Categorizing is not always bad.

People want to know how old they are, where they come from, what is their ethnic, they are men or women. People really like categorizing. But categorizing keep stereotype. For example grandfather is too old to start study, Hispanic is lazy, woman can’t be a president. So someone said people categorize just for their convenient or control other group, it is bad custom we must not do that. However is it really bad itself? If not why people categorizing? And what is the important thing when we categorizing?

 Human beings, as a social creature, categorizing is natural. We want to sense of belongings and we have belonged to a group naturally since we were born. When we were born, we were member of family. May be when we were in new born unit, nurse made a group like smile group and cry group. We were member of school, we were member of peer group, we were member of a club. Whether someone made us do it or we did it on our own, we belong to a group as a whole life. We are categorizing and categorized.

According to social identity theory, people belong to a group inextricably, it is important for people to what group I belong to and they want to make a positive self-realization in that group. After they become a member of a group, they categorize as an in-group and out-group which the member were different from our group’s characteristics. And naturally, people define their group that ‘we are more superior than your group’.  because people identify with group they belong to.

But most important thing when we categorizing is not only purpose but effect. If we categorize people just for convenient, it is natural and ok. but that categorizing make discrimination, it is not ok. Of course, we can’t predict all effect and there are many unexpected effect like race-conscious admissions policy[1]. Some categorizing or grouping makes majority and minority, according to the number of group member. It just number, but people, majority group think it is right to treat minority group with disdain. This thinking causes bad effect of categorizing.

Categorizing that is made in daily life is not always bad rather natural. Categorizing is the natural habit of human and they categorizing for their conforming identity. But it effect can more serious that we expected. For example they make majority and minority group, and cause the conflict between of them. So we aware natural trait of categorizing and don’t treat it is inhuman behavior but we must consider the effect before categorizing.


[1]‘Cheryl Wood-hop’ case (reverse discrimination): she is poor family white girl but she wouldn’t receive acceptance for admission to university even she has good grade enough to enter university. but other minor racial group member enter that university even they have low grad than her. So she suit it.

 

 

 

 

Is it nonsense that America company leaders wouldn’t choose Asian American?

 We usually use a word ‘Model’ to express approval someone when we think that they perform their role or duties extremely well. ‘Model Minority’ is not that different from this mean. Asian- American whose achieve higher degree of success in America. Sometimes this word labels the group and gives members of Model Minority pride. But this word also gives disadvantage those members called ‘Bamboo ceiling’. Bamboo ceiling is discrimination that Asian-American have trouble in promoting their position in business. Although many figures show Asian-American’s ability, why All-American exclude them as a management position? There are three reasons of that : Politeness, Asian American’s mind, Fear of mainstream,

Asian American’s politeness which is very important custom in Korea can cause a prejudice of Asian American. Some America company leader didn’t choose an Asian American because they are passive, unsociable and they seemed to no passion. For example, they try to avoid eye contact when they meet boss, they are not trying to strongly argue their opinion they just cope with task which boss give them. But according to custom which they educated by their parent, it isn’t polite look boss straight in the eye and insist their opinion isn’t good manner to boss. So company leaders aware they just follow their custom and don’t misunderstand.

But some Asian American really becomes passive or unsociable. They were frightened beforehand and run away. They think they are minority and can’t get an opportunity. So they are not thought more and behave actively to make a goal. Or others wouldn’t change their ingrained customs that are not good in America. ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’ unless they don’t change their mind and behavior, That is a poor excuse that they can’t be a main stream because we are minority.

Think, How’s your feeling when non Korean are outnumber than Korean. This situation is a little scary and fearful that they can be a main stream and get a main position in our society. Choosing other ethnic as an executive is not that easy. All-Americans so do we. They are fear about losing ground that has powerful voice. So they protect themselves from potential predator group. It is human nature to protect ‘own territory’. And actually most White American leaders feel that it is more comfortable that White American enter inner circle(small group of people who have a lot of power and influence on their company)

Although these can’t justify their reasons why they didn’t choose Asian American employer because some reasons are not true, just bias, there response is not so irrational that we criticize. All- American’s discrimination about other ethnic group especially Asian American viewed as success group are not based on nonsense. It is natural attitude of native who treat not familiar people and natural attitude of to maintain their position. So it is important that not only All- American break their bias but Asian American should accept and understand All- American and looking for way to allay their fears, concern, suspicions and acquire opportunity.

