It might be said that all cultures have the same values. Blacks value
education too. But if actions speak louder than words, the
extraordinary number of social outcomes that are better for Asians
than the dominant Euro-Americans show that values such as education
and family are indeed much stronger for Asians, and might be weaker
among groups like the African Americans, most, but not all whom
prefer to blame their plight on racism instead of values.
On a scale from conservative to liberal, and feminine to masculine,
you might put Asians at one end, African at the other, with Europeans
somwhere in the middle. This scale also appears to cover academic /
intellectual abilities and sexual activity, with Phillipe Rushton
making the most outrageous evolutionary theorization as to why this
might be so. This also may have a big effect on the inter-racial
dating imbalance which seems to favor White men with Asian women, and
Black men with White women. from
"Peter Payne writes, "One interesting social concept I see at work a
lot in Japan is the idea of 'gaman,' which means to endure or to
tolerate something that's difficult to bear. The idea that is that if
there's something you don't like around you, it's better to endure it
stoically in an act of self-sacrifice rather than act immediately to
change it. "
Contents
@@african economies
Asian Colonies Thrive, African Colonies Decay - Values?
\clip\97\02\afrituff.txt U.S NEWS & WORLD REPORT February 3, 1997 The
same old excuses A Black American's tough prescription for Africa's
ills BY KEITH B. RICHBURG
@@american view
\priv\95\18\aswmheal.txt 16 November 17. 1995 ASIAN WEEK "The
State
of Asian Women's Health: A Compendium of Facts and Findings"
API
cultural roots are often viewed by mainstream society as "inferior,"
"outdated," "uninformed / ignorant" "superstititious"
or "exotic";
@@Asian Values
Efax: March 1985 Arthur Hu
Introduction to Asian Values
z63\clipim\2003\01\13\asval\asval.efx
What ARE Asian Values?
While it is easy to stereotype and other ethnic groups, there have been
values documented by Asian cultures as being important, and widely
recognized as being more prominent than in Western or African cultures.
What Are American Values?
American advantages lie in a network structure, which like in computing is
much more powerful and flexible than a heirarchical structure which depends
more on direction from above.
Good presentation:
http://www.slideshare.net/christinetan/asian-american-values-crosscultural-communication-and-the-work-place
transscript:
Asian American Values, Cross-Cultural Communication and the Work Place - Presentation Transcript
Self Examination: I am…
ASIAN AMERICAN VALUES, CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION AND THE WORK PLACE TechMission, April 2008
Agenda
Self Examination: I am…
Why is Ethnicity Important?
Don’t Stereotype
Asian American vs. Mainstream (Western) Values
What Colleagues May Say About Asian Americans
Asian American Behaviors and Mainstream Perceptions
Good Organizations for Asian Americans
Why This is Important in This Context (Jesus, Justice)
Reflection
Questions // For Possible Future Discussion or Training
Self Examination: Ethnic Identity Questionnaire
Why is Ethnicity Important? 1
A Good Summary Statement from Paul
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. And to the Jews I become as a Jew, that I might win the Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, though not being myself under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. (1 Cor.9:19-22)
Lesson : God communicates spiritual truths through human languages and cultures. Hence if we are to better understand God, we must understand ethnicity and culture. And if we are to better let God love others through us, we must understand ethnicity and culture.
Self Examination: Ethnic Identity Questionnaire: Take home: Take 20-30 minutes to answer the following questions on your own.
Don’t Stereotype 2
These are generalities and there are always exceptions. These can simply be helpful categories to reflect upon.
As generalizations, may not totally reflect the values of specific Asian Americans or specific Asian groups. While organizations reward those who hold the dominant cultural values at the managerial level, values of both groups are important
For those in minority groups, if brought up in primarily mainstream environments, will have had to learn at least some Mainstream (Western) values to survive.
Those who have lived several generations in the US may find themselves holding values from both cultures.
