the cold war effects on the asian sterotype

Applying to College
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I was studying the cold war and read the Asian thread about affirmative action. It suddenly clicked (this is a theory I came up not a web pasting):

History flashback:

Soviet Russia and US have a cold war and built atomic bombs. They have lots of smart people to built rockets and race to space. This all take a huge amount of math and science background. Soviets have communism, which emphasizes math and science in school to foster the next generation of scientific developments.

US colleges and high schools introduce things like calculus and trig to do the same. They also make students take hard sciences like physics. Then US colleges, namely Ivies would take the students who are great at these things so hopefully be the colleges that develop the next great invention in atomic energy and rocket sciences.

Present day (my thoughts):

While the arms and space races have ended the US and other nations around the world still put lots of emphasis on science and math especially China and other Asian nations left over from this the Cold war. The dawn of mini-electronics also has emphized computers greatly in those Asian nations. The effect now is that every immigrant that had gone to a pubic school in China is heavy trained in the arts of science and math. The Chinese believe that science and math will bring their country money.

Studying science and math is just as hard has doing language based subjects but the influence of the cold war shows that science and math is far more physically controlling then language based.

Now that the Ivy leagues and top colleges have a history of accepting science and math geniuses they don’t as much anymore because simply they accept too many. But many Asian parents even the ones that were born in the states believe that math and science is the way to go because during the cold war (about 1945-1989) that got you kid into the Ivies. That meant a good job and lots of money. They push their sons and daughters to excel in these areas because they see it as a successful way to get into college. They emphasize studying because it works and it is aligned with tradition. Hence all the 4.0, 1600’s, math team president and science team champion.

Music was also a great way to get into an Ivy league during the cold war because the US had a rivalry with the Soviets in everything including music and sports. English and the languages get left out because while good record on the 400m is universally understanding, a great book in Russian may not be very good in English because of cultural differences.

Ivies during the cold war also loved to accept these music and sports people. But Asians not a physically capable as a white or black person (they are usually have a smaller frame and shorter) So the other thing was music. Again Asians parents kicked in with this idea that music was a great way to great into college because colleges during that time loved to accept people in these areas. a. you can study music regardless of your size b. Asians love music like everyone else c. many people find that playing any instrument does not affect your life so learning one is not worth it. Asians on the other hand think you can get into an Ivy league. Hence the music masters from Asia and Asian families.

In conclusion the Ivies desires in a student for the period of the cold war has really affected how the typical Asian family raise their kids. It effects are seen in a lot of asians today.

Now that the cold war is over colleges are moving away from that science, math, and music genius student to a well-balanced one. And Asian parents are learning to send their kids to community service programs and debate teams. Now about a third of the debaters at my school are Asian when once upon a cold war time it was almost zero. Also at tournaments there are a lot more Asians then you would expect. Simply the Chinese stereotype moves with the desires of Ivy leagues.

While the arms and space races have ended the US and other nations around the world still put lots of emphsis on science and math especially China and other asian nations left over from this the Cold war. The dawn of mini-eletronics also has emphized computers greatly in those Asian nations. The effect now is that every immigrant that had gone to a pubic school in China is heavy trained in the arts of science and math. The chinese believe that science and math will bring their country money.

Studying science and math is just as hard has doing langauge based subjects but the influence of the cold war shows that science and math is far more physically controlling then langauge based.

Now that the Ivy leagues and top colleges have a history of accepting science and math geniuses they don’t as much anymore because simply they accept too many. But many Asian parents even the ones that were born in the states believe that math and science is the way to go because during the cold war (about 1945-1989) that got you kid into the Ivies. That meant a good job and lots of money. They push their sons and daugthers to excel in these areas because they see it as a sucessful way to get into college. They emphsize studying because it works and it is alinged with tradition. Hence all the 4.0, 1600’s, math team president and science team champion.

Music was also a great way to get into an Ivy leauge during the cold war because the US had a rivalivy with the Soviets in everything including music and sports. English and the languages get left out because while good record on the 400m is universally understanding, a great book in Russian may not be very good in English because of cultural differences.

Ivies during the cold war also loved to accept these music and sports people. But asians not a phycially capable as a white or black person (they are usually have a smaller frame and shorter) So the other thing was music. Again Asians parents kicked in with this idea that music was a great way to great into college because colleges during that time loved to accept people in these areas. a. you can study music reguardless of your size b. Asians love music like everyone else c. many people find that playing any intrusment does not affect your life so learning one is not worth it. Asians on the other hand think you can get into a Ivy leauge. Hence the music masters from asia and asian families.

In conclusion the Ivies desires in a student for the period of the cold war has really affected how the tyicial asian family raise their kids. It effects are seen in a lot of asians today.

Now that the cold war is over colleges are moving away from that science, math, and music genius student to a well-balanced one. And Asian parents are learning to send their kids to community serivice programs and debate teams. Now about a third of the debaters at my school are asian when once upon a cold war time it was almost zero. Also at tourments there are a lot more asians then you would expect. Simply the Chinese sterotype moves with the desires of Ivy leauges.

