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Myopic Perceptions and Textbooks: Chinese Americans' Search for Identity 1
Author(s) -
Yee Albert H.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1540-4560
pISSN - 0022-4537
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-4560.1973.tb00075.x
Subject(s) - prejudice (legal term) , identity (music) , perception , illusion , social psychology , chinese americans , psychology , social identity theory , asian americans , social perception , gender studies , ethnic group , sociology , social group , cognitive psychology , aesthetics , anthropology , philosophy , neuroscience
Americans have perpetuated inaccurate images and attitudes concerning the Chinese that suggest the operation of social‐psychological anomalies and prevent the growth of healthy human relations. Narrow stereotypic perceptions of and prejudice toward the Chinese have been so pervasive and tenable that Americans of Chinese ancestry do not perceive themselves with a meaningful identity. Examination of American social studies textbooks for elementary and secondary schools shows that Asian studies and the involvement of Asians in American history are barely mentioned or neglected completely; furthermore what information is given reinforces stereotypic illusions. There is rising protest and counterresponse to the restrictive perceptions among younger Asian Americans who seek the identity and acceptance they have been denied by others and themselves.