Sociology
Tiger Moms, Dragon Dads, and Baby Pandas: Cultural Expectations of Success Among Asian-American College Students
Presenter(s): Corinne Tam
Advisor(s): Dr. Edson Cruz
Family sociologists explore societal conditions contributing to the need for young adults to move home following the completion of school. This is known as the boomerang phenomenon, and can be seen as part of a new life stage in which young adults explore their identities. However, previous literature does not account for the extra pressures that Asian-Americans face. This research project asks, How do college-aged Asian-Americans deal with expectations of success in a contemporary society that presents them with pressures of having to return home due to financial instability? I explore this through eight qualitative interviews of college-aged Asian-Americans, finding that they feel separate pressures from their mothers and fathers. I differentiate these as a "tiger mom" and "dragon dad" style of demanding success. Secondly, I find respondents experience expectations of success from their families’ success frames and the broader society’s model minority myth. I call this a "baby panda" style of experiencing demands for success. Finally, I find respondents confront pressures to return home because of financial instability and pressures to fulfill familial obligations. In conclusion, my study reveals that young Asian-Americans encounter emerging adulthood with extra pressures that come with being Asian-American, contributing to our understanding of why Asian-American college students may express higher rates of depression than White college students. My research adds to the literature on the boomerang phenomenon by noting the extra pressures dealt with by Asian-Americans. Future research will explore the role of generational status in the experience of emerging adulthood for young Asian-Americans.