Why do American people think Asians are either slow or stupid?

Question

many of our cacusian neighbors treat my wife and me as if we were slow or retarded. I score 138 on mensa IQ test and My wife 137. We speak English as fluently as any other Americans since we both migrated here while we were very young. We both have advanced degree in business.

Answer 1

Sorry you have morons for neighbors, but you are mistaken. Most Americans have an unrealistically high opinion of Asians. If an Asian kid enters a spelling bee, we expect them to win. If an Asian kid enrolls in a math class, we expect them to get 100% on every single mark. If an Asian is a musician, we expect them to be more talented than any American could possibly be.

I think you need to get new neighbors. They apparently have problems.

Answer 2

I'm American and I would never assume that...you can assume THEY are projecting, they're thinking that if THEY were immigrants how STUPID they would be. They mistake, like many Americans, an accent as an indication of intelligence.
Ignore them - talk back to them like THEY'RE slow.
By the way, as a black person, I've had Asians and causcasions talk to me like I'M stupid - I have a 161 IQ, I usually disabuse them of this concept quite quickly - and decisively.
I particularly appreciate it when I get complemented on how "well" I speak. Imagine. Since I was born here.
Sometimes, I just answer, "thank you, not bad huh? Considering I just took the bone outta my nose last week". having a sense of humor about it lessens the aggravation. I get all Robin Williams about it and have some fun with it.

Answer 3

Is this a serious question?

My observations is that Americans stereotypically think of Asians as math and computer geeks.

20 years ago and earlier, the term "Geek" implied someone who is very introverted and lacks social skills. A helter-skelter dressed individual who is unable to get a date and unable to interact with the opposite sex.

Today's definition of "Geek" has evolved.
Yes, there are still some "social inadequacies" associated with the term, however, it mostly refers to someone who is intelligent, mostly in the math, sciences, and computer fields.

Some use it and refer to it as a "badge of honor."

Today there are actual Computer Support Businesses with the word GEEK in the company name.

Examples: "GeeK Squad" and "Geeks On Call".
Both are thriving computer support companies.
Their strategy is as follows:
Someone is having computer/network problems.
They are unable to resolve those problems.
They call the "GEEKS" because the "GEEKS" have the knowledge and skills to resolve the issues. These companies even have their own T-shirts proudly displaying the word "Geek".

So, most of the Asian stereotypes I've seen, politically incorrect or not are of nerdy/geeky individuals who are very smart.

Example #2. South Park--> Cartoon.

There is 1 episode when the South Park Elementry School's Dodge ball team travels to China to play China for the World Elementary School Dodge Ball Championship.

Well, there is 1 scene when they cut to 2 Chinese "sportscasters" in the mold of Frank Gifford and Howard Cossell.

One Chinese sportscaster says to the other sportscaster:
"What do you call an American with a PhD in Physics & Chemistry?"

Sportcaster #2 says:
"I don't know, what do you call An American with a PhD in Physics & Chemistry?"

Sportscaster #1 says:
"Stupid American."

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South Park is never "politically correct."
Yet, the Asian stereotype they portrait is that all Chinese have superior intelligence to Americans.


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If you pay careful attention to TV, movies, and magazines, I think you see most Asians portrayed as very intelligent.

I am lost on how you acquired your perception.

Answer 4

I am sorry that you had such an unpleasant encounter with people who just happen to be in America. Still, you shouldn't generalize, stating that AMERICAN people think this way. Have you met each and every American? Don't forget that there are Asian Americans, too.

I suggest you ignore them; they're not worth your time. Based on your high IQ scores, you should know that you are not slow or stupid. Don't let what others think of you affect you. Their opinions don't matter. If they get racist, you can report the situation to the police.

Remember, America is one big country, with many different kinds of people, both good and bad.
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Your question:

many of our cacusian neighbors treat my wife and me as if we were slow or retarded. I score 138 on mensa IQ test and My wife 137. We speak English as fluently as any other Americans since we both migrated here while we were very young. We both have advanced degree in business.

Corrections:

Many of our Caucasian neighbors treat my wife and I as if we were slow or retarded. I scored 138 on Mensa IQ test and my wife scored 137. We speak English as fluently as any other American, since we both migrated here when we were very young. We both have advanced degree in business.

Answer 5

You can't judge all americans based on 2 people..........and most generally if asians were put into any stereotype that i've seen it would be smart/nerdy.Maybe you could try to help change their minds about it-possibly invite them to a cookout or some kind of party or something.Or the possibility could be that it's not even about your race,maybe it's because of something else.

Answer 6

I'm sorry your neighbors treat you this way. I don't know why they would think you are stupid, especially since the general American stereotype of Asian's is that you are all incredibly smart (which in your case you are).

Answer 7

Try not to judge all 360+ million Americans by the behavior of your two neighbors.

Answer 8

i have never heard of american people thinking asians were slow or stupid. everyone i have ever know that has been asian has been extremely smart, and i would never associate the words slow or stupid. maybe ther neighbors are stupid and just dont get it. way to go on your mensa score!

Answer 9

that's why, i'm asian but i don't look at a race by the behavior of a few morons. In fact, i'm ashamed to be asian because most of us are slow and stupid and not to mention racist. Most of my friends are white and they never think of me as inferior. But the only reason you're bothered by your neighbors is because you probably have an inferiority complex

Answer 10

in my opinion, it's the opposite. when Americans think of Asians they think of geniuses who spend their lives doing math problems and entering in chess competitions. i live in nyc and a lot of the most prestigious schools are poplated by Asians.