What Colleagues May Say About Asian Americans 2
From a workshop survey of 40 young professionals, ages 23-35, Asian and non-Asian
General description:
quiet, don’t speak up
Submissive
Good at math/science
Good producers/hardworking
Smart
Well educated
Don’t ask a lot of questions
Not involved with the community
Cliquish with other Asians
Not fluent in English/perceived as foreigners
Loyal/don’t do a lot of job-hopping
What Colleagues May Say About Asian Americans 2
From a workshop survey of 40 young professionals, ages 23-35, Asian and non-Asian
Perceived behaviors:
They tend to not speak up in meetings or wait their turns in meetings.
They rarely complain about policies or work initiatives.
They form Asian cliques.
They are soft-spoken and don’t make much eye contact.
They’re not good at self-promotion and marketing themselves.
They tend to be risk averse.
They are always busy working and never have time to socialize after hours.
Asian American Behaviors and Mainstream Perceptions 3 Asian American Behavior Possible Interpretation by Person from Mainstream Culture
Quiet, doesn’t speak up
Isn’t interested, doesn’t understand or knows it all
Not assertive (according to the dominant value)
Lacks leadership, could not be authoritative when necessary
Limited facial expression, demonstrative behavior
Has no investment in the matter at hand, no feeling; therefore seems to have no vulnerability, which could be a threat
Asian American Behaviors and Mainstream Perceptions 3 Asian American Behavior Possible Interpretation by Person from Mainstream Culture
Doesn’t complain, good worker
Not interested, lacks knowledge or information, unwilling to share, secretive, lacks confidence
Doesn’t socialize after work
Lacks respect, shows no interest, no confidence, is unable to read nonverbal cues of those he or she is talking to, shifty, untrustworthy
Asian American Behaviors and Mainstream Perceptions 3 Asian American Behavior Possible Interpretation by Person from Mainstream Culture
Unwilling to take chances
Lacks leadership skills to manage a group
Speaks with an accent
Is not credible; doesn’t know much; can’t speak, read, write or understand English
Physically short, small
Lacks maturity, has limited ability to influence, organize, motivate others
Asian American Behaviors and Mainstream Perceptions 2 Behavior Perceived Liability Positive Attributes Respect for authority
Perceived as a yes-man
Does not push back or speak up about issues
Exploitable
Genuine loyalty to employer
Has desire to learn from others; is “teachable”
Collectivist
May not make decisions quickly
Not considered innovative or out-of-box thinker
Afraid to stand out from the pack
May avoid conflict to save face with the group
Collaborative decision maker
Inclusive leader
Easy to work with
Asian American Behaviors and Mainstream Perceptions 2 Behavior Perceived Liability Positive Attributes Controlled/emotionally restrained
Unemotional, lacks enthusiasm and drive
Lacks passion about organization’s mission
Arrogant, not interested in work product
Has internal strength to tolerate crisis situations; does not “lose it”
Demonstrates a resilience to changes in organizational structure
Modest/humble about accomplishments
Work efforts go unrecognized
May be overlooked during promotion season
May not get assigned high-visibility projects or to special task forces
Encourages team members to receive credit for their work
Team player
Asian American vs. Mainstream (Western) Values 3 Asian American Values Mainstream (Western) Values
Self control/discipline
Speaks only when spoken to
Inner stamina/strength to tolerate crisis
Solid performer
Doesn’t show emotions
Spontaneity/casualness
Importance of social skills, informal relationships, small talk
All right to show all kinds of emotion
Promote flexibility
Fatalism
Acceptance of ambiguity and uncertainty
More patient, more ready to accept things as they are
Respect for change/control over one’s environment/belief in self-determination
More risk-taking
More aggressive
Concrete/strive for explicitness
Initiates
Asian American vs. Mainstream (Western) Values 3 Asian American Values Mainstream (Western) Values
Obedient to authority/ Respect for elders
Respect those who lead
Loyal
Trustworthy
Follow through on assignments
All right to question authority
Anticipates problem areas, opportunities and initiates appropriate actions
No fear of challenging or opposing authority; ability to push the envelope with parents, professors, bosses, clients
Humbleness
Low individual visibility
Power is shared with others
Cites Accomplishments
Visibility (individual) is all right
Rewards individual for outstanding actions
