Asian-American Professionals Push for Visibility at Work
Image retrieved from Wall Street Journal
Though many U.S. companies have devoted significant resources toward advancing women and employees of color, employees of Asian descent are often overlooked in workplace diversity efforts, says Anna Mok, president of Ascend, an organization that works to enhance the influence of Pan-Asian business leaders. In her conversations with executives at a range of companies, she says, she’s frequently found their diversity and inclusion plans don’t specifically address Asians.
Ms. Mok notes that companies often see the Asian community as prosperous and not requiring assistance, a perception of a “model minority” that belies the economic challenges and discrimination some face. Though Asians have the highest U.S. incomes of any ethnic group, they also have the widest level of income disparities among all ethnicities, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of government data.
