Does Endorsement of the Model Minority Myth Relate to Anti-Asian Sentiments Among White College Students? The Role of a Color-Blind Racial Attitude

Few empirical studies have examined how endorsing the model minority myth shapes racial attitudes and behaviors of White Americans. The present study examined the mediational role of a color-blind racial attitude in the relations between endorsement of the model minority myth (i.e., comparative success attributed to achievement orientation and unrestricted mobility) and anti-Asian sentiments (i.e., endorsing perpetual foreigner stereotype and unfavorable attitudes toward Asian Americans) among a sample of 173 White American college students. Results suggested Whites who endorsed the model minority myth attributed to unrestricted mobility (though not achievement orientation) were more likely to treat Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners and hold unfavorable racial attitudes toward Asian Americans. Furthermore, a color- blind racial attitude mediated these relationships explaining why endorsement of the model minority myth attributed to unrestricted mobility may be related to increased anti-Asian sentiments. In particular, endorsement of the model minority myth attributed to unrestricted mobility by White college students positively correlated with their color- blind racial attitude, which in turn, positively correlated with both anti-Asian sentiment outcome variables. Implications of results for counseling and further research are discussed.