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Crime and Violence against Asian People During Covid-19
In this essay, I will focus on current hate crimes and anti-Asian violence caused by
COVID-19. Specifically, I address the instances of discrimination and prejudice that members of
the Asian community experience within many states during their social interactions. The main
thought behind this article is how the crisis made the already existing stereotypes and
discrimination towards Asians worse, increasing the crime rates against Asians.
Examples, Cases, and Evidence:
I will show the evidence of some cases where Asians were purposefully beaten simply
due to ethnic reasons when the COVID-19 crisis broke out. Firstly, a case of a family that was
abused for moving along with one route since they were Chinese in the US. For example, in
Australia, one elderly Asian got beaten by a juvenile who was using a weapon in response to
someone’s face masker wearing one (Liu & Liu, 2022). This goes beyond the verbal to physical
abuse of Asians with no relation to COVID-19 whatsoever. However, it is equally important to
recognize that these instances occur rarely in those areas and are merely fragmentary pictures of
such geographic regions. Categorization and Differentiation: For example, while confronting
racism during COVID-19, the bureaucracies may encompass verbal harassment or physical
assault directed at these individuals resembling Chinese or anyone wearing masks as
preventative measures. However, it is important to distinguish wide-spread xenophobic concerns
with the possible ailment transmission compared to concrete racism targeted at particular people
from particular ethnic groups Elaboration on Structures. We refer first of all, to racial prejudices
as there is the misinformation that the pandemic kicked off in Asia predominantly. Such moves
make life conducive for despising the Asian groups for any contamination without bothering
about their involvement.
Elaboration & Analysis:
Exploration of past, as well as present perceptions, will provide insight into reasons and
mechanisms behind the hate crimes and anti-Asian violence during the COVID-19 crisis.
Scapegoat, however, is normally a process that happens in between economic crises or social
disorder against one particular ethnic community. This explains why most of these events
resulted from various political, social, economic, and cultural dynamics. Politically, sure leaders
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and media houses have sold xenophobia narratives hence fostering racism against Asians.
Prejudices and stereotypes have contributed to discrimination against Asians because of and led
to violence against them. Given that there are limited economic resources and companies have
the potential of laying off some people, economic competition has led to anti-Asian sentiments.
Perception of “they” being at fault is rooted in deep cultural traditions. Utilizing pertinent
concepts and theories, diverse aspects of race discrimination reveal themselves through hatred of
crime as well as violence against the Chinese during COVID-19 (Jaworsky & Qiaoan, 2020).
The new racism notion focuses on the underlying covert ways in which racism manifests itself,
including concealed and disguised prejudice or fear. Moreover, like the other case of systemic
racism, this revolves around racial discrimination that is embedded deep at the societal level.
Thus, despite being a global crisis, the pandemic has incited many nations' anti-Asian sentiments
within their respective borders.
Application and Relation
Several theoretical frameworks could explain the reasons for viewing Hate crimes and anti-Asian
violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This is manifested through its hidden characteristics
such as subtle bias and fears. This is especially true of the pandemic where some long-held
stereotypes against Asians resurface, causing discrimination and violence. People must not
ignore systematic racism as among the issues that prove the existence of discrimination against
black persons based on the system. The economic dimension whereby the anti-Asian feelings
manifest themselves due to economic competitiveness and fear of being laid off all point towards
systemic racism. It also includes dog whistle politics like racial language and veiled racism
fueled by some politicians and media’s lies about anti-Asians (Liu & Liu, 2022).To this end, it
echoes the concept of “blind racism against Asians” if there ever is an outbreak. The summary of
theoretical framework works gives a complete explanation of the intricate issues causing hate
and malice towards Asians during the COVID period
Resistance against Racism:
Different forms of resistance to racism occurred as a response to hate crimes and attacks
on Chinese during COVID–19. Of importance is that social actions in the form of social
movements have taken place such as “Stop Asians Hate” which engage communities to increase
awareness and demand change. Justice, education, and education reforms have been their
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weapons for fighting racism. The nature of these resistances differs between individuals and
groups using various social media, and community mobilization exercises, among others, to
draw attention towards deforestation. They are gaining momentum as a means to increase the
reach for increased influence and recognition. These moves will work towards creating a unified
and all-inclusive society that eschews even slight traces of racism in its record keeping. Some
good companies like Stop AAPI Hate are moving ahead with cases of Asian hate crimes to
capture the attention of law enforcers and criminally punish perpetrators (Kulkarni, 2023). This
makes these acts good because they are magnifying of marginalized voice through which racism
is attacking but remains undetected. These resistances are looking for a change in covers about
hate crimes law, and additional training courses rooted in the elimination of stereotyping. This
included online petitions aimed at justice, increased policing presence in affected areas, and
organized walkouts or demonstrations condoning hate crimes, among other tactics.
Evaluation & Critique
We need to realize that movements of resistance aiming at promotion of the Asian rights
have expanded the discussion about state-sponsored discrimination across than ever in the past.
These hate crimes have always been supported by celebrities being public figures who make
more people understand such activity causes damage to Asian communities. However, the issue
of getting rid of racism is hampered by the institutional factor. Underscoring is common in many
marginalized groups who remain suspicious of the criminal justice system due to past
victimization of individuals belonging to their social group. Apart from that, criminal systems
are equally ineffective while police forces lack appropriate researched and prosecuted methods
due to their culturally competent set-ups. Another significant challenge is a structural barrier
characterized by stereotyped Asian perceptions and widespread xenophobic attitudes, which
have been ingrained in society since time immemorial (Gover et al., 2020). Here, media
representation is crucial. The stereotyping of Asians as “perpetual foreigners” or carrier of aids,
make it convenient to discriminate against them
Conclusion:
Lastly, in the last of this paper, it was emphasized that because of covid-19 hate crimes
and anti-Asian man violence became more evident at the end. This kind of modern-day racism
has also come under the microscope when considered within the historical context. In addition,
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the app part stated how theories tie into this issue. Trades are speculated as causes of resistance
activities. Additionally, the article stated that huge challenges persist in combating societal or
institutional discrimination. Last was an apt conclusion since this pointed out some of the bigger
implications (individual psychological wounds leading to collective efforts to
overcomeBprejudices).
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References
Gover, A. R., Harper, S. B., & Langton, L. (2020). Anti-Asian hate crime during the COVID-19
pandemic: Exploring the reproduction of inequality. American Journal of Criminal Justice,
45(4), 647–667. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-020-09545-1
Jaworsky, B. N., & Qiaoan, R. (2020). The politics of blaming: The narrative battle between China and
the US over COVID-19. Journal of Chinese Political Science, 26, 295–315.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11366-020-09690-8
Kulkarni, M. P. (2023). Stopping AAPI Hate: COVID-19 Related Racism and Discrimination Against
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Its Origins, Our History and Avenues for Redress. Asian
Pacific American Law Journal, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.5070/p326160685
Liu, S., & Liu, Q. (2022). Analysis of the situation and root causes of racial discrimination among Asian
Americans during the COVID-19 epidemic. History and Philosophy of Medicine, 4(4), 23.
https://doi.org/10.53388/hpm20221001023
