This key in of discrimination, driven by fear and prejudice, likely isnt going away anytime soon.
However, reading and sharing resources such as this one can help to improve the situation.
To help, Ive compiled 30+ facts and statistics about anti-Asian hate.
In the US, anti-Asian hate typically refers to discrimination targeting Chinese, East, and Southeast Asians.
In the UK, it also commonly manifests as racism targeting people of South Asian descent.
In many instances, the discrimination felt by Asian people in the West is driven by institutionalized racism.
Anti-Asian hate also includes discrimination between people of different Asian ethnicities.
Anti-Asian rhetoric within the region is often linked to past geopolitical conflicts and territorial disputes.
There are a variety of reasons for this.
Underreporting
Much of the data about anti-Asian discrimination and hate crimes is self-reported.
Some victims may not report incidents at all, while others may institute false reports or embellish their experience.
Underreporting is particularly common among Asian immigrant communities.
Others may unknowingly internalize and accept the racism they experience simply as a part of life.
Another layer is added when law enforcement agencies come into the picture.
Ambiguous, leading, and confusing questions often appear in surveys and can all drive skewed results.
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 effectively banned Chinese immigration to the US for 10 years.
It legitimized the discrimination of Chinese migrants and marked a significant turning point in their treatment by law.
As the 20th century kicked off, other countries followed suit, instituting their own anti-Asian laws.
Asians have also been subjected to violence by their fellow citizens.
In the 21st century, hate crimes surged following events like the 9/11 attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic.
A release from Berkeleyexplains that this sustained increase may be caused in part by inflammatory rhetoric around China.
The data shows that theres plenty of work needed to combat anti-Asian hate in the US.
However, anti-Asian hate still increased by 149% across the cities studied.
The fact that anti-Asian hate crimes increased during this period indicates just how commonplace anti-Asian sentiment became during 2020.
Online Harassment Rose among Asian Americans in 2021
Online harassment targeting Asian Americans rose drastically between 2020 and 2021.
This unfortunately comes as no surprise.
This can serve to magnify its impact and effects.
Who Is Affected by Anti-Asian Hate?
Unraveling the impact of anti-Asian hate requires diving into the varied experiences of the victims of these incidents.
Asian Americans Experience Discrimination Daily
Asian Americans face discrimination on a daily basis.
Many times, these discriminatory acts take the form of microaggressions; i.e.
verbal or behavioral affronts that show hostility towards people from a marginalized group.
There is also more overt discrimination taking place.
Thats an alarmingly high figure and highlights just how common AAPI hate has become following COVID-19.
This may be due in some part to the fact theyre the most populous Asian ethnicity in the US.
Racial abuse targeting British Pakistanis became increasingly common in the 1960s as more settled in the UK.
The Types of Anti-Asian Hate
Anti-Asian hate can present in a multitude of ways.
Physical assault includes attacks, victims being threatened, intimidated, or having things thrown at them.
Imagessuch as offensive memes or hateful symbolsmake up a further 7.6% of all hate speech found online.
The Land Down Under is home to nearly 1.4 million Chinese Australians.
Where Anti-Asian Hate Incidents Occur
Anti-Asian hate is unfortunately all around us.
This, in turn, can enable us to be more vigilant and responsive when these incidents occur.
This should come as no surprise.
People are more likely to come across strangersand therefore potential harassersin public spaces.
Nearly one-third (31%) of AAPI hate incidents occur in the street or on the sidewalk.
Almost one in ten (8%) incidents occur in public parks.
Public transport (9%) is another common setting for AAPI hate.
One-tenth of incidents happen in private residences.
Schools, colleges, and universities are the sites of 18% of incidents.
People of Asian ethnicity are often discriminated against by being ignored for promotionsa phenomena called the bamboo ceiling.
So, why was Canada such a hotbed for anti-Asian hate during the pandemic?
The nation has a history of anti-Asian discrimination.
During the early 20th Century, distrust of Chinese immigrants led to several exclusionary laws infringing their human rights.
Meanwhile, over 90% of Japanese Canadians were detained during World War Two.
California and New Yorks coastal locations mean theyve historically received high numbers of Asian immigrants.
This possibly explains why these two states rank highest for anti-Asian hate incidents in the US.
Incidents of harassment, violence, shunning, and xenophobia emerged during this time.
What Are the Drivers of Anti-Asian Hate?
During COVID-19, anti-Asian sentiment rose sharply in the West.
The belief is that Donald Trumps rhetoric and language simply exacerbated these sentiments, rather than caused them.
A week later, Trump posted a tweet referring to COVID-19 as the China virus.
Reducing Asians to their stereotypes in this way misrepresents them as something theyre not.
Fearing for ones safety, in particular, induces an immense amount of mental and physical stress.
Children and the elderly can be particularly vulnerable to such attacks.
Americans Question the Loyalty of Asian Americans
By many accounts, anti-Asian hate decreased slightly in 2022.
Rhetoric scapegoating the Asian community and spreading distrust continued in 2022,even from members of congress.
Americans Disproportionately Avoided Asian Restaurants during COVID-19
Many Asian restaurants suffered from a huge downturn in business during COVID-19.
Asian restaurants suffered far worse than other cuisines with traffic decreasing nearly 20% compared to other restaurants.
This offers hope that well be able to increase understanding and acceptance to foster inclusivity.
According to a 2023 Hollywood Diversity Report, just 2.3% of leading characters in theatrical films are Asian.
Movie executives cling to the idea that Asian actors wont sell films.
But recent successes, like therecord-breaking rom-com Crazy Rich Asians, prove this not to be true.
The lack of Asians in leading roles means there arent many role models on screens for young Asian Americans.
Instead, better representation could promote diversity and offer a sense of belonging to many Asian Americans.
Americans Are Open to Improving
Education is one of the most important methods for eradicating racism.
It can help deconstruct the discriminatory narratives, discourses, and stereotypes that people disseminate about a particular group.
Education can also help foster a cultural exchange, building compassion and understanding between one group and another.
How to Help Fight Anti-Asian Hate
Confronting and dismantling anti-Asian hate demands collective action.
Here are the ways you could help fight anti-Asian hate in your everyday life.
