Filipinos and the Myth of Model Minority in Hawai'i

Abstract

Despite tremendous heterogeneity in culture, native language, values, socioeconomic status and a steadily growing presence in the United States, Asian Americans are viewed as a monolithic group under the model minority stereotype. Using the focus group approach with youth, young professionals, key/community leaders, and parent participants, the authors determined that in reference to Filipino Americans living in the diverse ethnic and cultural landscape of Hawai'i, the model minority label does not apply. Implications for policy, practice, and further research are discussed.

Academic-Community Partnership to Explore High-Smoking Prevalence in Filipina Girls

“…The cultural key informants also recommended family based interventions to prevent smoking. Strong family connections, support, and positive family functioning, are protective against risk behaviors (e.g., sexual activity, violence, and smoking) among Filipino youth (Chung et al, 2007;Cunanan et al, 2006;Guerrero et al, 2010;Willgerodt, 2008). Positive family functioning and self image were associated with not smoking among Filipino youth in Los Angeles .…”

“…Strong family connections and support, and positive family functioning (which are important in some cultures) are protective against sexual activity, violence, and smoking, among Filipino youth (Chung et al, 2007;Cunanan, Guerrero, & Minamoto, 2006;Guerrero et al, 2009;. Weiss, Garbanati, Tanjasiri, Xie, & Palmer, 2006;Willgerodt, 2008).…”

Children of Filipino Immigrants in Hawai'i: Adolescent Girls' Experiences at Home and at School

“…However, the popular view of Filipino and other Asian Americans as model minorities may result in the assumption that this group is problem-free and not likely to be in need of services. Like other recent scholarship on Filipino youth in Hawai’i (Cunanan, Guerrero, & Minamoto, 2007), the current paper questions such an assumption by highlighting the challenges facing girls of Filipino immigrants in Hawai’i.…”

Care for the seafarers: A review of mental health in Austronesia

“…In Hawai‘i, the per capita income for Native Hawaiians and Filipinos ($14,199 and $16,426) is significantly less than that for the whole population ($21,525) and for Chinese and Japanese ($27,421 and $29,257) (Cunanan et al ., ). Research in Hawai‘i confirms that low SES is associated with suicide attempts (Yuen et al ., ) and misconduct (Hishinuma et al ., ) among Native Hawaiian youth and with psychopathology and poor school performance among Filipino youth (Guerrero et al ., ).…”