ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS 1

Asian American Women and Mental Heath Problems

Asian American women are often at the forefront of harmful racial stereotyping that

directly affects their state of mental health. From childhood to adulthood, these stereotypes are

found in many aspects of American culture, from pop culture to the daily news to literature – it

can be hard to escape these views from judgmental outsiders. The racial stereotyping of Asian

American women can even go full circle – where they themselves believe in it and feel the need

to keep up with these societal pressures as if they were normal and expected. Immigration,

American standardization, social-based, family-based and model minority expectations lead

Asian Americans to the point of serious mental health issues such as depression, stress, and even

suicide.

Being classified as an immigrant population puts a strain on American Asian women .

"As a largely immigrant population, Asian women go through economic and language barriers

Images such as this one directly influence stereotyping of Asian American women.

ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN'S MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS 2

that stop them from getting health care, making them more susceptible to advanced depression

and other mental health disorders. The presence of strain due to factors such as war, abuse and

stress for Asian women is related to immigration and may also play a role in bringing about

depression. Suicide rates are escalating for foreign-born Asian Americans than for American-

born Asian Americans,” (American Psychiatric Association, 2011). Being an Asian in America

may make one feel like an outsider, simply because of where they are from or how they look

compared to the majority, and this can seriously affect their desires to even attempt to receive

treatment or care in this country.

The label "American" takes in many different cultures and races. Nevertheless, American

culture is often guilty of presuming there is only one, "American" looks, voice, and face.

Professor of Sociology, Minako Maykovich, states "the measure for physical characteristics is

usually determined by the dominant people," therefore "racial disparity is the greatest hindrance

to the process of integration" (68). If Asian American women are to perceive a “one race” as

American, where do they fit into the spectrum? This can leave them feeling confused and

unwanted in America – or always trying to seek an unobtainable goal of looking more American

than is possible.

Several authors look at Asian American identities as described by American culture. The

quest to abolish stereotypes through noticeable behavior corresponds with an Asian practice that

"value[s] silence highly than Americans" (Donahue 265). The model minority myth serves as a

unique cultural stressor for Asian Americas. This myth has pitted Asian Americans' against other

ethnic groups often making them a scapegoat in the social system and trivializing social and

mental problems that Asian Americans have” (Liu & Fernandez, 1990). There have been natives

from many different nations and countries which have decided to migrate from other places to

ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS 3

the United States all through history, but none have come in big number than the Asians. On

arriving here, many discovered that it was not as favorable as they thought. This is especially

true for the Asians because they were the first minorities to immigrate. To date, Asians

community is still a fast growing community minority in the U.S. Asian American women are

making noteworthy steps in education and other areas, but there has a long way to go to

completely shut ethnic and racial inequality. Asian immigrants to the U.S. are more inclined to be

highly educated for a number of reasons. Therefore, they get an entirely different start in life in

the U.S. in contrast to other minorities. Even though Asians achieve a much greater degree of

achievement in the U.S., the "model minority" typecasting is a myth because Asian-Americans

still receive lower pay even with their high qualification. Noh, (2002), states, "the model

minority myth has created incredible pressures to perform due to unrealistic expectations of

success.

Asian American women feel a societal pressure that may force them to not only confront

the difficulties surrounding immigration and conforming to basic American standards, but to be

the forefront of upward mobility. "Society's model stereotype of the highly successful, upwardly

mobile individual makes it hard for Asian women to accept their "shortcomings" (National

Alliance on Mental Illness). Regardless of their high achievement in education, they make

inexplicably less money than their white counterparts. These inconsistencies are leaving a rising

fraction of our population more exposed to poverty and its repercussion. “The model minority

myth, serves as a unique social stressor for Asian Americas. This myth has pitted Asian

Americans' against other ethnic groups often making them a scape goat in the social system and

trivializing social and mental problems that Asian Americans have" (Liu & Fernandez 1990).

ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN'S MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS 4

Just like any other disorder, mental illnesses are medical state that usually results in a

reduction on the capacity to cope with the ordinary life demands. "The intense pressure to

succeed, coupled with self identity problems, may have caused an increase in emotional turmoil

and higher suicidal rates" (Else et.al 2009). It can affect persons of any race, age or race, and

especially Asian American women who are of two minority classes. In the recent past, mental

disability has been linked to American Asian Women. The Asian American group is the fastest-

growing ethnic with a longstanding moral and social presence. Asian American women have

been to possess a higher risk for post traumatic stress disorder due to social pressure and the

feelings of stress combined with homeland values. Asian communities place high emphasis on

the family unit, and some Asian cultures already view women as holding a lower role than men.

Mental health illnesses in the family are often frowned upon in Asian culture and this can cause

women to not seek treatment or bottle up their feelings. It is no wonder why they continue to

face many challenges in seeking mental health services in their respective areas. Many Asian

American people continue to face these challenges, as stated earlier, due to feelings of non-

conforming to American standards due to stereotypes or realities of being an immigrant-based

Comedian Margaret Cho aims to end Asian American women stereotypes by making fun of them.

ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS 5

culture. The issues are often linked to mental illness, therefore, prevents particular issues from

being addressed in their communities.

