What is your experience as an Asian American in the tech industry like? We’ve all seen how Asians are portrayed as a minority in TV shows, movies, and even news articles. There have been studies about the lack of representation and opportunities for Asian Americans in tech jobs. But what is your personal experience?
In this blog post, we talk to a few Asian Americans who share their own experiences being underrepresented, excelling past stereotypes to become leaders in their field, and embracing the strength that comes from diversity.
Being an Asian American in tech – a personal view
It’s easy to think of Asians as people who are passive, diligent, obedient, and always follow instructions. Yet these are the qualities that make us ideal candidates for tech jobs. That’s why it is important for us to break away from being perceived as only good at taking orders and start being seen for our value as leaders and innovators. Jay met his co-founder through a mutual friend after college when he was working in finance. He found himself in a tricky situation when his boss asked him to do something unethical. Jay decided to leave that job and start his own company named Sqwiggle with the co-founder he met. As an Asian American in tech, Jay believes that there is a perception of people who he calls “other”. The “other” usually refers to someone who doesn’t fit into the norm and is often viewed as unusual or foreign. This is why he decided to name his company Sqwiggle, which is a slang term for the fact that people who are different from those in power are supposed to be sneaky. Being seen as sneaky is a common theme for Asian Americans who work in tech. “I am actually known for being sneaky and I’ve been doing it for a really long time,” Jay says. “That’s how society perceives me as an Asian American.”
Sometimes Jay feels like people perceive him as being sneaky for the following reasons:
He is a young Asian American who does not have children yet and does not want to raise a family. He thinks that he is perceived as such because of that.
He has a strong desire to work hard and get rich, which is perceived by his colleagues as ambitiousness but also greediness. Both are viewed as negative personality traits.
In his opinion, a lot of Asian Americans in tech are trying to be sneaky. Jay thinks that this happens because they do not feel represented or accepted. He thinks that people only know of the “other” and the stereotypes that come with it, so they only assume what an Asian American will be like based on those assumptions. This reinforces a cycle of seeing fellow Asians as “strange” or “foreign.”
The stereotype of Asians in tech as passive, diligent, and obedient also leads to a particular kind of isolation. Many Asian Americans are in the middle of trying to fit into their workplace while still maintaining their sense of self and identity. Taiwanese American Michael Chang is a program manager at Salesforce and holds a master’s degree in engineering. He asserts that it is not just about assimilating but about being an individual in your own right which he encourages everyone to do despite how difficult it may be.