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<p>you must be really into history. So am I. =) Although i havent gotten to the cold war yet in my AP class I think you are right, but then again I dont have any evidence against or for this.</p>

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<p>yeah basically this suddenly made sense because I was pondering why in the world would my whole race be so focused on Science, math and music. There are better things to do in life.</p>

4

<p>interesting theory.</p>

<p>the asian emphasis on education extends back thousands of years though… far before the advent of the cold war.</p>

<p>in ancient china to get a good job in the government, one had to take exams. so the people who were smarter or studied harder had a better life because they performed well on the civil service exams, giving them a good job.</p>

<p>this process of academic elitism has continued in asia to the modern day. students who do well in school move on to elite schools and later secure good jobs.</p>

<p>so the “asian idea” of getting ahead is to do well academically.</p>

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<p>your right emphasis on education extends thousands of years but strict emphasis on science and math started during the cold war.</p>

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<p>you have a lot of free time to make theories and post them here…
keep up your work!!</p>

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<p>that took me about 40 min to write… I was supposed to be studying AP US</p>

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<p>Locke: Your argument is flawed all over and quite offensive as you stereotype the Asian culture unshamefully.</p>

<p>The cold war is not the underlying reason in any way to why the Asians have such a strong emphasis in a strong education within their culture; rather, through the government and Confusian influence, men of Asian descent would strive to learn in order to gain a higher position within society. Your connections are all weak and in addition, you have no basis to verify any of your information on.</p>

<p>You end with “Simply the Chinese sterotype moves with the desires of the Ivy leagues”. I thoroughly enjoy how this statement makes absolutely no sense, refer to the Chinese culture rather than Asian, and how you say that stereotypes try to appease Ivy league admissions.</p>

<p>I would say more, but there is simply no reason in refuting your faulty theory.</p>

<p>(Edit: Emphasis on the sciences and math did not develop following the cold war, it has always been strongly integrated since the early days of Asian history. Please do more research and not base all your theories on high school history.)</p>

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<p>While it is true that Asians are generally smaller than most people, it is wrong to think of them as “physically incapable” compared to other races. Being slender and slight of frame can be advantageous in many athletic situations. If it isn’t so, then why do nations like China, Korea, and Japan excel in the Olympics, both Winter and Summer? Surely, the small Asians would stand no chance, given their “physical incapability”. In baseball, big sluggers like Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols are among the most feared hitters, but you can bet that a smaller hitter like Ichiro Suzuki is right up there on every pitcher’s nightmare list. Brutish size isn’t everything.</p>

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<p>yeah… and what about all the huge asians like yao ming lol</p>

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<p>um, i dont think there’s a direct correlation between the effects of the cold war on asian stereotype… but in any case:</p>

<p>you may argue that asians were molded into math and science types, but let’s look at it from another point of view.</p>

<p>why AREN’T asians generally involved in other subjects such as history, english, political science, etc.? </p>

<p>for one, many asian parents who are immigrants do not feel comfortable doing a “white man’s” major in a “white man’s” country. that is, they think an asian would not be as good as a white person in English and other related subjects. to them, it was easier to survive on skills that did NOT require heavy english communication skills, and thus, math and science, and that this would be the same for their children. </p>

<p>asian parents also like to have their children understand their native tongue, and thus, a lot of time is spent learning the foreign language when they are young instead of solely concentrating on english. </p>

<p>some asian children are immigrants themselves, and although they are proficient in english, they feel it is not their natural ability or talent. why put themselves into a disadvantage when they can utilize their advanced studies in math and science from their native country? only these children would fit into your theory because they have been directly affected by asian education. </p>

<p>asians also look highly on prestigious jobs. that is… DOCTOR… and um… DOCTOR… and engineer (again, lawyer is the “white man’s” job). thus, many asian parents (of almost all different types of asian descent) initially push their kids to excel in fields that are required for medicine: math and science. again, being an engineer does not require one to put themselves through “natural disadvantages” compared to having an english-intensive job such as law. </p>

<p>on the other hand, as someone who has studied the cold war and 20th century history:</p>

<p>you also bring up music. asians have long respected talented musical abilities and it has been ingrained in tradition. it is a sign of wealth, talent, and prestige to be able to play music. the cold war, though, did reinforce this. in order to show their country’s talent and cultural superiority, a powerhouse like the soviet union and china would seek to train their country’s best performing artists, dancers, musicians, and athletes to impress the west and the rest of the world. this is still prevalent in china… athletes and musicians and dancers are scouted when they are young, recruited, and “owned” by the government. they spend their entire lives training to be the best. </p>

<p>i do have to agree though, that at least for the soviet union, their youth was pushed toward math and science because that would help them achieve technological superiority as well as catching up and eventually surpassing western nations industrially. the united states even recognized their need to catch up to the soviet union in math and science, or else they would eventually be outmatched if their next generation of college students was deficient in math and science. </p>

