V massive attacks on Asians and Asian Americans (A / AA) have increased exponentially since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to data from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, the number of hate crimes in the largest cities in the United States increased 6% in 2020 compared to 2019, but the number of hate crimes against Asia increased by nearly 150%. The cities with the largest increases in anti-Asian hate crimes included New York City (833% increase), Philadelphia (200% increase), Cleveland (200% increase), and San Jose, California (150% increase).
According to data from Stop AAPI Hate, the reporting office received 3,795 cases of anti-Asian hate incidents between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021. The majority of reported cases were verbal harassment hate incidents (68.1%), followed by avoidance or avoidance (20.5%), bodily harm (11.1%), civil rights violations such as refusal to serve (8.5%) and online harassment ( 6.8%). Media coverage of hate crimes against A / AA reached a Filipino American with a cutter knife in the face after the horrific murder of six Asian women in metropolitan Atlanta and the physical assault in New York City on a Chinese woman who was beaten and set on fire a Thai immigrant who died after being knocked to the ground, and a Filipino American woman who was suddenly kicked in the stomach and head repeatedly in broad daylight.
Like people in other ethnic groups, A / AA who experience racial discrimination can experience psychological problems such as generalized anxiety, panic disorders, depressive disorders, low life satisfaction, low self-esteem, sleep problems, loss of appetite and even thoughts of suicide. In addition to these potential mental health issues, the recent violent attacks may have resulted in a number of A / AA individuals becoming more hyper-vigilant or even anxious in public, and constant concern for the safety of their families and friends.
These attacks and harassment immediately attracted increased attention in many professional fields, including counseling. Professional counseling organizations such as the American Counseling Association, the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development, and the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling have responded to anti-Asian hate crimes with formal statements, specific research grants, and other supportive measures. At the same time, the individual advisors should also recognize our ethical obligation to non-discrimination and social justice. According to the ACA Code of Ethics of 2014, professional advisors are responsible for providing non-discriminatory advisory services (Standard C.5.), Advocating for people who are underserved or encountering obstacles in the provision of services (A.7.a.) and to make a contribution to public good (C.6.e.).
So what should and can professional counselors do to respond to anti-Asian hate crimes? Perhaps the very first step is to gain a deeper understanding, particularly of the hidden factors and prejudices that may historically have contributed to the discrimination against anti-Asian hatred.
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Contributing factors
Various factors contribute to the increase in anti-Asian hate crimes. One of the most visible and discussed factors is the use of racist language (especially by influential public figures) such as "China Virus", "Wuhan Virus" and "Kung Flu". The use of such language gives others the permission or license to express their ingrained prejudices. Researchers have called this phenomenon the "emboldening effect". However, there are many other myths that have fueled the prejudices we as a nation have against A / AA.
A hidden prejudice could be that A / AA are viewed as eternal foreigners. Seemingly harmless questions like “Where are you from?”; “Where are you really from?”; and "What's your real name?" Maintaining this belief on the underlying assumption that they couldn't be from the US and that their English-sounding name is not their real name. That belief that A / AA are foreigners extends to the entertainment industry as well. Take the films Minari and The Farewell, for example. Even though they were films shot in the United States, neither film was eligible for the Golden Globes Best Image Category. Instead, they were ranked in the Best Foreign Language Films category as much of the films' dialogue was not in English. The implied message here is that A / AA experiences are not American enough or, worse, that these populations are always viewed as foreigners / outsiders. Such a perspective puts A / AA populations back into a sort of fringe status and also encourages contempt or hostility towards them from many Americans.
Another hidden prejudice is the myth of an exemplary minority. This myth maintains the belief that A / AA are the most successful minority because of their hard work, focus on education, and community support. This myth has three problems.
First, the myth paints a monolithic picture of the Asian community when there can be great differences within the various Asian diasporas. Bhutanese Americans, for example, have a higher poverty rate than other Asian groups, such as Japanese Americans. Second, internalizing this myth puts enormous pressure on A / AA to succeed, which can have a negative impact on their mental health.
Third, and perhaps most damaging, is that this myth continues another myth: the myth of the achievement society. The underlying message is that because of their hard work, the Asian community has overcome decades of racism; Therefore, if an individual (or a particular group) is not so successful, it is believed that it is due to their lack of commitment rather than systemic injustice. This train of thought effectively creates a wedge between various minority communities in the USA and
maintains the status quo of white privilege and supremacy.
Collectivism can be another important but often neglected factor. The majority of A / AA populations share the belief that their identity resides within a group, such as their family, a particular community, or even a collective society (see Derald Wing Sue and David Sue’s Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice). Growing up and living in such a collectivist culture, A / AA individuals are typically raised to honor harmony and avoid conflict, and gradually develop a tendency to be indulgent and calm, or to stay away from being positively noticed.
In connection with this collectivism, many historical guidelines, such as the Chinese Exclusion Law, have silenced the A / AA community. In order to survive, the A / AA populations learned to be self-sufficient and not care about the problems of the A / AA community. Sayings such as “head down” and “the nail that sticks out will be driven in” are common mantras A / AA people usually hear from their parents and grandparents. So when they experience unfair treatment, bullying, discrimination, or even violence, they tend to tolerate it and not come forward. Although the collectivist way of being does not in any way lead to hate crimes against A / AA individuals, hate crime perpetrators may consider members of the A / AA community to be easy targets due to their lack of self-advocacy.
