While all minorities around the world are stereotyped to a varying degree, the Asian community endures a very different kind of struggle from other minorities. For some reason, our ethnicity and physical features attract the scrutiny of non-Asians, who to our great dismay, ask or tell us things that they would have far less courage letting other minorities know. Most, if not all of us, have heard one or more of the following:

1. Why are your eyes so small?

The same reason why we have black hair and Europeans have brown or blonde—genetics.

2. You're Asian, which means that you're good at math, can you help me?

3. Do you play the violin, cello, piano, or ______?

Not all of us are musical enthusiasts or prodigies like Yo-Yo Ma or Lang Lang, so please don't assume so.

4. Asian girls are so submissive and exotic.

Asian girls are human beings who don't deserve to be 'fetishized' for their physical appearances or gross, misinformed 'behaviors.'

5. Where are you from? No, where are you really from?

Chances are very high that we are second-generation minorities, meaning that we were born here just like you.

6. Are you Chinese?

Since China is the most well-known country in Asia, would it fair to ask every white person if they are from England?

7. Are you studying to become a doctor, lawyer, scientist?

We're not restricted to these few occupations, despite what cultural stereotypes may lead you to believe.

8. How do you say ______ in your language?

We're not walking dictionaries.

9. Asians are so bad at driving.

I had an internship where I commuted two to three hours every day and let me tell you, we are most definitely not the only ones.

10. Do you eat rice and noodles every day?

The real question is: what are you planning on doing with the information we give you?

11. Why are you so serious?

If you think we're serious all the time, clearly you haven't made the effort to know us that well.

12. Do you know karate, judo, or taekwondo?

Do you play polo because you're white, soccer if you're Hispanic or latino, or football if you're black?

The next time you feel the need to ask one of us an uncomfortable, stereotypical, or flat-out annoying question, but consider the following. How would you feel if your words were changed around and you were expected to answer? Would you ask a non-Asian these sorts of questions? What kind of underlying message are you sending someone by saying these kinds of things?

Think about it.