Covid-19. CoronaVirus. China Virus. Kung Flu. How did an entire ethnicity get blamed for a pandemic? Origins of Covid-19 Although its specific origin is unknown, the first reported case of Covid-19 was in Wuhan, China. There are various speculations about how the first person got infected, many of which continue to stereotype Chinese food including uncommonly eaten animals. Many people allege that the first case spread through the consumption of a bat sold at Huanan Wholesale Market that was a carrier for Covid-19. Others state that a pathogen leaked from a science lab near the market. Within this theory of the pathogen escaping the lab, some maintain that the lab purposefully formulated the Covid-19 virus. In contrast, others say it was a mere byproduct of other inquiries. 4 The lack of knowledge about the virus’s source creates unease since no one knows who or what to blame. But, what is currently certain is that the first reported case was in Wuhan, China. The existing stereotype that all Asian people are Chinese guided the notion for Asians to be blamed for the start of the virus. People cling to the location of the first case by asserting the blame on China, Chinese people, and people who fit the stereotypical Asian-looking person. But, why was this so easy for Americans to do? Perpetual Foreigner Americans have continuously seen Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners who will never be “truly American” as they are inherently foreign. This ideology comes from the fear that “uncivilized” and “dirty” communities will ruin the seemingly “civilized” American community, directly connecting to skin color. Many identify Asians as having yellow skin which relates to the hurtful social phrase “yellow peril”. The phrase was forced on Asian Americans and it carries the fear, also known as xenophobia which is plaguing American culture. 3 In the 19th century, people considered The Bubonic Plague as a “racial disease” that infected exclusively Asian bodies whereas white bodies were thought of as immune. The legacy of white supremacy has caused the belief that white bodies are pure and people of color are unclean, uncivilized, threatening, and dangerous. This belief has created a strong divide in society and the pandemic has only exacerbated it. 1 Model Minority Pre-pandemic, the Asian American community was already suffering in silence, dealing with racism, stereotypes, micro-aggression, and more. However, the misleading idea of the “model minority” caused their struggle to seem insignificant. The model minority stereotype suggests that Asian Americans achieved financial and academic success by working hard. The idea proposes that Asian Americans have “made it” in America and no longer face any discrimination for being a minority. Some take this to the next level and say that Asian Americans take success away from Americans, which intertwined both the model minority and the perpetual foreigner stereotypes while implying that Asian Americans are not Americans. The model minority idea serves as a blanket covering the true depths of discrimination and suffering and has therefore been coined as the model minority myth. The model minority myth is problematic and dangerous for Asian Americans as it asserts that all stereotypically looking Asians are universally hard working, intelligent, and leading (or going to lead) successful lives causing their hardships to be invisible. Hate Crimes Near 3,800 incidents were reported from March 19, 2020 to February 28, 2021, 503 incidents took place in 2021, verbal harassment (68.1%) and shunning (20.5%) were most common, physical assault made up 11.1%, More than ⅓ occurred at business; ¼ occurred in public streets. The pandemic has brought upon another “excuse” for the hatred that Asians and Asian women specifically have been facing. 2 Due to the overwhelming amount of hate crimes, organizations such as STOP AAPI Hate have vowed to keep bringing attention to this issue. 5
Author: Anika Mayar
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