school diploma cannot realistically help someone hold down a steady job; except maybe at MacDonald's. We are moving towards a much more profession-oriented society, and without a professional skill, one will find it extremely hard to earn a decent living. The 4-year bachelor program becomes almost mandatory – even though it is not considered a responsibility of the government – to achieve job stability and a comfortable life later on. And then there are even more tiers; the M.A's, J.D's, P.h.D's and all that good stuff.
In this increasingly competitive society, the odds don't really stack up for the Asians. First of all, Asians have to overcome languages barriers, cultural barriers, and racial barriers. Universities often implement a quota system, where each racial group is proportionately represented on campus. As horrible as it may sound, there are many more qualified Asians being rejected, simply because too many Asians are working hard and doing well academically. However, as there is a quota system, many qualified Asians are being rejected in lieu of not-so-qualified students of other racial groups. This already creates a lot of pressure for Asian students vying for that top-spot college. In the workplace – even though we would like to think that there is no discrimination – employer discrimination often results in minority groups not being able to land that job. Often, Asians have to work a few times harder to receive the same rewards.
This is just the nature of a new environment. No matter how integrated into North American Asians become, Asians will still be judged by the color of their skin. Resources are reserved for the elite, and the Asians can never hope their old money grandparents to help them become that.
Although there are many Asian parents are guilty of pushing their kids to the limit, and not allowing them enough freedom, most Asian kids in North America want better grades for themselves, and not for their parents. The whole “you bringg shame to famerry” routine is getting old for a stereotype. As much as we love that, it only draws upon the very extreme cases of “Asian parenting.”
Going back to the crux of this examination; is keening a wholly Asian value? Is it only to be found in Asian culture? The answer is simple; of course diddly-dump no. The drive to do well in school – one which U-Hillians observe/practice on a daily basis – is the result of competition. Because of that competition, one must set the bar higher. One must set up higher expectations, and meet those expectations. In any society, no matter Western, Oriental, or Middle-Eastern, there inherently exists a battle for resources; leading to the inevitable struggle to climb higher on the societal ladder. In every racial, ethnical, or societal group, there are those people with the afore-ascribed values. It should not be something that is ridiculed or denounced. In the right amount and direction, these values are the key to success.
This value of striving for betterment of oneself should not be so foreign to the American sub-continent. Since the establishment of Jamestown and the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 1700's, Americans have always been fervent believers in the virtue of hard-work, and self-reliance. John Winthrop preached to the settlers aboard the ship Arbella, that the settlement would become a “city-upon-a-hill,” one that the world would look up to. This later translated to Thomas Jefferson's dream of building a republic consisting of self-reliant yeomen. Some of the other founding fathers, such as Benjamin Franklin, promoted the ideal of the self-made man. In one word; individualism.
The rights, freedoms, and livelihood of the individual is put above all else. This concept is also a major driving factor behind manifest destiny, the belief of inherent entitlement. People were encouraged to relocate westwards for a better life, a better future. When it was felt that the British had infringed upon their rights to individualism, modern day Americans instigated revolution against their oppressors, while others fled to Canada. Since then, American politics has been an unending struggle. First, the separation of church and state; then the battle between federalism and state-power; and finally the sectional battles of political parties representing different economic regions. The secret force behind all this however, is not an elite Semitic control group, or the Illuminati, but rather the ambitions of the individual.
It seems therefore, that the usage of this value in the right dose and in the right way can indeed benefit us. But still, when this value is exercised by the ordinary Asian, it is criticized left and right. Sure, Asians maybe push themselves too hard, but I believe that if that drive comes from within, and not from the family unit, it still concurs with the fundamental values that the American sub-continent was built on.
It seems as if the Asians of today have taken on the American values of yesteryear. Such pride attributed to the values of rugged individualism and the self-made man, has been lost by much of the society, save a select few. I am a disciple of Benjamin Franklin's self-made man. I don't know about you, but I want to achieve academic success because I am me, and not because I am Asian. This “keener, keener, Asian fail” has become an annoying stereotype. I mean, I went to the hairdresser one day, and she said I was smart. I swear, all I did was hang my coat. If hanging one's coat could now define one's intelligence, I am definitely going out to get a nice coat.
Personally, I feel that the whole hype about Asian kids and Tiger parents is completely blown out of proportion. I am sure that many of my fellow students at University Hill Secondary School want to do well in school because it fulfills their goals, and not because of their parents. I am sure that those who do well in school, can also find the time to go out, have fun, and enjoy life.
