Asian-Americans Seek More Respect, Authority in the Workplace
Don Wen sometimes wonders whether new clients and colleagues are conjuring up the typical stereotypes when they see he is of Chinese descent. He imagines they might be curious about whether he speaks with an accent or might worry that he is too rigid. Perhaps they are concerned that he is too data-driven and lacks agility.
"Do I think I have more to prove? Yes," Wen says. "But I think I surprise people."
As a partner at PwC, Wen is a member of the corporate elite—a rarity for most minorities. What's unique about Asian-Americans is that they are well-represented in the workforce yet woefully underrepresented in the corridors of corporate power. They hit what author Jane Hyun dubbed a "bamboo ceiling," just as women are said to be blocked by a glass one. The myth that Asian-Americans are the "model minority"—hardworking people who don't need help—has blunted their progress. But now, amid surging violence and companies' promises to increase diversity, members of this community are feeling frustrated by their lack of advancement and employers' seeming indifference to their situation.
