model minority

[ mod-l mahy-nawr-i-tee, -nor- ]

noun

1. a minoritized racial, ethnic, religious, or social group, or a member of such a group, that is stereotypically viewed by the dominant group as being more successful or embodying traits more valuable to society than other such groups or individuals:

   Paradoxically, Asian Americans are perceived as both a model minority—happier, more successful, and more educated—and as perpetual foreigners.

Word History and Origins

Origin of model minority¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Willis’ journey “is such a metaphor for the Asian American experience,” Yang said, “because we are the model minority, but at the same time we are invisible. People talk about Black and white, but where do we fall? You’re just not seen for who you are.”

From Los Angeles Times

The neocons' first intellectual leaders, on the other hand, were Jewish, and their "model minority" assimilation into the conservative movement typified the adaptive dynamic of a more pragmatic conservatism that accepts change and seeks to master it.

From Salon

Given the conservative fantasy that white men are the new oppressed minority, Vance's heartland background signifies a "model minority" member who’s made it.

From Salon

Finally, Vance's wife is Indian American, representing another "model minority" group reflected in such diverse figures as Kamala Harris, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, among many others.

From Salon

“As the youngest, I was always hungry for memories of my mother,” says Lieu, a co-host of the “Model Minority Moms” podcast, where she and two Harvard classmates talk about their experiences as Asian American working moms.

From Seattle Times