A Twitter video of a Chinese woman getting assaulted in a New York subway station by a stranger for wearing a face mask Feb. 2 got thousands of views. The man calls her a “diseased b****.” Another man got denied booking a room at a Super 8 motel in Plymouth, Indiana, due to being an Asian American according to YouTube video “Asians DENIED Hotels due to Corona Virus! (Racism Warning).” The clerk admits to not letting him stay out of fear of the coronavirus, asking him repeatedly if he’s from China. These are only a few examples of the xenophobia happening in our country toward Asian Americans since the recent outbreak of the coronavirus.
The fears of interacting with those who might be from or come from Asia is a disproportionate stereotype. The physical and verbal attacks on Asian American citizens across the country is inadmissible.
Discrimination exhibited during this outbreak is similar to that of the ’80s, when homophobic stigma towards gay men circulated and the public considered HIV a “gay plague.” The condition was even mistakenly labeled as the “Gay Related Immune Deficiency.” Gay rights activists had to undertake initiatives to promote education and countering this discrimination against AIDS.
Anxiety and panic around specific groups is due to misinformation and exaggeration. Blowing issues out of proportion, i.e. coronavirus, can be denouncing and unreasonable.
Rather than spreading hate, individuals need to take better care of themselves. Wash your hands often with soap and water. When not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Bypass close contact with those who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with contaminated hands. Stay home when you are sick. With a tissue, cover your cough or sneeze, then dispose. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using household cleaning supplies.
If you are concerned about your current health, visit Vandal Health Clinic. For more information regarding the coronavirus, visit the CDC’s website or The New York Times live updates about the virus.
– Editorial Board