Depression has affected also the Asian-American community. The U.S. Surgeon Report

on Mental Health, Race and Ethnicity (2001), highlighted the strong influence of ethnic and

culture on the mental health of ethnic minorities in the United States. The report has highlighted

the variety of emotional as well as low utilization of mental health services among Asian

American families. The U.S. Surgeon Report on Mental Health, Race and Ethnicity (2001),

emphasized the strong influence of ethnicity and culture on the emotional health of ethnic

minorities in the United States. The report highlighted the variety of emotional as well as low

utilization of mental health services among Asian American families. The U.S. Surgeon Report

on Mental Health, Race and Ethnicity, (2001), "apparently suicide was seen as the fifth-leading

"'What kind of Asian are you?' has over 7 million views on YouTube. The video jokes about the one-sided stereotyping of Asian American women. Click here to view the video.

ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN'S MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS 6

cause of death among Asian Americans, compared to any other group. Older Asian American

women exhibited the highest suicide rate of over age 65 in the U.S. The Department of Health

and Human Services states; depression is the second leading cause of death among Asian women

who have fled from war and turmoil.” As stated, in America, one in five women from Asian

American families is diagnosed with mental illness that may lead to suicide. A study conducted

discovered that nearly 15 percent of American Asian women have considered suicide in their

livelihoods. "Asian countries place high importance on the family rather than the individual, and

mental disabilities and depression often reflect badly in the family lineage. The effects associated

with mental disability often prevents these conditions from being dealt with within Asian-

American communities", (Foo, 2003) However, the social restraint in taking over emotions that

often results in suicide for American Asian women. “Recent studies have confirmed a link

between suicide and Asian American women" (Cheng et.al 2011).

The research showed that Asian Americans women were at significant risk for contracting

post traumatic stress disorder associated with their experiences exhibited high numbers of

depressive symptoms, due to factors such as war, abuse and stress. Apparently suicide was seen

as the fifth-leading cause of death among Asian Americans, compared to any other group. Older

Asian American women exhibited the highest suicide rate of over age 65 in the U.S. Health and

Human Services states; stress is second in line, leading cause of death in Asian community who

have fled violence and turmoil. The social pressure of the feelings of stress combined with

homeland conditions, and loss among common immigrant communities has led to many deaths

for Asian-American women, who have the highest number of women. "The social expectations

are that Asian women do not have that freedom to go out or do the kinds of things most people

ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS 7

grow up to do. "Society's model stereotype of the well-educated and highly successful person can

make it hard for such women to accept their flaws," (NAMI).

ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN'S MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS 8

In general, as much as Asian Americans have also been classified as a "model

minority"and, as a whole, they are seen as industrious, intellectuals, smart, productive, and

modest communities who have elevated their community standing through diligence. This label

is given in disparity to other ethical stereotypes which habitually accuse minorities as portraying

undesirable behavior: such as sluggishness or criminal tendency. The measure for physical

characteristics is usually determined by the dominant people. As such, the greatest hindrance to

the process of integration is noticeable through performance and serves as a unique cultural

stressor for Asian Americas. This myth has pitted Asian making them a scapegoat. Perhaps none

has come in more mass than the Asians, this especially true for the Asians because they were the

first minorities to immigrate. To date, Asians have a long way to go to completely shut ethnic and

racial inequality. Regardless of their high accomplishment in education, they make inexplicably

less money than their white counterparts. These inconsistencies are leaving a rising fraction of

our population more exposed to poverty and its consequence. The model minority has pitted

Asian Americans' against other ethnic groups often making them a scapegoat in the social system

and trivializing their social and mental problems.

Lucy Liu is an Asian American actress who has played both stereotyped and non-stereotyped roles in films and television shows.

ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS 9

Until societal norms based on many factors in American culture begin to change, Asian

American women may still feel struggles to sustain proper mental health. Because of their

immigrant-based culture, they often struggle with challenges that American citizen's face – and

even as non-immigrants, simply being born Asian may pit you against being a model minority

which creates unnecessary stress, depression and links to suicide. Luckily in the modern era, it

can be seen in pop culture that Asian American women and stereotyping are becoming frowned

upon and many actresses and comedians are ensuring that these issues are being addressed. In

the near future, we can only hope that Asian American women are perceived as individuals and

not harmful stereotypes that either condemn them or pressure them to reach as goals.

References

David Jackson, Raymond Smith. (2009). Asian American Women and Gender Issues. Penguin

Eliza Noh, (2002). "Suicide among Asian American Women". University of California, Berkeley.

ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN'S MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

10

Foo. L., J. (2003) Asian American Women: Issues, Concerns, and Responsive Human and

Civil.Universe. Copyright. 

Jonathan H. X. Lee, Kathleen M. Nadeau. (1997). Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and

Folklife.ABC-CLIO. Copyright.

Lu, Francis. (2002) “The poor mental health care of Asian Americans.” Western Journal of

Medicine. Penguin

Lu, Francis. (2002). “The poor mental health care of Asian Americans.” Western Journal of

Medicine.

National Institute of Mental Health.www.nimh.nih.gov. May 24, 2011.

Nicholson, B.L. (1997). “The influence of pre-immigration and post migration stressors on

mental health: A study of Southeast Asian refugees,” Social Work Research. Rout ledge.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Mental Health: Culture, Race and Ethnicity

Supplement to MH: A Report of the Surgeon General. (2001).

University of Hawaii (n.d.).NAWHO Factsheet on Mental Health and Depression among Asians.