What are the stereotypes?
There are definitely a lot of physical stereotypes when it comes to Asian-Americans. It can be seen in the political cartoons from the 1800s to even recent movies that depict "yellowface". With Chinese it was the long, thin ponytail, sparse facial hair, and typical Chinese attire. With Japanese it was the large teeth, pointy fingernails, and beastly characteristics. Overall, the physical characteristics that are modern stereotypes are squinted eyes, being smaller than the average person, and sometimes a yellow skintone.
Along with the physical stereotypes, there are habitual, behavioral, and occupational stereotypes as well. Some common ones nowadays are that their English is not very good, they are clean and resourceful, they are extremely smart and disciplined, and they typically excel in whatever job they have.
These typical stereotypes can be seen as far back as 1872 with Chinese sympathizer Mark Twain talking about how Chinese people never waste any scraps, never complain about work, they keep amongst their own people, and how "they are quiet, peaceable, tractable, [and] free from drunkenness"(Globalyceum, Samuel Clements, excerpt, Roughing It, 1872). Although these stereotypes are considered "good" compared to some of the others, the result of these "good" stereotypes are high expectations to fall into those characteristics and stress if one does not, which can be seen in more modern times.
Along with the physical stereotypes, there are habitual, behavioral, and occupational stereotypes as well. Some common ones nowadays are that their English is not very good, they are clean and resourceful, they are extremely smart and disciplined, and they typically excel in whatever job they have.
These typical stereotypes can be seen as far back as 1872 with Chinese sympathizer Mark Twain talking about how Chinese people never waste any scraps, never complain about work, they keep amongst their own people, and how "they are quiet, peaceable, tractable, [and] free from drunkenness"(Globalyceum, Samuel Clements, excerpt, Roughing It, 1872). Although these stereotypes are considered "good" compared to some of the others, the result of these "good" stereotypes are high expectations to fall into those characteristics and stress if one does not, which can be seen in more modern times.