Making successful model

Many children face to a conflict with parent about their dream. Parent wants their children get tradition profession job like lawyer or doctor. But this ‘hope’ is burden for their children. Actually many immigrant especially 2nd generations have a burden to parent and other ethnic’s expectation and prejudice that Asian American are good at math, have a good grade but lack of leadership or social relationship. These discords between parent, other ethnic and 2nd generation group of Asian American are come from different concept and experience about success. To solve this problem, making ‘success model’ is good way because of breaking prejudice, persuading parent, confidence of 2nd generation themselves.

First successful model is a great to break the stereotype of Asian. For example Yul Kwon who is television host and former government official, lawyer, and management consultant showed his sociable trait, leadership and challenging which other ethnics think Asian American hardly has them through TV show, ‘thirteenth season of Survivor’. It is enough to prove people’s thought is not true.Asian successful model is a good way to break the prejudice of Asian.

Second, successful model gives that Asian American parents who want their children follow their expectation aware of their wrong attitude and make them change their mind. Of course their children are future and dream of them and it is natural that parent wish children get a success. But before they require, they should think that ’what is success?’ ‘what is my children’s dream?, ‘my require is help to their happiness?, ‘Did I want a lot of responsibility to children?. Just awareness about their unreasonable requirements is good.

 Third, successful model can be a role model of 2nd generation who have dilemma between their parent’s American dream and their dream. They are fear that they can’t satisfy other people’s include their parent’s expectation. However they want to live as a ‘a private individual’ without heavy expectation, ethnic, nonmainstream. Still there are ethnic mainstream or nonmainstream furthermore it in hard for them to fill up the gap. Clearly they are American but can’t not but aware of ‘Asian’ American. And they can’t neglect their parent’s hope because they know their parent go through changes in U.S. But their life is theirs. So successful model can be a courage and possibility to gain their lives.

1st and 2nd generation, although they are live together, have different dream. If they, 2nd generation, even can’t harmony their family, it is more difficult to harmony with social group that there are many other ethnics and to be a member of American social. Of course, they should solve these problems themselves. but cause of their mental conflict is not only for them but also their parent dream that not consider their children’s dream. So it is important to awareness of 1st generation’s invisible force as well as other ethnic’s prejudice and they have confidence about their live. To do this, making successful model is one of the solutions.

 

Solution or Problem? : School uniform

For 6 years, as I was middle school, high school student, I wore school uniform. When I become a middle school student from elementary school student, school uniform was the big issue among friends. During school years, some students reformed the uniform or purchased again because they changed their school or their grown out of his clothes. And school uniform store had price competition, because uniform price expensive so parent want less expensive one.  In all ages, school uniform is on the center of issue among students. But actually,  school uniform is not good for student because of three reasons : where they came from, economically, right of students

 School uniform is vestiges of Japanese imperialism. During 1910-1945 colonial occupation of the Korean peninsula, Japan made many rules that were easy to control Korean. School uniform was one of the rules in school. They made students wear same clothes and limited their behavior as students. Although it was very degrading treatment as Korean, there are still remained. Whatever the reason why they follow that rule again, they have to think more deeply where uniform comes from and why we, our grandparent ,wore it and it is right way and there is other way except uniform.

 Some people said uniform keep student from feeling economic gap between the rich and the poor. But this idea has long passed, it could apply to past when school uniform was not so expensive and all uniform was same regardless school regulation. Today’s school uniform various depend on school regulation and price is also various and expensive. So student who wear certain school uniform is may be rich to go that school. Furthermore there are other things that students showed their economic level such as outer clothing or cell phone. So Uniform can’t solve the feeling that poor fell all the more deprived.

