If you’re referring to the political and social issues that Asian-Americans face today, these are a few that come to mind:

Combating the “model minority” stereotype

The myth that all Asian Americans are economically successful, and that other races should emulate them.

Due to this myth, many Asian Americans in need are denied access to public assistance programs.

It treats Asian Americans as a monolithic and homogeneous entity by aggregating statistics of several different groups.

The racism that Asian Americans face in society and their achievements in overcoming racism are often understated or ignored altogether.

It promotes divisiveness between Asian Americans and other racial minorities

It’s dehumanizing to base a people’s identity on little besides (often inaccurate) perceptions of high income level and education.

It promotes the notion that Asians are apathetic, apolitical, and okay with the status quo.

It creates even greater expectations of achievement out of Asian-American students, which can be psychologically harmful.



Breaking the bamboo ceiling



Asian Americans are often excluded from executive positions in the workplace or passed over for promotions because of negative stereotypes.

They are less likely to been seen as having leadership potential, charisma, or creativity.

They are assumed to be quiet and complacent, less likely to seek out raises and promotions (not “go-getters” or risk-takers, lacking in confidence).

They are often pigeonholed into certain roles based on stereotypes of being good at math or the “Asian nerd” portrayed in media.

Even American-born Asians are seen, for no reason based on fact, as having weaker English and communicative/interpersonal skills.

Those that try to break these stereotypes are often viewed negatively by the general American population for trying to deny their Asian-ness



Gaining political access and minority rights



As mentioned earlier, Asian Americans are often seen as politically apathetic due to the expectation that they be quiet and accepting, etc.

Likewise, there are fewer policies in place to protect the rights of Asian Americans than other minorities.

Because Asian Americans are relatively recent immigrants, they are less politically established with fewer role models in office.

Asian Americans are often treated as “perpetual foreigners” and unassimilable (“Where are you really from?”).

from?”). Many Asian Americans are not citizens, and never apply for citizenship.

Many Asian Americans don’t speak English well enough to feel comfortable exercising their right to vote, hence the push for more multilingual ballots and English language classes.

Asian Americans are far less represented in state and federal government than is proportionate to their population.

Some argue that the US still has racist immigration policies (I don’t know about the extent to which this is true).

Many Asian Americans feel helpless to change the system, and because the community is so diverse, it is hard to organize politically.



Addressing Media Stereotypes



Orientalism in Western art and literature.

The “Asian nerd” stereotype, social awkwardness (this is often the only role available to Asian American men; there are few AA men in television).

Asian Americans as misogynists or otherwise culturally “backward” (every plot with an Indian-American woman somehow involves an arranged marriage, for example).

“Geisha girl” and “China doll” stereotypes; exoticism of Asian women who somehow always fall madly in love with their white colonial oppressors.

Asian American women as submissive and obedient.

South Asians treated as “terrorists” (see baseless accusations against Huma Abedin, for example).

South Asians as call center workers or “job-stealers” due to outsourcing (still reflects negatively on Indian Americans).



Other issues: hate-based violence, these days often targeting Sikhs and others mistaken for Muslims post-9/11; in the past, there has been a long history of anti-Asian violence, extending from the murder of Vincent Chin to the LA riots, etc. Anti-Asian bullying in the military (and possibly schools) has also gotten more attention lately.