Readers discuss a column asking, “Why are Asian-Americans so successful in America?”

To the Editor: Re “The Asian Advantage,” by Nicholas Kristof (column, Oct. 11):

I am deeply troubled by this column, which reduces Asians to a monolithic group and paints an overly positive picture of Asian success in America. Success should not be measured only in grades, scores, degrees and salaries.

The joke that Mr. Kristof cites — that “an A- is an ‘Asian F’ ” — is actually a source of pain for many Asian students, who feel a relentless pressure to live up to the model minority image. What gets overlooked is the enormous stress this need to “succeed” puts on the students’ family relationships, self-esteem, and physical and mental health.

In my experiences as an Asian-American student and teacher, I have seen this firsthand and have become increasingly worried by the psychological cost of “the Asian advantage.” Yes, culture could be the reason Asian students do so well academically, but culture is also the reason so many Asian students are exhausted, depressed and self-destructive.

MARGARET YEE

Oakland, Calif.

To the Editor: Yes, we should celebrate Asian-Americans for their success in higher education and knowledge-based professions including engineering, medicine and law. But, unfortunately, the “bamboo ceiling” is much more than an abstract perception for most Asian-Americans.