Power is perceived as individual power
Asian American vs. Mainstream (Western) Values 2 Asian American Values Mainstream (Western) Values
Collective decision-making and Community over individualist thinking
Proving the sources
Collective responsibility and ownership
Interdependence
Strong sense of teamwork
Tough, individualistic and authoritative leadership
Individual leadership
Individual responsibility
Independence
“ pioneer spirit”
Characteristics of Organizations That May Be Helpful for Asian American Leaders 3
Are self-aware about different leadership styles (ie direct-indirect, male-female, loud-quiet, assertive-deferential)
Value and openly discuss different styles
Value “processing” as much as making the decision
Develop minority viewpoints and styles of expression
Have a corporate ethos that encourages diversity and multiethnicity throughout the entire organization, no just for those who are “into it”; it’s a place where ethnicity and ethnic identity issues are affirmed
Have top leaders who have an awareness of institutional and systemic injustice within their organization and are doing something about it
Are willing to fund training opportunities and cross-pollination for Asian American leaders with other Asian American or minority leaders – inside and outside the organization
Recognize Asian Americans as Americans, don’t refer to Asian Americans as “Orientals” or Asians
Group Discussions: Possible Challenges for Asian Americans
Finding Space, Finding Voice: A challenge because:
allowing space for everyone else to speak, less likely to interrupt or risk interrupting or “jump in”
responds to the collective group: tracks/stays on topic, less likely to jump topics, likely to listen to what everyone in the group says and then formulate a thought based on that and then respond
Sometimes only speak if feel have something ‘valuable” to contribute to the group – sensitive to audience, responsive to what others have said, may not repeat what someone else has already said or if the thought is not new
Being able to speak w. conviction vs. uncertainty (group consensus) 2
May back down too easily when challenged/difficult to disagree publicly or defend work (obedience, authority) 2
Suggestions for Group or Classroom Discussion Leaders
Value both listening and speaking as engagement
Be aware that cultural values may affect presentation and behavior, but not substance
One to one meetings may get more thoughts from person
Try different styles: If soliciting feedback:
Go around the group, taking turns so that everyone has an opportunity to speak
Give people time to think or prepare ahead of time
Allow space for silence
Why is this important in this context (Jesus, Justice)
Historical and present oppression: immigration laws & labor, model minority stereotype, perpetual foreigner stereotype, male and female stereotypes
Church participates in these systems: ethnocentric (demands acculturation or assimilation)
Response:
Need for dominant culture/ culture of power to learn about itself (and also learn about injustice) and submit or include in cross-cultural contexts
Need for non-dominant groups to learn about own culture and history
Affirmation and honoring of cultural values in the image of God (ex: friend re: thoughtfulness/selflessness of Asian Americans)
Validation of group specific ministry for non-dominant groups
Build bridges in the body
Both dominant and non-dominant groups model inclusive leadership
Reflection
Your culture or ethnic identity: Take a few minutes to jot down some observations and responses–
Candlestick: light or insights
?: questions
Arrows: ouch or conviction
What are some areas of growth for you and possible next steps to grow in those areas?
Questions // For Possible Future Discussion or Training
What was helpful? What would you like to know more about? What bugged you? What are things you would like to discuss more in the future?
Appendix
How Do Non-Asians View Asian America? (survey May 2001) 3
46% believe that Chinese Americans passing on secret information to the Chinese government is a problem
34% feel Chinese Americans have too much influence in the U.S. technology sector
32% feel Chinese Americans always like to be at the head of things
32% feel Chinese Americans don’t care what happens to anyone but their own kind
19% see the increase of the Asian population as being bad for the United States
25% of all surveyed had very negative attitudes and stereotypes of Chinese Americans.
Most non-Asian Americans couldn’t tell the difference between Chinese Americans and other Asian Americans and registered similar percentages about other Asian Americans.
