A University of California freshman student, Grace Hsiang, commented in the International Examiner that she was surprised when fellow students spoke of being “discriminated against and marginalized by members of their own ethnic group.”

It seems that when Asian kids hit their teen years they start to become critical of each other for being “FOB” (Fresh-Off-the-Boat) or “white-washed”, meaning that someone has been too assimilated by white culture. Hsiang says, “Members of the first cling to their ethnic heritage” while “Members of the second group reject as many aspects of Asian culture as possible and concentrate on being seen as American.”

She observed that, “Second generation Asian Americans often face pressure from their parents, who believe that the privileges we are allowed in this country make us spoiled and ungrateful. Many of us very much want to belong to our parents' community, but we cannot completely embody one culture when we are living in another.”

As in all things, these young Asian Americans are not always one or the other. Most accept being identified with both their parents' culture, by learning about it, while still adapting to the American culture. She concluded, “We can avoid this internal discrimination simply by recognizing that we are of two cultures - and that in itself creates a new culture that should be fully celebrated."