Communications in Humanities Research

- The Open Access Proceedings Series for Conferences


Communications in Humanities Research

Vol. 11, 31 October 2023


Open Access | Article

Breaking the “Bamboo Ceiling”: An Examination of the Root Causes and Potential Solutions for Educational Opportunity Inequality Faced by Asian Women

Youran Chen * 1
1 University of Michigan

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Communications in Humanities Research, Vol. 11, 11-18
Published 31 October 2023. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by EWA Publishing
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Citation Youran Chen. Breaking the “Bamboo Ceiling”: An Examination of the Root Causes and Potential Solutions for Educational Opportunity Inequality Faced by Asian Women. CHR (2023) Vol. 11: 11-18. DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/11/20231363.

Abstract

This paper critically addresses the significant issue of educational opportunity inequality faced by Asian women, exploring its root causes and potential solutions, predicated on principles of justice and social development. The subjects of the study are Asian women, who are encumbered by intersecting societal stereotypes, cultural expectations, and institutional barriers, thereby curtailing their educational prospects. The study deploys an analytical interpretative approach, analyzing various societal stereotypes and prejudices, cultural factors, and systemic constraints, substantiated through a qualitative method. Findings reveal a collective imposition of an “educational opportunity ceiling” or “Bamboo Ceiling” on Asian women, proposing potential solutions including policy reforms, awareness initiatives, and educational strategies. Innovative methods are suggested, inspired by the narratives of Asian women, Li Ziqi and Papi Jiang, who overcame such inequalities. Ultimately, the study posits that acknowledging and addressing these entrenched sources of inequality could engender an environment fostering equal educational opportunities for Asian women, aiding in the demolition of the “Bamboo Ceiling”.

Keywords

educational inequality, Asian women, bamboo ceiling

References

1. Hyun, J. (2005). Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling: Career Strategies for Asians. Harper Collin.

2. Deng, Aixiu. (2006). Analysis of Gender Inequity in Higher Education. Journal of Jiangxi Administration Institue, 8(4), 72-74.

3. Favreau, P. (2022, Apr 12). A Surprising “Bamboo Beiling” in the Classroom. MIT Sloan Office of Media Relations. https://mitsloan.mit.edu/press/a-surprising-bamboo-ceiling-classroom

4. Ramakrishan, K. (2015). The Bamboo Ceiling. Economist.

5. Chen, Yingxue. (2010). Discussing “Affirmative Discrimination” Against Asians in the Field of Higher Education in the United States. Modern Education Science,

6. Belkin, D. (2016). Asian-American Groups Seek Investigation into Ivy League Admissions. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/asian-american-groups-seek-investigation-into-ivy-league-admissions-1464026150

7. Yeo, H. J. T., Mendenhall, R., Harwood, S. A., & Huntt, M. B. (2019). Asian International Student and Asian American Student: Mistaken Identity and Racial Microaggressions. Journal of International Students, 9(1), 39-65.

8. Liu, Mingnan., & Wang, Yichen. (2016). Interview Gender Effect on Acquiescent Response Style in 11 Asian Countries and Societies. Fields Methods, 28(4), 327-344. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1525822X15623755

9. Lu, Xintong. (2020). The Barriers, Facilitators, and Solutions for Women in Educational Leadership Roles in a Chinese University. International Journal of Chinese Education, 9(2020), 5-24. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1163/22125868-12340117

10. Qiang, Haiyan. (2004). A Review of Western Feminist Education. Journal of South China Normal University (Social Science Education), 6, 26-32.

11. Wang, Xinshuang. (2011). An Analysis of Female Education Equity Issues. China’s Collective Economy, 220-221.

Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Educational Innovation and Philosophical Inquiries
ISBN (Print)
978-1-83558-045-5
ISBN (Online)
978-1-83558-046-2
Published Date
31 October 2023
Series
Communications in Humanities Research
ISSN (Print)
2753-7064
ISSN (Online)
2753-7072
DOI
10.54254/2753-7064/11/20231363
Copyright
31 October 2023
Open Access
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Copyright © 2023 EWA Publishing. Unless Otherwise Stated