“ Asian American unfriendly” organizations will likely have… 3
No Asian Americans in at least middle management positions
No Asian American board members
No possible advocates or mentors who have a good understanding of Asian Americans
Poor funding for training and development of Asian Americans in leadership roles
Nothing or very little in the long-range plan for recruitment and development of Asian American leaders
Senior leaders who call Asian Americans “Orientals” or Asians, and don’t recognize them as Americans
A majority culture ethos with little hope or interest in changing; ethnicity and ethnic identity issues are ignored or bad-mouthed
Poor track record of retaining Asian American personnel
Some Statistics 2
1995: of the top 1,000 industrial firms and 500 largest businesses in the U.S., only 3% of senior managers were professionals of color
2003: women and minorities make up 2/3 of new labor force entrance annually
In the silicon valley, where Asian Americans comprise 30% of technology professionals, 1993: white people hold 80% of managerial positions, vs. 12.5% for Asian Ams .
2003: Asian women make up less than 0.5% of corporate officers at the 429 Fortune 500 companies that provided these data:
Out of 10,092 Fortune 500 corporate officers in 2002, only 30 (0.29%) were Asian women
Definitions 2
Acculturation is adapting to new cultural patterns of the dominant culture while continuing to maintain values, perspectives, and features of one’s native culture.
Assimilation is adopting the dominant culture’s behaviors, values perspectives, and characteristics at the expense of one’s own cultural characteristics.
Sources
Mako Nagasawa// InterVarsity Training
Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling , Jane Hyun
Invitation to Lead , Paul Tokunaga
googdocs: "notes asian values" http://docs.google.com/View?id=dfthx7q4_2134f2jhkwft
@@assertive - see assertive
@@authoritarian
CHINA: AUTHORITARIAN RULE NECCESARY
\clip\97\07\chinval.txt " Chinese leaders claim authoritarian rule
is necessary to provide the most fundamental rights to their 1.2
billion people -- adequate food and shelter -- and to prevent
disorder" AP 4-Mar-1997 17:29 EST REF5236 Copyright 1997. The
Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. China Condemns U.S. Social
Structure
\clip\97\02\singpore.txt WHEN "ECONOMIC FREEDOM" BARS CHEWING GUM
Singapore is ranked high on economic freedom, but bans chewing gum.
\priv\95\02\authparn.txt - Asians most authoritarian parents
but got best grades despite general authoritarian -> poorer
grades
Sanford Dornbusch, et. al
@@battle
ASIA TRIES TO FEND OFF AMERICAN VALUES
\clip\97\01\asiaval.txt December 29th issue of the LA Times U.S. vs
Asia: Culture as Diplomacy by Jacob Heilbrun
In late November, Disney announced that, despite Chinese threats, the
company would go ahead with plans to distribute Martin Scorcese's coming
film on the Dalai Lama, titled "Kundun". Since then, Disney has earned
kudos from the U.S. media for standing up to Beijing. By putting
principle ahead of potential profits, the Magic Kingdom ended up
triumphing over the Middle Kingdom.
@@black
MARKETING WITH A URBAN BLACK IMAGE
\clip\97\09\badass\badass.htm Forbes Magazine
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/97/0421/5908142a.htm Forbes 4/21/97
Here's a quick lesson in hip-hoponomics. For products to sell in
Greenwich and Grosse Pointe, they better be "butter" on the
inner-city streets of New York and Los Angeles. Badass sells By
Joshua Levine
@@character
2 STUDIES: JUST GIVING MONEY TO THE POOR WON'T MAKE THEM MIDDLE CLASS
\CLIP\97\14\POVVALU.TXT tip: dchiang@juno.com Believe it or not, new
objective study by "Liberal Scholars" finds that income per se has a
smaller impact on how poor children fare than middle class Americans.
Of course, it is still politically incorrect to mention that poor
Asian kids do surprisingly well. But Arthur Hu should feel vindicated
with this new study. - Dave Chiang "Parents' character--their skills,
diligence, honesty, and good health--probably matter more to
children's prospects than money. "Although children's opportunities
are unequal," she writes, "income inequality is not the primary
reason."
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/970602/2pove.htm
Is lack of money the reason kids stay poor?
Liberal scholars reach surprising conclusions
BY DAVID WHITMAN US News and World Report 6/2/97
Novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote that the very rich "are
different from you and me," which provoked a famous rejoinder from
Ernest Hemingway: "Yes, they have more money."
