I think it is a good discussion. Both arguments have some good points.
My d is 1/2 Caucasian and 1/2 Filipino. She is third generation immigrant and is simply American. She does not fit the stereotype of piano playing, excessive studying Asian. She has spent 20+ hours/ week in competition dance and is NMSF. She is now applying to college and I find this discussion helpful in reviewing and narrowing down one’s own opinion on which box to check.
Interestingly, I don’t think I saw Filipino names in the most common surnames for California NMSF. Yet, I will guess that there might be some discrimination in the college admission process based on some of the statistics- depending on the schools to which one applies. However, I also agree with others who posted that colleges are looking for students to fill their English Lit departments and that the average SAT score of STEM students in general are higher in any college’s admission class (and that there is a disproportionately high number of Asians in these majors). Still, I find the lack of transparency in the admissions process to be suspicious. If anything, it gives credibility to the possibility of discrimination against Asians in the admission process. If colleges were to reveal their selection process, I think it would shed some light on this issue. At this point, I don’t think I can form an opinion on the matter without more information.
From my own family’s perspective though- I have to wonder why Filipinos are lumped together with other Asians if they don’t seem to be performing, on average, as highly as other Asian groups. I really don’t like that my d is put into a stereotypical category.
