The Truth in the Margins: 7 Studies on AAPI Racism and Culture

When people talk about racism, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are often left out of the conversation.

We’re painted as the “model minority,” used as a wedge, or reduced to one-dimensional caricatures.

We're praised for our work ethic but ignored in conversations about equity.

We’re visible in numbers, but invisible in narratives.

But the data tells a different story. One that exposes the real impact of invisibility, bias, and cultural erasure on AAPI lives.

A story of students feeling unseen in the classroom, of professionals hitting silent ceilings, of identities flattened by stereotypes and silence.

To bring these realities to the surface, we’ve gathered 7 powerful studies that dig deep into how culture and racism shape AAPI experiences, from education to media, identity to representation.

1. Truth from Youth: The Asian American Experience in BPS High Schools

Go Sasaki, Rosann Tung | Massachusetts Asian American Educators Association | 2023

Asian students make up 8.9% of Boston Public Schools and have the highest enrollment rate of any racial group, yet remain underrepresented. With 81% of Asian families speaking a non-English language at home and only 2.6% of school leaders being Asian, this study reveals deep cultural and language gaps that leave many students unseen.

🔗 Read the study

2. Testing the Model Minority Stereotype: Youth Behavior and Academic Outcomes

Yoonsun Choi, Benjamin B. Lahey | University of Chicago | 2006

This study analyzed national youth data to test whether Asian American students meet the expectations of the “model minority” myth. The findings reveal a more complex reality—one where academic and behavioral outcomes vary widely and don’t fit the stereotype.

🔗 Read the study

3. Asian American Masculinity Eclipsed: A Legal and Cultural Critique

Michael Park | The Modern American | 2013

From exclusion laws to Hollywood tropes, this study traces how Asian American men have been systematically emasculated by both policy and culture. The legacy of the Chinese Exclusion Act and desexualized media portrayals continue to shape identity and belonging today.

🔗 Read the article

4. Key Facts About Asian Americans, a Diverse and Growing Population

Abby Budiman, Neil G. Ruiz | Pew Research Center | 2019

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial group in the U.S., with over 22 million people tracing roots to more than 20 countries.Despite this, deep disparities exist in income, education, and access—often hidden by the “model minority” narrative.

🔗 Read the study

5. AAPI Data | Momentive Poll: 2023 Diversity in America

Sam Gutierrez | Momentive | 2023

10% of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders and 6% of Asian Americans reported facing racial discrimination in the past year. 72% of Asian Americans say racism is a major problem in the U.S.—yet many still feel left out of leadership and media representation.

🔗 Read the study

6. About 1 in 5 Asian Americans Hide Their Heritage in Public

Nicole Chavez | CNN | 2023

Roughly 1 in 5 Asian Americans say they sometimes downplay their cultural identity in public to avoid discrimination or violence. This behavior is a response to the surge in anti-Asian hate in recent years—driven by fear, not shame. When safety means hiding who you are, the damage goes deeper than headlines.

🔗 Read the article

7. “She Hardly Goes Out”: Racism Is Keeping Many Asian Americans at Home

Jenny Chen | Vox | 2022

Anti-Asian hate crimes have changed daily life for many AAPI families—especially elders and women. From avoiding errands to skipping social events, many have retreated from public spaces entirely. This isn’t just fear—it’s a loss of freedom.

🔗 Read the article

So… What Now?

These studies aren’t just about data. They’re about people. They’re about us.

They show that racism against AAPIs isn’t always loud, but that doesn’t make it harmless. It’s often dismissed, downplayed, or hidden beneath politeness. That invisibility doesn’t protect us. It erases us. And representation isn’t a luxury. It’s something we all deserve.

If you’re ready to go deeper, my book Big Asian Energy is now available for pre-order. It explores how culture, confidence, and career intersect, and how we can reclaim our stories without losing ourselves along the way.

Pre-order now to access exclusive bonus materials designed to help you show up with clarity, power, and presence—on your own terms.

Grab your copy of Big Asian Energy today: https://sites.prh.com/big-asian-energy-book

We’ve spent too long being talked over, talked down to, or left out.

It’s time we start writing ourselves back in.