Model Minority Straitjackets

I drew these straitjackets to convey how constraining the model minority myth is for Asian Americans. The myth is based on dated stereotypes that characterizes Asian Americans as polite and law-abiding who achieved a higher level of success through talent and hard work. It assumes Asian Americans are a monolith with the same lived experiences, and often pits Asian Americans against other marginalized groups, particularly Black Americans.

These straitjackets were hand-drawn with colored pencil and were part of my #100DAYSIANS exhibit at Pearl River Mart in New York City. They’ve been used by Harvard’s Asian American Literature Department for marketing courses and have also been featured in Glamour.