A Case Study: Understanding Anti-Asian Prejudice and Racism in the COVID-19 Era

This chapter explores the multifaceted influences of prejudice and racism against Chinese/Asians during the COVID-19 pandemic, integrating structural, individual, and group-level factors. Key triggers of COVID-related prejudice include the fear and uncertainty surrounding a novel infectious virus, heightened mortality awareness, and a perceived lack of control over personal and environmental circumstances. Moreover, the spread of information about the virus’s presumed origins, along with media portrayals of Chinese cultural practices, contributed to viewing Chinese/Asian culture as a symbolic threat. Economic challenges, such as reduced availability of goods and jobs, have intensified perceptions of economic threat, exacerbating intergroup tensions. Historical biases associating Asian Americans with diseases and entrenched intergroup dynamics further perpetuate prejudice and enable discriminatory actions. Notably, the anti-Asian sentiments observed during the pandemic are not just contemporary reactions but are part of a prolonged history of racism and “othering” in North America.