 School uniform could undermine student’s right. People have a right to reveal personality traits through clothes. But school uniform infringe upon people’s right by making the students wear same form clothes and control their thought and behavior, not only wearing uniform but conforming to a single standard. Some advocates of school uniform maintain that uniform save students needless waste of time to send on clothes or accessory which reveals their personality traits. If so, are students not human? Are they just studying machine? Revealing personality is the only reason people can’t concentrate on studying. So school uniform is not solution but problem as student’s right.

Before choose the solution, people should think about where this rule come from, can it make another problem, is it really good for in view of the purpose.  The advocator argue that ‘School Uniform’ can be the way of solving students relatively depressed on home economic and making students focus on studying. Of course it can be the solution these problem. But we think about it, can cause other serious problem like human right and its purpose is really for students, so good for students? School uniform locked students in school as a cause of combination. Who is combination for? For teacher? For parent? For police?  If we can’t answer these questions, school uniform is not good solution.

Three reasons why Korea has bottom of happiness level

There are no people who don’t want to obtain happiness. but there are many ways to obtain it and the criteria for happiness also various. Especially Korea has beautiful nature and well public and high GDP level. These are very good condition for their nation, Korean, but Korea’s happiness level is bottom in the world. It is somewhat contradictory. There are three reasons why Korean shows this weir situation.

First Korean’s ‘Comparison culture’ striped of their happiness. According to research, Korean has strong ‘Groupism’. Where is me, where is my position in this group is more important than who am I. So when they felt happy instantly asked themselves how I am happier than others. And then, if they are less happy than other they depressed. In my experience, when I was middle school student, I got good grade so my mother praised to me but after a few minutes, my friend got a higher grade than me, mother didn’t smile at all.

         Second Korean doesn’t let them happy. Even though they have own their house or car, they said I’ll be happier when I get bigger house, nicer car. Even though they become manager, they said I’ll be happier when I become president. Of course, there is no limit to people’s greed. But Korean can’t enjoy their present happiness, they want more and more so they are always felt lack of something. Sometimes I want to talk to them as ‘enough is enough’

         Third Korean seems they forget their ultimate purpose of life, Happiness. People’s aim of all their activities is happiness. But often, they confused means with end. Most of the Korean high school students want to go to top 3 universities in Korea to get a good job that earn much money. And it is for success and it is for happiness. however they studied as go to university is only their goal. So some students who failed university entrance exam suicide. There are many ways to happiness but they forget this is just means, and depressed about just they failed.

         Happiness depends on people’s mind. It is very relative value so it is not good idea estimate happiness and attitude about it. But I think, Korean didn’t enjoy happiness which they called it is happiness. Even they missed what they really want and overlooking. Korean should take time to stop and think about what they really want and enjoy just few minutes.

Luck is as important as effort in success.

         Is success made by only efforts? We are thought that when we were young. But as we grow, there were opposite situation. When I was high school student, one of my friends is very good at math. Unfortunately, math exam in KSAT (Korean Scholastic Aptitude Test) was very easy so many most of people get as high score in math. So his good head for mathematics give him any advantage. In my friend’s experience, luck is as important as effort.

         Many well-known success people are lucky guy. One of them is Obama who is the president of U.S is lucky guy. Of course he is smart, and has good leadership and his efforts made him as first African American President. Furthermore his appearance is very fresh to Americans who were sick of the Bush administration. Actually Americans want to wind of change and Obama is right person to their desire.

        Luck is not bad thing or rather not all luck is bad. Someone said luck makes people lazy. Yes. If you want luck came to you and miraculous you did what you can’t do without any efforts, it is just miracle, there is no moved story that didn’t impress yourself or others. Luck which I mean makes your success complete. For example, if you did success in invent very useful thing to our life. But you don’t have much money to spread it. Then someone who appreciates your invention and your talent is appeared in front of you. What a luck it is.

