Asian Americans are commonly stereotyped as ‘model minorities’ for their educational attainment (exceeding even White Americans) and above-average household incomes.
“What people don’t realize is that Asian Americans are not a monolith,” says Cambodian American Anthony Mam. “Different subgroups have different experiences.”
Although some East Asian groups (Chinese, Japanese, Koreans) have indeed excelled educationally and economically in America, Southeast Asian Americans (Cambodians, Hmongs, Laotians and Vietnamese) have not.