intro
On December 31, COVID-19, an acute form of the coronavirus, was first reported in Wuhan, China. After a three-month period of doubt and confusion, regarding mixed information about how the virus spread, and was contracted, cities around the globe struggled to contain the virus, and keep the economy afloat. As case counts and death tolls grew exponentially, global stigma regarding the coronavirus increased. This was particularly seen in relation to individuals of Asian and more particularly, East Asian descent. Further, stigma was widespread against foreigners in the United States and abroad.
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methodology
To complete my study, I used two diverging methods. Ethnography, and digital archival methods, to observe and record the unique experiences of individuals of East Asian descent who live domestically in the States, and abroad. The purpose of my study was to examine the effects of heightened racism during COVID-19 and its influence on Asians and Asian American identities, and sense of Asian identity. While focusing on the overall experience and hardships that Asians and Asian Americans have experienced during the pandemic, I examined the main attitudes and reflections that have surfaced because of racism, and stigma during the pandemic. In this chapter, I provide justification for the use of ethnography, and a digital archive, describe the study’s participants, an explain the specific methodological steps of conducting ethnographic interviews.
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literature review
This section examines the literature surrounding three broad bodies of scholarship: how the increased stigma in relation to Asian Americans is creating sentiments of intergroup turmoil, Asian Americans in relation to COVID-19, recognition of Anti-Asian discrimination and racism in the United States, and the impact that an increase of Anti-Asian rhetoric has on the lives of Asian Americans living in the United States. While these topics have been studied extensively in their own right, they have seldom been combined, and never been analyzed in the unique context of Ohio. By synthesizing and discussing these topics, I justify the unique importance of my own study. This project sheds light on the unique experiences of Asian and Asian-Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio - an understudied area that provides insight into the role of community in resilience.
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conclusion
The purpose of my study is to examine how racism and stigma during COVID-19 has impacted individuals of East Asian descent in Wooster, Ohio, and create visibility for their experiences and lived narratives. To analyze the impact that anti-Asian racism has had on Asian Americans and East Asians at The College of Wooster, I interviewed fifteen domestic and international “Asian” students and staff to learn about their lived experiences. After conducting interviews and analyzing their experiences, I was able to find common themes about how international and domestic individuals of East Asian descent understand their experiences with racism and stigma in the United States. Ultimately, the responses from my fifteen contributors provided a diverse range of themes. Contributors discussed their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. They shared both their experiences with racism and stigma, as well as the monumental shift in the routines, and how it negatively and positively impacted their mental health and general well-being. In this chapter, I will explain the implications of my research findings, discuss the limitations of my study, provide recommendations for future research, and express my final thoughts.
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