Asian šŸŸ do you feel bamboo ceiling exists?

likefunny
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Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes.

This is a topic near and dear to me as I have been presenting/training on it for over 10 years. Everything I'm sharing is based in a western context, specifically US.

The model minority myth surely harms Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), sometime before they even start primary school. Almost every single company sees disproportionately high attrition among AAPI employees despite overrepresentation at entry level. There is a funnel between middle management and senior management.

Historically, AAPI are averse to acknowledging systemic hurdles or privileges bc of their perceived success. You don't see many black people saying "Obama was president, racism is solved", yet there are so many AAPI that claim "my son went to Harvard, there is no racism towards Asians". Part of acknowledging systemic hurdles and privileges means that we as AAPI need to acknowledge that there are things we can't control as well as things that we lucked into - and that's very hard for cultures that care so much about saving face.

Specifically in the US context, the model minority myth perpetuates the (false) notion that there is no bamboo ceiling. The result is that many AAPI are opposed to programs like affirmative action that would empower underrepresented minorites for fear that URM will take AAPI spots.

Finally, the model minority myth reinforces the racial power structure institutionalized in the US. Sources and reading to follow.

like

Well said and with good sources!!

There are researches that show that Asian males are "lashed-back" more for being aggressive than Caucasian males. The cultural norm is that Asian males are less-aggressive, less-ceo like and stuff.

So yeah, I do think the bamboo ceiling exists.

like

No, not really but I canā€™t tell for sure whether itā€™s just my limited capability or actual bamboo ceiling. Iā€™ve been called ā€œaggressiveā€ by my M for reaching out and networking with PPMD levels. I thought it was the way it is supposed to be in consulting šŸ¤·šŸ»ā€ā™€ļø. The PPMDs I reached out to are very responsive, mentor me and even help me branching network, but my M seems to have a problem with it. I donā€™t know whether my Mā€™s comment was induced by my race, my gender, a combination of both, a gap in generation, her own insecurity, or just the way my company culture is. Like would my M call another white male ā€œaggressiveā€ for reaching out to PPMDs? I really donā€™t know.

likehelpful

For what itā€™s worth, Iā€™m also Asian. I was just cautioning to not always take things out of context, now sure, maybe you werenā€™t being abrasive. But Iā€™ve had one instance where I had to tell a counselee to be less aggressive because his proactiveness was indeed abrasive, thatā€™s why I shared that perspective just for thought purposes. Not everything has be taken so negatively our out of context, it doesnā€™t help your cause.

uplifting

No

likefunny

Thanks. Can you expand a bit on your definition of those aspects?

like

Are you Asian? Why are you asking without any context?

"Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling" is an excellent book that dives into this

I don't think there's a strong systemic barrier, but there are definitely challenges, which I'd say are generally cultural.

like

Well there's Pichar at Google. That said honestly harder for East Asians than Indians or Pakistani in my opinion. I think the difficulty lies in the comfort in soft skills that people have when their superiors are the same color. Also Asians tend to try to emulate instead of go their own way, but I think often it's a risky strategy that has a low chance at success

like

ā€œAsians tend to try to emulate instead of go their own wayā€ ā€” I could not agree more!!!

like

I think it does exist for most east Asians, particularly males. If you're not an east asian Chad w/ strong soft skills, it will be incredibly difficult to make it to the SVP or C-suite level.

I believe many east asian males believe this as well and invest time in side hussles while hovering around lower to middle management, not committing themselves 100% to their full time jobs.

I've also seen east asians who eventually strike it on their own as tech entrepreneurs where the odds of success of securing the bag/prestige may be better than climbing the corporate ladder.

like

Yes. Although it is important to examine which aspects are external and internal.

like

No, but I do feel the rice floor exists - slipping and falling alllllll the way till you make it

funny

I am not Asian but I have had several Asian bosses and they are very well respected. I actually thought it was a benefit to be Asian because the stereotype is ā€œsmartā€ but i can see how there is some tendency to pigeon hole Asians in technical roles.

like

Is the sky blue? ... seriously.

like

No. Bamboo catapult, maybe

NOPE. Each asian person is unique and just nope. Im 23

The existence of a bamboo ceiling does not deny your individuality, just as acknowledgement of the glass ceiling does not invalidate the experience of successful women.

I'm glad you think you are doing well at 23, but denying the bamboo ceiling does you no favors.

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