         Luck is not coming by itself. “The harder I practice, the luckier I get.” One of the most successful golfers Gary Player said that. “Formula for success: Rise early, work hard, strike oil”. J. Paul Getty who founded the Getty Oil Company said. What is the common thing among these quotes? They try to work hard and then luck is coming.

         ‘Heaven helps those who help themselves’. This proverb was used to make people work hard. It is right. But I add more that if you try hard as heaven is moved, heaven give you a chance that let you get more success. I call this chance as luck. Effort is vital element to success but luck make success perfect.

Entertainer’s private should be protected.

A few weeks ago, one man experience very strange thing. One day people called him as ‘ Be damned to you’, but when he woke up next day people called him as ‘sacrificial lamb’. Just in one night he became a pitiful man from bad man. He is not the fantasy character he is real man and very famous entertainer in Korea. He has fallen under suspicion of tax dodging, when this news was spread, his other property-related things are revealed too. But did we have the right to reveal their private life? Did they have the responsibility to show even their private things to viewers?

         To answer that question, it is important to define who is ‘public figure’. because someone maintain that entertainer is public figure so they have to show their private life. Actually, according to law, entertainer is public figure. But it is limited certain very famous entertainers and the boundary between famous and unfamous is not clear. So famous is not the proper criteria to define public figure. The first thing to consider is authority. We give politician authority which is difficult to change. But we didn’t give entertainers authority but give them a love which is very changeable. So they are not public figure but just people who make other people fun.

         Before they are famous or influential entertainers, they are just human being who has the right to protect their live. We as a viewer don’t have the right to enter their life and force them to what they should do. Someone said they can become famous and get more money because of people who love them, so the demand of viewers is reasonable. Then if you get much money and become famous thank to other’s help. Then you have to notice your whole life even private thing? You do that?.

Of course, they are very visible and their behavior or thought are very influential. So they should really careful about what they do or what they say. But viewers are mistake that they are not character who is made and act as character not themselves. Actually viewers hope entertainers do what they did in media as very adorable and gentle. however when they are not match with your wish, you estimate them with very strict moral standard. It is very unreasonable.

People thought that public figure has responsibility to live very integrity than the general public. It is right, but why they have to do? Because they authorized by people and people have the right to monitor them. but entertainers is not given it. Therefore although they become famous because of viewers so they should live up to viewer’s expectation, people as a viewers don’t have the right to step in to their private life.

Asian american should exposure in media

According to Robert Zajonc, social psychology in U.S, mere repeated exposure of stimulus can make improvement of attitude about that stimulus that called ‘mere exposure effect’. And we use this theory in daily life. If there is person who we like, we walk around him or her for notice our existence to them and appear frequently for familiar to them. How about advertisement? Some ad so terrible to understand and music was strange too. But see or listen repeatedly, at one point, we realize that we hum that ad music. It can be applied to ‘exposure of Asian to U.S media’ and give good guide how can we do for break their prejudice.

As ‘mere exposure effect’, exposure of Asian in U.S mass media is better than not showed in media. If Asian exposure repeatedly, other ethnic group make familiar mind of Asian like this ‘oh, I know him/her, I saw them in drama before’. Of course there are many routes to know about Asian but mass media is one of them and effective route that impact on many persons with small effort (compare to impact) at anytime and anywhere. Even there are people who don’t know the existence of Asian before penetration of mass media in individual. Negative attitude or prejudice can be made at least by recognizing about thing.

Some people said if Asian continuously act as a ‘bad men’ in U.S media, it is better than not appear in media.  It is fearful that prejudice of Asian can be fixed by continuous exposure. Of course it is true, if there is no chance to change Asian actor or actress role in media. But as we see many media program, Asian role was changed and has been changing. Not all Asian was described as gang or grinder or have non profession job. Asian can be a doctor, career woman, important assist of hero. Still we can find understanding about Asia culture and we hardly find Asian main character. But we can’t deny change, include movie or TV show or other fields .

