Model Minority, Yellow Peril: Functions of Foreignness in the Construction of Asian American Legal Identity

Those of Asian descent are often portrayed as the "model minority." However, the very same elements which comprise the model minority can also be read as components of the "yellow peril. " The author argues that Neil Gotanda's concept of 'foreignness" rectifies the contradictory images simultaneously attributed to Asian Americans. By characterizing those of Asian descent as 'foreigners, " dominant society is able to slipfreelyfrom the model minority to the yellow peril label. She posits that this freedom has historically enabled those of Asian descent to be used as cheap labor and as a mask to hide real issues of discrimination against Asian Americans and other minorities. Presently 'foreignness" serve to reinforce racial hierarchy in the US. She concludes that recognizing that foreignness creates this duality for Asian Americans may allow society to more effectively combat the presumption that Asian Americans are foreign and thus entitled to lesser standards ofprotection