<p>in summary, i think the cold war helped reinforce the underlying factors of the asian stereotype, but they did not CAUSE it. like some other posters cited, education (including in math, science, and music) has always been a strong value of asian culture.</p>

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<p>i say this thread is completely off. the cold war had probably NO effects whatsoever on the asian stereotype.</p>

<p>the logical reason for why asians in the western world are more adept at maths and sciences is because they aren’t very good at english. far east asians (koreans, chinese, japanese) have always had a very high regard for education since way before westerners started regarding education as important. for a few decades after the cultural revolution in china, however, chinese did not view education as good. in fact they viewed intellectuals as a danger to communist society. however, china disposed of communism in the theoretical sense over the last couple decades and their nationalistic rhetoric imposes high standards of education for the betterment of their country. koreans are a very flashy race and tend to flaunt their education just as they flaunt wealth. which is why korean parents push their children into studying very vigorously. you can tell the pressure that korean children face when it comes to education based on the recent “cheating” incident. japanese, historically, have had a high regard for education for the purpose of catching up to the west. although these days, regard for education is dropping (due to their stagnating economy and their falling status as a leading country). japanese who go to college in america (VERY RARE compared to other asians) are almost always in maths and sciences because their english is notoriously the worst amongst the asians.</p>

<p>frankly, to believe that western history can explain all the world is such an ethnocentric and possibly white supremacist idea that i would believe many would take offense to it.</p>

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<p>Interesting note: Since the Wen Ho-Lee case, less Asian/Americans have applied for positions in government when it comes to science.</p>

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<p>Hey Locke, maybe you should spend your next 40 minutes talking about how Sherman ran through your little state, and the repercussions it’s had on you and your ancestor’s fanatic racism and prejudice!</p>

<p>Click!</p>

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<ol>
<li><p>I suppose you mean Asians inside the US, or rich Asian people who could afford ivy tuition fees during the cold war. </p></li>
<li><p>This theory sounds similar to natural selection.</p></li>
<li><p>Chinese, for example, have conserved their culture throughout the world. I am a half-Chinese, and I have observed a pattern of Chinese philosophies, thoughts, and beliefs. Many wealthy Chinese families that reside throughout the world still retain similar Chinese traits. Chinese people I have met, no matter how rich they are, and no matter how hi-tech their lives are, still conduct traditional Chinese ceremonies at certain times every year. I believe parts of these conservations cover education plans and carriers that are seen as ‘appropiate’ in the traditional Chinese society. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>I have long heard and believed that Chinese people can do best in commerce. As apparent in Asian History, Chinese people have long sailed all over the world to sell porcelains, silks, and many other Chinese products. These days, many Chinese people all over the world are successful in business and commerce. I have even been fascinated in many tips Chinese businessmen use in their works, such as how they could make very cheap products with a particular level of quality and within a short period of time.</p>

<p>Although Chinese descendants represent the biggest Asian population within the US, wouldn’t these people rather conserve their traditions about carriers and education than adapting to such trends? </p>

<p>Chinese people normally have good work ethics, so they have potential to accomplish any tasks presented to them. Also, like other populations, Chinese population includes both highly talented and normal people. When these people come to the US, the land of freedom, their choices of learning are more open. Education systems in the US do not obstruct students’ intellectual potential; so these highly intelligent people, when find subjects they love and are able to do well, when work hard and become successful on it.</p>

<p>It is true that the Republic of China government pursuaded a lot of science research in the country during the cold war, since this could result in their victory in the war. Science was relevant to the nation’s economic and political advantage. However, another explanation is that the past cultural revolution in the Republic of China had all destroyed Chinese’s traditionallity in the nation, so there was no cultural pressure within the Republic of China that stopped the scientific advancements in the nation. Yet, outside the Republic, cultural pressures still existed and should have suppressed the natural selection process caused by the preference of ivies during the time. Chinese people’s math and science ability at the time were the outcome of their natural fascinations and intelligence, not the ivies selection.</p>

<p>If Chinese parents are to force their children to study something specifically; they would have forced their children to study commerce because the occupation has long made Chinese people wealthy, not science, math and music because they’re ivies’ preference.</p>

<p>Other Asians could be assumed to be the same since each Asian identity (either in the nation or American citizens) has unique traditions, and has conserved its traditions ways similar to Chinese.</p>

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<p>■■■■… Why Cant We Stop With This Asian Stereotype. Theres No Right Answer. If There Is, We Know It. </p>

<p>Btw, Cold War And Asian Intelligence Correlation Is Bull…</p>

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<p>Ignorance is bliss. =)</p>

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<p>Locke: Your argument is flawed all over and quite offensive as you stereotype the Asian culture unshamefully.</p>

<p>THE POSTER SAID HE WAS ASIAN.</p>

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<p>^ so…? </p>

<p>he is still mocking the Asian culture.</p>

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<p>exactly… haven’t you heard of asian on asian hating lol</p>