Chinese Japanese Korean participants. The researchers underscored that assertiveness is encouraged in South Asian cultures whereas it’s often discouraged in East Asian cultures. Cultural biases Asian Americans are commonly stereotyped as hardworking quiet and good with numbers: the type of workers who can put their heads down and get things done. As a report from McKinsey puts it: “Asian Americans are often seen as doers and not leaders.” Stereotypes like this are damaging and inaccurate. They also assume that Asian Americans are doing fine at work so therefore must not face discrimination in the workplace. The fact that Asian Americans are overrepresented in the professional workforce but underrepresented in higher-level leadership roles suggests that companies are failing to cultivate Asian American talent.
Buck Gee and Denise Peck who are both former Silicon Valley executives wrote about Email Marketing List this issue in the Harvard Business Review. They encourage companies to take a hard look at their managerial pipeline and consider investing in leadership training programs for Asian Americans and other underrepresented groups. Bamboo ceiling effects The bamboo ceiling has many negative consequences including: Lack of equity at work: The stats on managerial promotions in the US suggest that Asian Americans as a group aren’t receiving the resources they need to win the highest-level positions. And there’s some evidence that Asian Americans feel less supported at work than their white colleagues.
According to a study conducted by McKinsey only of the East Asian employees surveyed believe their company provides all employees with the type of mentorship and coaching opportunities that are needed to be successful as compared with of white employees surveyed. Wage gap: There’s a wage gap between Asian American and white workers even at higher income levels. For example: Asian Americans who make above k/year earn . for every dollar earned by their white colleagues. This earning gap correlates to the underrepresentation of Asian Americans in higher-paying managerial positions. Homogenous leadership: . of C-suite execs at Fortune s are white and . are men.