Japanese International Female Students Experience of Discrimination - Article Example

The paper "Japanese International Female Students' Experience of Discrimination, Prejudice, and Stereotypes by Bonazzo and Wong" is a delightful example of an article on social science. In the article, “Japanese International Female Experience of Discrimination, Prejudice, and Stereotypes,” Bonazzo and Wong (2007) examined the experiences of discrimination, prejudice, and stereotypes of Japanese students. They interviewed four Japanese international female college students who came from a predominantly white university. Findings showed that they experienced overt forms of discrimination and prejudice, stereotyping because they are Asian, stereotyping because they are Japanese, and they mainly coped with discrimination through avoidance. These participants were amazed that modern Americans had backward knowledge of and attitudes toward Asians and the Japanese. 

Personal Opinion
I believe that this article shows that racial prejudice and discrimination continue to exist in modern American society. The two kinds of stereotyping, both “positive” and “negative,” hurt the prejudiced group. For instance, the participants felt that Asians were stereotyped as “overachievers.” This might create pressure on them, which will only stress them further, instead of inspiring them to study hard or to demonstrate their individualities. Furthermore, what if they are not overachievers? What if some Japanese are actually gifted in sports and prefer being better in volleyball than getting A’s in school? Prejudice does nothing positive for these people because we erase the ability for people to have identities that are separate from the stereotypes we ascribe to them. We cannot promote cultural pluralism in our lives if we hold racial prejudice in our thinking and emotions. We should treat people as individuals and not assume that stereotypes apply to all.
Relation to Class
This article is related to our class and concepts because it shows that racism exists in the United States. It comes from prejudice about people, which are preconceived judgments about people with similar characteristics. Prejudice can result in hidden or overt discrimination, both of which are bad for society, because they divide people, instead of motivating them to interact with one another. Discrimination can also be physically and/or emotionally damaging. People who discriminate turn into bullies who hurt the “other.” They are also harmed because they do not take advantage of diversity, such as learning from these differences. People who experience discrimination are particularly harmed because they feel threatened and anxious. They are forced to act of silence or violence because discrimination demeans their identities. This article, hence, portrays the concepts of prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping, which are attitudes that do not co-exist with a culturally pluralistic society. Read More