Asian Australians’ experiences of racism during the COVID-19 pandemic
Asian Australians’ experiences of racism during the COVID-19 pandemic
Our research looked at Asian Australians’ experiences of racism before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined how these experiences are associated with their mental health, wellbeing and feelings of belonging. We analysed how targets and witnesses respond to racist incidents, and whether they report these incidents.
Key findings
Asian Australians experienced fewer racist incidents during the pandemic than before, but levels of racism are still very high.
Almost half (48%) of survey participants experienced racism in the year before the COVID pandemic. This fell to 40% during the pandemic. Despite the decrease, this is still an alarmingly high proportion. There are three potential reasons for a drop in experiences of racist incidents
1. There were fewer social interactions during lockdowns and physical distancing requirements.
“Since COVID we all are mostly working from home, so no use of public transport. The lockdowns restricted the movements and hence public interaction. So naturally any experiences I had before have gone down.”
2. There was increased avoidance of Asian Australians due to racist discourses linking ‘Asians’ to COVID-19
Respondents perceived that perpetrators of racism were avoiding ‘Asian’ individuals and communities: ‘avoiding communities where there is [an] Asian population’ which is arguably another form of racism.
3. Asian Australians may avoid situations because they anticipate racism, even if they have not directly experienced racism.
More than three-quarters of respondents (77%) indicated that they avoided specific situations because of racism. More specifically, 92% of participants who experienced racism during the pandemic avoid situations because of racism, while 68% who have not experienced racism during the pandemic also avoid situations because of racism.
Reasons for decreasing incidents of racism during the pandemic are supported by data from the Victorian sub-sample, which indicate a 10% decrease in racist experiences in the state compared to 8% nationally. As Victoria had longer and stricter lockdowns, this suggests that the lack of face-to-face social contact is responsible for the decrease.
Most racist incidents connected to COVID
Across each of the settings in which racism was experienced (e.g. work, education, public transport, shops), the majority of participants (approximately 70% for each setting) said the incidents were COVID-related (including ‘sometimes’ COVID related where multiple experiences occurred). ‘COVID language’ most often indicated the connection between the racist experience/incident and COVID.
The most common settings for racism and groups experiencing racism did not change during the pandemic
Asian Australians reported experiencing racism in all Australian states and territories, across both urban and rural areas. Asian Australians who are males, young adults, Australian-born or migrant who have been in Australia for more than two years, and English speakers at home were the most likely to experience racism. This pattern of results was consistent with pre-pandemic results.
Racist incidents likely drive negative mental health and wellbeing
We uncovered worrying poor mental health and wellbeing rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, 36% of Asian Australians ‘often’ felt that they were not worth much as a person, while 17% ‘almost always’ felt this way. There is a clear pattern indicating that people who were targets of racism during the pandemic suffer worse mental health and wellbeing than those who have not experienced racism. Only 22% of racism targets never felt that they ‘can’t seem to experience any positive feeling at all’, compared to 40% of those who have not experienced racism. Only 30% of racism targets never felt like life was meaningless, compared to 54% of those who have never experienced racism
Unfortunately, this pattern is statistically significant and consistent across all the stress, anxiety and depression items.
Racism related to corrosion of belonging and social cohesion
Asian Australians have a relatively strong sense of belonging, including bonds with family and friends and feeling accepted and included. However, ‘non-belonging’ (such as not feeling Australian) was more likely for those who experienced racism during the pandemic.
Asian Australians are likely to underreport racist incidents
Witnesses are rarely reporting racism Since the COVID-19 pandemic, 39% of respondents had witnessed racism. However, their most common response to seeing racism was to do nothing (12%). Only 4% who witnessed racism reported the incident to the police, and the same percentage to an anti-discrimination authority.
Targets of racism are more likely to do nothing about it than report it to an authority
When asked ‘Did you report any of these incidents?’ the majority (30-52%) of respondents who experienced racism in each setting did not report it. Regardless of whether they were targets or witnesses of racism, participants were far more likely to tell their friends and family about the incident (22%) rather than the police (12%) or Human Rights Commission (3%). This means that the record number of complaints submitted to the Human Rights Commission in February 2020 is likely an underrepresentation.
Without trust in institutions or adequate data on reported incidents, the full extent and impact of racism — and how it undermines social cohesion and social inequities related to individual health and wellbeing — remains hidden. The ability of authorities to act upon racist incidents is also limited without accurate reporting
Partners and Organisations
- Challenging Racism Project
- Department of Premiere and Cabinet (VIC)
- Australian Multicultural Foundation
- Centre for Multicultural Youth
- All Together Now
- Asian Australian Alliance
- Australia-China Institute for Arts and Culture
- Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
- Victorian Multicultural Commission
What are we doing with these findings?
We presented these findings to community groups through workshops and forums. We asked them what they thought about them, what they thought needed to happen next, and how we could help.
Here’s what we heard:
There is a need for clarity around definitions of racism and racist incidents
What can and can’t be officially reported needs to be explicitly clear. Some contexts need particular attention, for instance, racism encountered online. Clarifying what racism is and what can be reported may improve reporting rates and help reduce incidents of racism.
Reporting mechanisms need work
Reporting tools need to be more easily and readily accessible. Community members told us that trust needs to be built in reporting tools and systems and that transparency and accountability in the reporting process may help to build this trust. Witnesses of racism also need support to understand their role in reporting incidents.
Targets of racism and the groups they belong to should not carry the burden of creating change
Instead, they need resources to support them, particularly given the worrying link between experiencing racism and poor mental health. Resources should be available to equip bystanders to take action safely.
Intergenerational conversations may be key
Talking to older members of target groups of racism may break down barriers in talking about and reporting racism.
What we’re doing next
We have developed a summary of recommendations for government and non-government agencies that focuses on reporting mechanisms and system changes.
We created a series of social media posts for community organisations and individuals to clarify what racism and racist incidents are, where to go for support, and resources for bystanders.
We are committed to continuing to share the findings from our project. If you have ideas for what we might do, or would like one of our research team to write or talk about them with your organisation, please email us.
Other Media
- Experts outline the risks to society, when the fear of coronavirus descends to racism
- Race Discrimination Commissioner welcomes call for national unity from Chinese-Australians
- Open letter on national unity during the coronavirus pandemic
- Asians out! Not in this suburb. Not in this apartment (Kamp et al 2018, The Conversation)