@@copy
"Tradition of Copying in China Fuels the Piracy of
Intellectual Property" Los Angeles Times March 5, 1995 Frankie
Fook-Lun Leung. The Chinese have a long honored tradition of
copying. It is considered acceptable.
@@crime
\clip\96\12\execdrug.txt AP 25-Dec-1996 5:45 EST REF5122 China
Executes 17 Drug Dealers HONG KONG (AP) -- China executed at least 17
convicts on Christmas Eve and sentenced another 12 to death, many of
them drug traffickers and murderers, Hong Kong newspapers reported
today.
doc\94\3\asiacrim.txt - asians don't want to be lectured by
Americans on how to punish people
@@elder care
\clip\96\04\singparn.txt The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition
-- September 17, 1996 Act to Provide for Aging Parents Spurs Rash of
Familial Litigation By PETER WALDMAN Staff Reporter of THE WALL
STREET JOURNAL: Singapore passes laws requiring grown children to
support their living parents in old age. "When it comes to money from
your pocket, you see how fast those traditional 'Asian values' can
dissipate,"
@@Evolution
AFRICANS HAVE MORE DNA MUTATIONS, SO MAY HAVE BEEN FIRST
http://www.usatoday.com/life/science/genetics/lsg010.htm
\clip\97\12\evol.txt USA Today 4/1/97 African origin theory advances
"The new study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
finds that Africans consistently have a greater number of mutations
than Asians or Europeans, suggesting that modern humans do have an
African beginning. "
@@genetic
Cultural values may be backed up by genetic predisposition
ASIAN FAMILY STUDY VALUE AIDED BY GENETIC PREDISPOSITIONS
limfam.txt
"[Asian's genetic] long attention span, greater self-control, and large
working memory capacity constitute a recipe for academic success
through self-directed study"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898621488/qid%3D932510850/002-6136436-5720019
The Limits of Family Influence : Genes, Experience, and Behavior by
David C. Rowe Our Price: $19.95
The Limits of Family Influence argues that socialization science has
placed too heavy an emphasis on the family as the bearer of culture.
Similarly, it reveals how the environmental variables most often
named in socialization science - such as social class, parental
warmth, and one- versus two-parent households - may also be empty of
causal influence on child outcomes such as intelligence, personality,
and psychopathology.
@@ghetto
\priv\96\20\BOYSCLUB.HTM Seattle Times Company June 6, 1996 'Street
Soldier' battles the virus of teen violence by Daryl Strickland
Listen to these "Commandments of the Hood":
-- Thou shalt not snitch.
-- Thou shalt handle thy business.
-- Thou shalt do what thou gotta do.
-- Thou shalt get girls.
-- Thou shalt get thy respect.
-- Thou shalt get thy money on.
-- Thou shalt carry a gat (gun).
-- Thou shalt be down for thy homeboy: right or wrong.
Compiled by Joseph Marshall Jr., co-founder of San Francisco's Omega
Boys Club,
@@HAGGLE
asian-value doc934\haggle.txt Asians consider everything negotiable
@@Hong Kong
Subject: NR 12/31/97 Hong Kong
Arthur I wanted to make sure that you did not miss the mighty fine
article by Milton Friedman in the NR titled Asian Values: Right...
@@materialism
\priv\96\13\MATRMINO.HTM Materialism Among Minorities by Diane
Crispell August 1993 American Demographics Blacks could be more
materialistic than Hispanics or Asian Americans. Or they could be
more willing to talk about their material desires, according to a
recent study by Market Segment Research of Coral Gables, Florida.
@@Mexican
DIM VIEW OF MEXICAN WORK ETHIC IN 1831
\doc\web\99\10\mexpov.txt -
Lorenzo de Zavala, Journey to the United States of North America,
1831 one of the leaders of the Mexican revolution "The Mexican is
easygoing, lazy, intolerant, generous almost to prodigality, vain,
belligerent, superstitious, ignorant and an enemy of all restraint.
The North American works, the Mexican has a good time"
@@Passive
Chinese passive?
