Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling

Key Concepts

“Asian” emcompasses many diverse communities 

“At last count, there were over 80 distinct Asian languages spoken in the United States. Even within each specific Asian group, there is considerable variability in education, class, and acculturation level. In addition, there is a long history of war, political unrest, and resulting prejudices in many Asian nations. What further complicates matters is that non-Asian Americans often think of Asians as a homogeneous group of people.” (p. 19)

The Confusion influences on Asian Americans’ mindsets sometimes clash with western corporate cultural expectations 

“This influence differs dramatically from the Western school of thinking, particularly in the approach to interpersonal relations. Confucian influence emphasizes the importance of order, self-control, study, and education. To this day, many Asian countries still emphasize rote memorization and study as a significant vehicle for learning. Confucian values emphasize a sense of order, harmony, and decorum in human relationships over conflict and discourse. There is also a strong emphasis on respect for elders, both in the immediate family and at school and at work. Finally, there is a very high value placed on self-control versus self-expression, perhaps even to the extent of keeping feelings private. Other Asian philosophers have also emphasized similar ideas, holding self-restraint in high regard.” (p. 21)

“In The Geography of Thought, which presents an interesting perspective on how Asians and Westerners think differently, Richard Nisbitt describes the absence of argumentation and discourse in Asia that seems to be second nature to Westerners: ‘North Americans begin to express opinions and justify them as early as the show-and-tell sessions of nursery school. In contrast, there is not much argumentation or trafficking in opinions in Asian life.’” (p. 24)

“In contrast, the Asian culture lives closer to the adage “The loudest duck gets shot.” Americans tend to live the adage “The squeaky wheel gets the oil.” In the corporate world, this translates into interpersonal abilities that aid career advancement. Working really hard and hoping someone will notice and reward you will never be enough.” (p. 24)

Underlying Values

• COLLEGIAL DECISION MAKING AND COMMUNITY OVER INDIVIDUALISTIC THINKING

• SELF-CONTROL, MODESTY, DUTY, OBLIGATION, AND HUMILITY OVER PERSONAL RIGHTS

• FAMILY PRIVACY AND HARMONY: THE IMPORTANCE OF AVOIDING SHAME AND CONFLICT

• EDUCATION: THE MORE, THE BETTER

• DUTY AND DILIGENCE: THE WORK ETHIC

• RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY

Networking may not be intuitive for those raised on self-sufficiency 

“When I suggest networking to Asians, I usually get a reluctant look. They tell me: “I’ve already talked to everyone I know, and no one seems to know anything about this new industry. I’m stuck.” Some are extremely reluctant to cold-call potential targets to broaden their professional network, most likely because of a culture that emphasizes self-sufficiency, hard work, and keeping your personal needs to yourself.” (p. 51)

Parents’ expectations often affect what careers Asians pursue

“‘You can be anything that you want to be—follow your dreams!’ Most Americans hear that statement throughout their lives from family, teachers, and popular media. But what if you’ve been raised with the notion that you can dream—but only about a few select professions? Or that pursuing alternative professions means that you’ll alienate yourself from the parents you love and respect? Many Asians growing up in America hear a different variation on the “Be all that you can be” theme: ‘Be anything that you want to be, as long as it is a stable, honorable profession that provides long-term financial security and status.’” (p. 76)

“John Kim, Korean American, born to immigrant parents, a physician and a physicist, lives in a suburb of Indiana. He grew up thinking that he had only four career options: doctor, lawyer, engineer, or garbage collector—and that if he couldn’t be one of those first three professions, he might as well skip college. Many of his high school friends—non-Asians—went on to pursue any one of a diverse array of disciplines, such as acting, journalism, architecture, and retail management. His parents often said, ‘Those professions are fine and good for your friends, but you have an Asian face, so you need to find a profession where you can find security in your own field of expertise, something no one can take away from you. A good education from a well-known school and a technical profession—those things no one can take away from you! Business careers or artistic fields are too risky for a lifelong profession.’” (p. 77)

In addition to mentors and sponsors, people should also have buddies and role models

“A career buddy is only 1 or 2 years ahead of you in the firm and is someone you can contact to get the scoop on how to fill out the self-appraisal section on your performance evaluation form, how often to expect raises, the protocol for writing interoffice memos, and so on. He can help you identify the small things that can turn out to be big things if you get them wrong. You can never have enough buddies. If you know the right people, you’ll always know where the minefields are.” (p. 193)

“An inspirational Asian role model (ARM) is someone in your industry or a related industry who can serve as your inspiration. It’s always helpful to have an ARM even if the two of you don’t meet on a regular basis. Even young Asian professionals who don’t have an ARM with whom they meet regularly report feeling inspired whenever they see another Asian person in their field who has made it.” (p. 194)

“SUMMARY OF KEY LESSONS FOR ASIAN PROFESSIONALS” (pp. 243-4)

1. Take the time to do a thorough self-assessment.

2. Recognize your bamboo ceiling barriers, both personal and organizational.

3. Choose an employer that fits your personal values and interests.

4. Develop cultural competency.

5. Find mentors to take an active interest in developing your career.

6. Commit to building a deep and broad network.

7. Make use of your bicultural and bilingual abilities.

8. Get into the habit of asking for and giving honest feedback.

9. Develop resiliency in your career.

10. Be politically astute.

Quotables

“Keep in mind that professional upward mobility requires action on your part. It’s unrealistic to expect that your managers and colleagues will automatically want and know how to unearth the true you and understand all you are capable of offering. People miscommunicate and misunderstand one another all the time; there will always be inaccurate perceptions of underrepresented [employee] populations. You have to take the initiative in clarifying the issues to effect change.” (p. 20)

“It’s not only Asians who dread networking with new people. I’ve spoken with dozens of non-Asians with reserved personalities who prefer doing things one on one or in small groups. As Susan RoAne, former teacher and best-selling author of How to Work a Room: The Ultimate Guide to Savvy Socializing in Person and Online, said to me, ‘It’s not just Asians who feel this reluctance; we all fear being rejected. At the next business event you go to where open mingling takes place, take a look around, and you will see a lot of uncomfortable people—even CEOs and CIOs. White people, blacks, Hispanics, Asians, older people, younger people, and others are just as scared as anyone else. It’s not just Asians. It is a universal problem.”’ (p. 160)