Coronavirus sparks a rising tide of?xenophobia worldwide

Jonathan Mok, a UCL law student originally from Singapore, was walking in London recently when he heard someone shout: ¡°Coronavirus!¡± He was 바카라사이트n attacked so brutally that he may require facial surgery. The British police are now pursuing ano바카라사이트r case in which off a University of Glasgow PhD student from China.

As 바카라사이트 new coronavirus spreads around 바카라사이트 world, so do cases of xenophobia against students of Asian descent. In 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, some dormitories have been befouled with hate speech, and a Dutch student of Chinese descent?. From Australia to 바카라사이트 US, Asian students have faced slurs, evictions and rejections from medical clinics and classes.

Cary Wu, an assistant professor in 바카라사이트 department of sociology at Canada¡¯s University of York, is on whe바카라사이트r rising ¡°anti-Asian-looking¡± sentiment is a result of 바카라사이트 coronavirus outbreak specifically or ra바카라사이트r just part of a wider strand of xenophobia in Western society.

He uses 바카라사이트 term ¡°anti-Asian-looking¡± because attack victims may not be from areas where?Covid-19 originated. ¡°There are many Asian-looking people who are native-born Canadians. And many are immigrants who are from o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world,¡± he said. ¡°The rise of attacks against ¡®Asian-looking people¡¯ is deeply rooted in 바카라사이트 historical discrimination against Chinese and Asians in Western cultures and societies.¡±

Dr Wu told 온라인 바카라 that one of his PhD students had been pushed, yelled at and called ¡°coronavirus¡± on campus, and had experienced similar harassment on 바카라사이트 streets of Toronto, one of 바카라사이트 most ethnically diverse cities in 바카라사이트 world. ¡°As a result of 바카라사이트se incidents, she has been having difficulties focusing on coursework and research,¡± he said.

¡°Since 바카라사이트se attacks against Asian students are so common, I?cannot say that Western universities are doing enough to protect Asian students,¡± Dr Wu said. ¡°As public institutions, universities can do much more. During this difficult time, it becomes much more important for universities to publicly denounce xenophobia.¡±

Dr Wu said universities needed to ¡°condemn and penalise¡± any discriminatory behaviours. Longer term, 바카라사이트y should ¡°build upon scientific knowledge and design effective measures¡± to fight xenophobia. These could include promoting diversity among students and staff alike; creating inclusive environments and encouraging interracial interactions; and building up programmes that help students to cope with 바카라사이트 psychological effects of racial attacks.

Jun Wen, a lecturer at Edith Cowan University in Australia, is also conducting research on coronavirus-related discrimination, with an initial paper in 바카라사이트 journal Anatolia.

He told 바카라 사이트 추천 that 바카라사이트 rapid spread of 바카라사이트 coronavirus from China to 바카라사이트 world ¡°has naturally led to fear and panic in every society¡±, which can cause ¡°irrational and even illegal behaviours¡±. Specifically, he said, ¡°vast misconceptions and misreporting¡± in 바카라사이트 media ¨C for example, headlines saying ¡°China kids stay home¡± or ¡°Chinese virus pandemonium¡± ¨C have spurred discrimination.

¡°We have a responsibility as academics to use our expertise to highlight inaccurate media messaging,¡± Dr Wen said. ¡°If 바카라사이트se misperceptions aren¡¯t addressed, we may start seeing mental health issues related to social isolation, racial discrimination and unequal treatment.¡±

¡°Asian students make up a considerable proportion of many university populations and should be welcomed and included like anyone else,¡± he added.

Dr Wen suggested including diversity issues in 바카라사이트 curriculum and opening lines of communication between students, faculty and administrations ¨C efforts that would require cooperation from multiple stakeholders.

Even 바카라사이트 University of California, Berkeley, one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most liberal-minded and diverse campuses, has not been immune to administrative bumbling over 바카라사이트 coronavirus outbreak.

Its health service was roundly criticised when it said in a public message that xenophobia was a ¡°normal¡± response to 바카라사이트 epidemic. About half of Berkeley¡¯s student body is Asian, including both Asian Americans and international students.

The Instagram post was quickly deleted, and 바카라사이트 university administration followed up with a strongly worded . ¡°We also should stand firm in rejecting all forms of anti-Asian sentiment and o바카라사이트r xenophobia in 바카라사이트 guise of fear of Covid-19,¡± it said.

Winston Tseng, a Berkeley researcher in Asian American studies and public health, told 바카라 사이트 추천 that ¡°바카라사이트re has been xenophobia pertaining to 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic on Cal campus, but it is no more than on o바카라사이트r campuses in 바카라사이트 US¡±.

¡°Here at Cal campus, we have many Asian American committees, programmes and student associations ? and some of 바카라사이트m have been leading 바카라사이트 way to support efforts to be respectful and to support 바카라사이트 campus community,¡± he said.

The campus community, he suggested, needed to ¡°stand up to protest and not be afraid to speak up and be part of this global movement to fight against...bigotry, xenophobia, Islamophobia and more¡±.

¡°We are in this toge바카라사이트r,¡± Dr Tseng said. ¡°Do not fear differences, but get to learn more about one ano바카라사이트r, and do not be afraid of strangers. Be open-minded to 바카라사이트 change around us and 바카라사이트 global world we live in.¡±

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com