However, ‘exposure effect’ also has weak point that we should consider. Target must have a neutral mind to something or somebody. In this respect, to other ethnics in U.S, Asian people’s images are not good, actually has been showed as ‘bad’. So repeatedly exposure of that image can be fixed as some people worrying. That is our mission we tying to.

Exposure more often is not the one thing we should do. But it is sure that if anyone knows something is here, there is no chance to change the negative image or wrong stereotype about something. So it is important to notice that Asian American is here. What their role in media is next thing what we should consider. Fortunately, there is possibility that future generation of other ethnics will have more positive attitude to Asian. Because today’s generation do their best to give them a new and proper understanding and image about Asian, through exposure of more and more even very small part and small things.

 

huge competition in university entrance

‘Twenty trillion won’. It is the budget of seoul city in 2010 and this is also budget of private tutoring in Korea 2010. Can you imagine the how many ‘0(zero)’ behind ‘20’ to twenty trillion? Huge private tutoring expenditure is one of big problems of education in Korea. because it is related to university entrance competition, which sometimes cause suicide of students. Actually the primary reason of excessive competition for entrance exam is University rank. Students want to go to top university to get a diploma which guarantees high income job in Korea. But Korean university rank has three problems that made people try to jump into the competition.

First the rank of university was formed by student’s exam score not by good education environment or education level. One of the elements which showed the influence of education is student number per professor. Actually some regional universities are better than capital universities in terms of it. That is, the criteria of ranking is not proper.

Second Because universities trying to take highest score students to be a top, students was formed a line by just entrance exam score. But Korea entrance exam is not appropriate requirement to choose the people who can get a college education. Of course there have been a lot of changed, but still to get a good grade in this exam, memory is the key factor. Criticize or creative important ability as a college students are not necessary to this exam.

Third Rank of university is rarely changed with seoul national university as the peak, ranking system was formed like pyramid. For 10years, from 1994 to 2003, rank of university which was formed by entrance exam score is little changes in of the top 30% universities. This guarantees the status of university regardless of education activities such as research activities.

Primary cause of university entrance competition is ranking of university and it is caused by unreasonable standard of ranking formed by student’s grade of entrance exam and is cause competition. We should break out of a vicious circle. It can’t make creative talent but just make competition which goal is competition.

Half-price tuition is possible and should be done

         ‘It takes only 8 years to graduating of university, isn’t it so fast. Ha ha ha’. This saying criticizes these days university tuition issue. Although,  we have to take 8semesters for graduating. It just takes 4 years actually. but because of huge expensive entrance tuition, students have to make their money after each semester and resister semester after next. According to research, more than 80% Korea university students have ever been pressed about tuition and more than 30% students of seoul universities take our loans to make tuition. It doesn’t make sense. Education is not the member of market principle.

Education is public service. According to Constitution, a nation has the right of education.  And education is not just for individual but it can be helpful for society. because educated people are the engines of future social progress. So it shouldn’t be left to the market.

         People who against half-price tuition maintain it is form of populism which is not realistic policy but just for getting interest from nation as politic purpose. They think it is impossible to half-price tuition by present national finance. To do this, government collect taxes from nation, it will be burden to nation again. It is possible. but it is not best way. Collect tax is not the only way to half-price tuition. We already pay taxes, so use it. For example, repealing the tax cuts for the rich feed is one of the ways. : tax cut for the rich feed is 90 trillion in Korea.

         Some people think education is option. They said that our nation, Korea, is applying compulsory education until middle school, so university is out of responsibility of government. but in Korea, is it matter of personal choice weather enter university or not? Actually in Korea, university has been recognized as a course of getting a job. Furthermore entrance rate of university is 80%. Graduating of university is connected directly to getting job. So education is not just option as social atmosphere in Korea.

         Public service should be universal. So everyone should have an education opportunity regardless of their parent’s economic power. Especially, society makes silent oppression that a university education is essential. In this situation, entrance tuition burden which make debtor students is not a big fuss and half-price tuition is also not just political demand. This demand is natural and government actualized it by viable alternative.