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It fits the bill. Asians are treated as white in tech. There's never any conversation around Asian-Americans. It's awkward because we're not quite Asian, but no
by ngokevin 6y ago
It fits the bill. Asians are treated as white in tech. There's never any conversation around Asian-Americans. It's awkward because we're not quite Asian, but not quite treated as fully American either. Many programs have checkboxes to identify as minority groups (black, LBGTQ+, women, LatinX, which is great), but not Asians, who are statistically one of the biggest minorities at ~5%.
Despite my family being refugees, much of which died getting here. Despite eastern culture being almost the polar opposite of western culture. I wish that counted for something more.
Not asking for any special treatment because I feel Asian-Americans just put their head down and do the work. But it's stark how silent the conversation around Asian-Americans is, except for when we talk about Crazy Rich Asians.
- wcarron 6y ago> It fits the bill. Asians are treated as white in tech. Or are they treated as asians? This whole thing is complicated, but including asian people as 'white' when it is colloqially used to mean 'caucasian european' for the most part, is just disigenuous and moving the goalposts.
- ngokevin 6y agoNever in tech have I seen conversation about Asian Americans been brought up. When I say, they're treated as white, it's more like they're treated "not a POC", which only leaves a designation of white. Except Asians don't get put in leadership positions as easily as white counterparts (bamboo ceiling). I've seen many times (online at least) where people have explicitly said Asians don't count as POC, despite facing a large brunt of racism.
- recursive 6y ago> Never in tech have I seen conversation about Asian Americans been brought up. But also > Except Asians don't get put in leadership positions as easily as white counterparts I guess it's now been brought up, so that's a milestone.
- ngokevin 6y agoWe ain’t known for speaking up :) It is a time where we are getting violently targeted. And while people are jumping at the bit to speak up for every other group, we’re forced to uncharacteristically muster it up ourselves. I imagine if I was any other minority group talking about my experiences, it'd be taken more seriously.
- wcarron 6y ago> When I say, they're treated as white, it's more like they're treated "not a POC" You have missed the point. However they are being treated, by definition, is how asian-americans in tech are treated. They aren't being treated as "not POC", that is how asian poc are treated.
- Dylan16807 6y agoThat seems like a pretty circular argument. What evidence would falsify it? What if I made a similar argument except I replaced "asian" with "french"? How would you prove there's a difference between that argument and your argument?
- wcarron 6y agoIt is a tautology in a sense, but the point is that the case isn't "asian people are treated like white people in tech". The case is "white and asian people are treated like X in tech". Hope that makes sense.
- ngokevin 6y agoOkay, sure. I’m just drawing an equivalence to how Asians are treated to how whites are treated, rather than how I think they should be treated, as POCs. That’s my point, a point of comparison and contrast.
- pnutjam 6y agoI've seen discrimination against Asians. Sometimes a current of disrespect or resentment exists. I also notice a distinct different between how an Asian, or non-white in general, is treated when they are in a superior position vs an inferior position.