• Susan Seligson

    Susan Seligson has written for many publications and websites, including the New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, the Boston Globe, Yankee, Outside, Redbook, the Times of London, Salon.com, Radar.com, and Nerve.com. Profile

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There are 22 comments on “Model Minority” Pressures Take Mental Health Toll

  1. Thank you BU Today for publishing this article. Your article should be well disseminated so that broader audience should learn about vulnerabilities regarding mental health among Asian-Americans. This article has an important implication to researchers, clinicians, public health practitioners, and policy makers who are working hard to reduce the mental health disparities for Asian-American women.

  2. I think those who have depression problems are afraid to see a psychiatrist, not because of the cost, but because they are afraid of being force to become a part time student and being judge by others as incompetent. Just like what those girls mentioned in the video, there is this expectation that once you are making good progress in school, you are expected to maintain or become better. It is hard to take care of oneself especially when one is a full time student, volunteering, working part time, participating in school organizations, and trying to make friends at the same time in an unfamiliar place. Someone I know is a double major plus a minor, does the above activities, and is studying a tough exam at the same time. I think Asian parents need to put themselves in their kids’ shoes and understand that life isn’t easy both psychological and physical.

  3. Health and mental health of Asian American women is truly an area that deserves more attention. I’m glad this group got featured here so it could bring awareness around these women’s struggles to the BU community.

  4. Definitely something that I know many of my peers to be affected by. I’m glad research is finally taking steps to look at how to solve this heavily stigmatized issue.

  5. This research is a significant contribution to the field of mental health and helps others recognize the stressors related to others expectations that the Asian and Asian American individual should succeed.

  6. Although I do not have any sisters who have gone through such ideals, I have a mother who was very hard-pressed by her parents to thrive and succeed in a world where she was forced to maintain a straight face in light of all her hardships. My grandparents, whom I love dearly, have typical asian standards and the effects of such standards resonate with my mother to this day. Thankfully my mother never push these standards towards my brother and me but I still see such harsh standards being brought upon my female friends and peers. I’m glad light is being brought upon a subject that not many people think about today in comparison to issues such as racism and income inequality.

  7. Great article and crucial topic! I would add that Asian-American families also experience a lot of racism that doubly effects mental health and anxiety. Asian-American women are pressured to do better to “make it” in a society where white privilege will still get you the job and the financial security your family has been fighting for all this time. My parents often experienced racism in the workplace, and this added weight to my personal pressure to succeed.

    1. Emily . White privilege is a myth. I can bring you to parts of New England where poor whites working at places such at Walmart or Dunken donuts would be surprised with this “white privilege”. It is really about class.

  8. If as you said, Asian Americans are now the countries best educated and highest earning, where is the model minority myth?
    Asian parents push their children to not only to do well but to be the top student.
    Do you want the parents to lower their expectations? Is there a balance?

  9. Thanks BU for publishing this sensitive issue. This is very heart touching and goes me into deep thoughts that why is this inequality among people. I have some of my friends who had the similar experience But at the same time we have hell out of examples where this Asian american differences doesn’t exist.I don’t think that any “privileged” thing is exist.but i am hoping for the best. Thanks

  10. Although I really appreciate and agree with this article, I believe that this is a growing problem for people of all ethnicities. Mental health related stigma in all ages, genders, and races needs to be explored as well.

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