Just to share a different but sympathetic point of view, I grew up in white American suburban culture without particular awareness of Asians (till high school anyway), and the dynamic of “my child is better than you” was there (and unremarkable.) (We didn’t think of ourselves as Europeans but probably all were 100-200 years earlier). So I didn’t and still don’t really conceive of “my child is better than you” as a particularly Asian or even American trait, I consider it universal and associated with a mix of parental competitiveness, striving, and identity.
That said, I would acknowledge this dynamic does fit into particular other stereotypes of Asian (and Jewish) subcultures within the broader American context. You aren’t wrong that that could be in play. I’m just saying it’s not a “dog whistle” of Asian stereotyping without some additional Asian-signaling context. At least in my view/world.
That said, I would acknowledge this dynamic does fit into particular other stereotypes of Asian (and Jewish) subcultures within the broader American context. You aren’t wrong that that could be in play. I’m just saying it’s not a “dog whistle” of Asian stereotyping without some additional Asian-signaling context. At least in my view/world.