How Coronavirus is impacting the lives of Asian American Healthcare Workers

SRINIDHI VANGALA – Covid-19 has had horrendous impacts on everyone in the world. This pandemic in specific has caused an increase in the hate against the Asian American community. Specifically, healthcare workers have seen a heightened level of racism during this time. The organization Stop AAPI Hate tracks reports of violence against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Since the start of the pandemic, they’ve received reports of over 2,800 hate incidents across the United States. Hate crimes against Asian Americans in 16 cities rose by 150 percent in 2020 according to a recent report from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino. These incidents range from violent attacks and verbal abuse to the vandalization of Asian-owned businesses.

Healthcare workers have seen a rise in bigoted incidents all over the country. Racial hospitality has spread from 6 percent of Asian Americans to 18 percent of the country’s physicians and 10 percent of nurse practitioners. These healthcare workers are in a vital position in the front lines against the battle against COVID-19, and some coronavirus patients refuse to be treated by these professionals purely based on race.

A large reason for this hate stems from the misplaced blame for the coronavirus. The rise in this hate has increased fear in healthcare workers and many other Asian Americans leading to measures such as carrying pepper spray and a personal alarm everywhere they travel. 

Asian Americans have historically been considered the “model minority.” The model minority myth has been one of the most prominent issues faced by Asian Americans for the past few years. Asian Americans have been put on a pedestal above other racial minorities, due to factors such as financial stability and education. As a whole, Asian Americans were viewed as almost “superior” to other minorities and somehow able to overcome their status as a minority to become successful. Many people are actively working towards debunking the model minority stereotype due to its harmful implications, but it has nevertheless led to an increased sense of resentment towards Asian Americans, and portraying Asian Americans as though they aren’t really a minority or a marginalized group. Above all, the model minority myth is a tool to create racial divide: it can be used against other minorities by comparing them to the Asian American community.

Another negative impact of the model minority myth is that it is impossible to deny that it has made more outward and obvious racism against Asian Americans less visible. As a result, much of the Asian American population is less outspoken or “loud” about racial issues. Many Asian Americans have internalized the model minority myth and have a part in perpetuating it themselves. This can no longer be the reality. The reality we need to confront is that even as the “model minority,” Asian Americans are far from being treated as equals, and the way we are seen and treated can change at any time for any reason. Now is a time where we need to reject the model minority myth and realize that our lives are inseparable from politics and racial injustice and inequality.

 The goal is to not only fight the issue of Anti-Asian racism but also to continue speaking out against racism and discrimination long after this COVID-19 situation has passed. Most importantly, we have to continue to speak out not just on behalf of our own community but in solidarity with other minorities as well. Complacency is no longer an option.

Copy Editor: Akshay Nair

Photography Source: Shweta Mistry