Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Asians and people of Asian descent have been targets of slandering language in media articles, political rhetoric, and social media alike. Negative attitudes were exacerbated by former President Donald Trump, who blamed the outbreak on China and referred to it as the “kung flu” or the “Chinese virus.” AAPI Data and Momentive, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Center for Public Integrity reported anti-Asian violence and racism dramatically spiked in the past few years. Anti-Asian racism has taken a significant toll on Asian populations throughout the pandemic, affecting not only individuals and families but also businesses and industries across the country.
Many Asians have reported feeling afraid to leave their homes due to the rise in anti-Asian racism. This fear has lead to social isolation. The American Psychological Association recently released a case study of the types of racism Asians have experienced, from verbal microaggressions to outright violence. The report included being blamed for the virus, told to go back to their own country, called a racial slur, being threatened, and being physically abused. The study revealed that Asians experienced these aggressions from friends, at school and work, on public transportation, and from police and security officers. A study conducted by the Asian American Psychological Association found that Asians who experienced discrimination during the pandemic were more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression, sometimes even leading to trauma and PTSD. The Stop A.A.P.I. Hate Youth Campaign interviewed 990 Asian-American young adults across the United States and found that one in three had reported experiencing racism in some way, from bullying to harassment and physical attacks
People avoided restaurants, hair and nail salons, contractors, and other Asian businesses. Owners and workers described that a vast majority of Asian operators saw a decline in sales, and many were forced to close their doors permanently. The Cost of Anti-Asian Racism During COVID-19 revealed fascinating trends about the financial costs of anti-Asian racism as a result of subtle patterns of consumer discrimination. . Through analyzing surveys, online search trends, and consumer traffic data, the study found that “Asian restaurants experienced an 18.4% decrease in traffic (estimated $7.42 billion lost revenue in 2020 alone) comparable to non-Asian restaurants.” The study’s findings explained the “roles of collective blame, out-group homogeneity, and ethnic identification and underlined the importance of avoiding racism and stigmatization in political and public health communications. “ When you have something like folks just choosing not to eat in a Chinese restaurant, that is something that’s a lot more subtle and under the surface,” said co-author Masha Krupenkin, an assistant professor of political science at Boston College, in an interview for NBC News. The study also listed dental offices, lawyers, doctors, accountants and other professional groups who were easily recognized and were avoided simply because of their ethnic surnames.
One business that was particularly affected by anti-Asian racism during the pandemic was the airline industry. According to a survey conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), there was a 60% decline in world total passengers due to fear of contracting COVID-19 in 2020, which equated to around $168 billion in economic losses in 2020 according to an article from McKinsey. This fear was compounded by the perception that Asians were more likely to be carriers of the virus, leading to the decrease in demand for flights to Asian countries. As a result, airlines were forced to cancel flights and reduce services.
In health care, Asians faced discrimination as providers and consumers….. from patients, colleagues, and even administrators.. The rise of anti-Asian racism led to Asians being excluded from job opportunities, promotions, and research funding. An Op-Ed from Los Angeles Times reported personal experiences of Asian healthcare professionals being subject to structural anti-Asian racism. Nature Medicine described the harmful effects of emotional and verbal aggressions against Asian healthcare workers with the COVID-19 pandemic as the catalyst.
Students from Asian countries were unable to attend colleges and universities in the United States due to travel restrictions and fear of discrimination. Many Asian students and instructors were unable to stay in the United States due to travel restrictions and Visa limitations which pulled talent and diversity from America’s pool. The SAGE Public Health Emergency Collection reported that international students also felt out of place and unwelcome as a result of anti-Asian bigotry. This not only affected individual students and instructors but has also had an impact on the academic community as a whole.
In the IT industry, Asians make up a significant portion of the workforce, and their contributions have been significant to the industry’s advancement. However, the rise of anti-Asian racism has led to many Asians being excluded from job opportunities and promotions. A Georgetown Security Studies Review article highlighted the negative effects anti-Asian racism has had on the American innovative talent base, This discrimination has caused a stress in IT industry, which had immediate and a long-term impact.
The financial costs of anti-Asian racism during the pandemic are not limited to the sectors mentioned above. Combined with the deep personal and emotional damage felt by Asian Americans who contribute heartily to the economic success of the nation, it is more essential than ever that communities come together to address and combat anti-Asian racism and continue to return a diverse, equitable and inclusive (DEI) country.
