Short, smart, hardworking, and quiet were stereotypes often labeling Asian Americans since they first started arriving in the 1800's. Since then change has occurred proving such stereotypes to be just that. Certain factors that aided such a change included the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and new immigration laws. This led to things such as change in social status, careers, expansion, and gender roles.
             Immigration laws such as the McCarran-Walter Act in 1952 removed racial barriers related to immigration. "Immigration Law abolishes "national origins" as basis for allocating immigration quotas to various countries" (Ancestors in America). In 1965 quotas were lifted resulting in a second wave of Asian immigrants. This increased the population of Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans living in America. By increasing the Asian American population encouraged expansion from areas known as Chinatowns, Japantowns, and Koreatowns. Following the Vietnam war created a more diverse group amongst Asian Americans. In 1975 over 130,000 refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos arrive in America fleeing their homelands. "In 1980 more than 2.5 million Asian immigrants entered the United States, up from 500,000 in 1960" (Asian American History). Increasing numbers to millions spread Asian Americans across America. Today the majority of Asian Americans live in California, Hawaii, New York, New Jersey, and Washington. In such a short span of time the numbers increased dramatically and because of this sparked new ethnic relations amongst Asian Americans. This created mixed races or Hapas, which are much more commonly seen in American society today.
             Civil Rights Act of 1964 created the equality that minorities yearned for. It basically discouraged discrimination while favoring equality. This changed Asian Americans dramatically from the 1960's to the present. Civil Rights Act opened the door for new careers which led to a change in social status. "These stereot...