Document Type
Honors Project
Abstract
The “Model Minority” Myth portrays Asian Americans as uniformly successful, disciplined, and hard-working, often positioning their success as proof to minorities that systemic barriers can be overcome through individual effort. While some have celebrated this stereotype, it has also been weaponized to obscure systemic inequalities, reinforce racial hierarchies, and pit Asian Americans against other minority groups. Despite its pervasive influence, the impact of this myth on Asian Americans’ political party affiliation remains underexplored. This research attempts to answer the question of how the Model Minority Myth, anti-Black sentiments, and shared sense of groupness shape the political alignment of Asian Americans. Using data from the American National Election Studies 2020 Time Series Study, I find that while the Model Minority Myth, anti-Black sentiments, and shared senses of groupness dimensions align predictably with support for Trump in 2020, other sociocultural factors like personal experience, policy priorities, and view of the current state of national affairs muddy these relationships. Although anti-Blackness, more than the Model Minority Myth itself, strongly predicts affiliation with Trump; the Model Minority narrative encourages alignment with whiteness and individualism, molded by racial consciousness. By analyzing how Asian Americans’ political leaning reflects internalized stereotypes, racial positioning, and broader socio-cultural dynamics, this study provides insights into the intersection of race, identity, and political outcomes, highlighting the need for a nuanced understanding of Asian Americans’ political behavior.
Recommended Citation
Yang, Aiden, "Falling in Line: The Model Minority Myth and Asian American Political Alignment" (2025). Sociology Honors Projects. 80.
https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/soci_honors/80
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