@@PARENTS
\clip\97\11\fargo.txt - Kurdish refugees are viewed as being to
strict with their children, and are told that there are other methods
other than spanking or beating.
"Changing Values" Sesame Street Parents December / January
1995 p. 14 Duane alwin, PhD at the University of Michigan in Ann
Arbor found that parents from the 1920s to 1970s tended to teach
obedience, manners and gender appropriate behavior. By 1980, emphasis
had changed to independent thinking, taking responsibility for one's
own actions and using good judgement. Only honesty remained constant
over time.
asian-value The lessions we can learn from Asian Parents San Jose
Mercury June 27, 1993 John Rosemond - discipline Latchkey kids need
supervision, even from afar Betsy Bates (Los Angeles Daily News) San
Jose Mercury July 14, 1993 1D Authoratorian and authoritative
parenting was better than unengaged.
@@Poverty
CULTURE CAUSES POVERTY? ASIANS VS BLACK / HISPANIC \doc\web\99\10\cultpov.txt Lawrence
Harrison WSJ piece
Harvard U Press Press Release
What Money Can't Buy | Reviews
2 STUDIES: JUST GIVING MONEY TO THE POOR WON'T MAKE THEM MIDDLE CLASS
\CLIP\97\14\POVVALU.TXT tip: dchiang@juno.com Believe it or not, new
objective study by "Liberal Scholars" finds that income per se has a
smaller impact on how poor children fare than middle class Americans.
Of course, it is still politically incorrect to mention that poor
Asian kids do surprisingly well. But Arthur Hu should feel vindicated
with this new study. - Dave Chiang Susan Mayer's What Money Can't
Buy, published by Harvard University Press, and the forthcoming
Consequences of Growing Up Poor, edited by Greg Duncan and Jeanne
Brooks-Gunn for the Russell Sage Foundation, both conclude that
income per se has a smaller impact on how poor children fare than
many believe. "Parents' character--their skills, diligence, honesty,
and good health--probably matter more to children's prospects than
money. "Although children's opportunities are unequal," she writes,
"income inequality is not the primary reason."
"Can't buy me love" Economist June 21, 1997 p. 29 Review of "What Money
Can't Buy" by Susan Mayer says that study shows that raising the incomes of
the poor from $15,000 to $30,000 year would not have much effect on the
outcomes of the children of the poor. High school drop out rates would only fall
from 17.3 to 16.1% and teen mothers only from 20% to 18%. Chart ;shows
behavioral index about same, reading about same, mathematics only up from
102 to 103, and vocabulary from 95 to 98. Revies mentions Chicago study that
shows black students improved when they moved to the suburbs, which they
might be able to do if they had more money.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/970602/2pove.htm
Is lack of money the reason kids stay poor?
Liberal scholars reach surprising conclusions
BY DAVID WHITMAN US News and World Report 6/2/97
@@punish
PUNISHMENT (NOT PHYSICAL ABUSE) VS. REASONING WORKS FOR PRESCHOOLERS
\clip\98\10\punish.txt
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/horn1.html Do bad
\'authority-fugures\' make good parents? By Dr. Wade F. Horn
[parents who backed up reasoning with punishment did much better than
kids who got reasoning only, but author says that includes time-out
and other non-physical punishment]
\clip\96\02\japnsuic.txt Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 10:28:27 -0400 TOKYO,
Aug. 21 (Kyodo) -- -- The parents of a western Japan elementary
school boy who committed suicide at the age of 11 in 1994 said
Wednesday they will file a suit next month claiming corporal
punishment caused his death.
@@spanking
\priv\95\19\spank.htm - \priv\95\19\spank.htm SJM 12/6/95 Spanking
widespread in U.S. BY BARBARA KESSLER Gallup poll found half of
parents approve of spanking sometimes. 30% had used a hard object. 1
in 20 has suffered severe child abuse.
56% of Parade readers approve of spanking. 1991 General Social Survey
67%, was 84% in 1986 "What Our readers say about spanking"
Parade May 15, 1994
@@special
40% of special ed students / down's syndrome don't graduate -
turning point ABC 9/7/945