Many A / AA people have internalized the myth of the model minority and developed a condition of value around it. They believe that they should be role models for others and be successful in various aspects of their lives – socially, academically, and financially. Otherwise they “fail”. In fact, one study reported that Asian American college students were more prone to feeling like scammers than other ethnic minority college students. If discrimination is not tolerated and the collective honor of becoming an exemplary minority is preserved, a sense of guilt can arise that brings shame to the family, community or society.
The perception of A / AA as a foreigner has also become an obstacle to self-advocacy. There are legal and political stories that have contributed to this perception, but also poor knowledge of English, the presence of distinctive accents and the use of non-alphabetic characters are intended to promote their status as "foreigners" and discourage them from expressing their experiences of racism and Discrimination.
Additionally, some A / AA populations may have inherited a sense of "indebtedness" to America from the first generation of Asian immigrants. Many Asians emigrated to the US for better educational, economic and employment opportunities, especially for their children. Some Asian immigrants also fled to the US to avoid human rights abuses and undemocratic rule in their own countries. Early Asian immigrants can therefore rationalize the racism they experience in America as the price of entry they have to pay into that country.
Coming voice and hope
However, since the rise in xenophobia towards A / AA as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, A / AA have taken on more active and louder roles to advocate for their rights. Stop AAPI Hate, sponsored by multiple organizations, was founded in March 2020 to join forces against racism and hatred targeting the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities (AAPI). In addition, the news media has highlighted the escalation of hate crimes against A / AA. In March, the Democrats in the House of Representatives held the first congressional hearing on anti-Asian discrimination in three decades.
Several factors, such as the use of social media and the increased representation of A / AA in entertainment, politics, sports and leadership positions, contribute to the fact that this somewhat unusual movement among A / AA creates new cracks in the "Bamboo ceiling". We would like to highlight two further plausible factors: a demographic change in the USA and a generation change at A / AA.
Many A / AA grow up in a collectivist cultural background that promotes the pursuit of harmony with others (especially others in the majority) and values that show respect for others who are higher in the social hierarchy. The fact is that minorities are becoming the majority in the United States. Activism against racial injustice, for civil and human rights and for justice for oneself is becoming part of the discourse of this new majority. A / AA take inspiration from activist movements like Black Lives Matter, which emerged from other underrepresented communities. Even if we recognize the differences between minority communities and their different histories of suffering, there is a chance to continue the story of solidarity for those who were held in subordinate positions.
Generational change is another important factor. Second, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center, the third and even younger generation of immigrants are often far better off than their parents who emigrated to the United States on various socio-economic benefits such as income, education, and home ownership. These individuals are more assimilated into US culture and more aware of inequality and social justice than their parents or grandparents. Hence, thoughts about racial identity and racism can be quite different between younger generations of A / AA and early Asian immigrants.
For example, younger A / AA individuals may inherently claim their identity as American and therefore may not have the deep debt that was part of their parent's or grandparent's experience. While the early Asian immigrants typically embraced collectivism and harmony, younger A / AA generations may prioritize equality and social justice. The use of technology also makes a difference between A / AA generations. Younger A / AA people are much more familiar with using social media to communicate their thoughts and stand up for them. All of these generational changes have helped raise a stronger voice against anti-Asian hatred.
Suggestions for consultants
Highlighting issues related to the A / AA community is a step in the right direction as it combats the invisibility of A / AA experiences. Efforts to involve the A / AA community in the discourse should be consistent and not a one-off event. For counselors we give some suggestions on how to start and conduct a conversation.
1) Practice self-reflection: As a counselor, trainer or supervisor in your class or with your students / supervisors, have you spoken about the escalation of hate crime and discrimination against A / AA or moderated a discussion? If yes why? If not why When you pause and examine your thoughts, feelings, and physical reactions, what do they tell you about your perceptions or hidden beliefs regarding A / AA populations?
2) Bring the conversation up: After the mass shooting in the Atlanta area in March, each of the authors of this article was reached by friends, colleagues, former professors, and even their students. We all appreciated and felt touched by even short messages like “How are you?”; "I only think of you"; and "I am grateful that you are in my life." Bringing national news to an individual level may be hesitant, but we encourage consultants to get in touch if they are considering doing so. These gestures can make many A / AA people feel cared for and secure that they are part of the larger US community.
3) Expressing concern about the exclusion of A / AA: We have found that some organizations offer multicultural training on ethnic minority groups that do not include A / AA, or have diversity committees without A / AA representatives . Reaching out to organizations to consider the need to include issues relating to the A / AA community or individuals with an A / AA background is an advocacy work in which we can all participate.
4) Contact your elected officials: Send an email or call your local officials and ask them about specific bills and votes that affect A / AA communities. Express your concern and support for A / AA in your community. The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (napawf.org) has a petition page suggesting that elected officials focus on combating systemic racism and addressing the needs of survivors and the affected community.
5) Achieve and improve access to counseling for A / AA populations: We encourage counseling trainers and professional counselors to consider providing support groups for A / AA individuals on campus and in the community . Professional counselors could work with local elementary, middle and high schools to provide individual counseling, support groups, or psychoeducational sessions not only for A / AA students, but also for their parents and families. Professional counselors may also consider posting mental health service information specifically related to A / AA populations and anti-Asian hate crimes on their professional websites. Asian mental health communities such as the Asian Mental Health Collective (asianmhc.org) provide lists of Asian counselors.
6) Offer community education to promote mutual understanding and equality: Share your knowledge of mental health and multiculturalism with people in your community. For example, local public libraries often hold workshops and presentations. Professional counselors can use such channels to help people in the community better understand the impact of racism and discrimination on their daily work.
Conclusion
As we were working on this article, constant incidents of hate crimes (as of April 24, most recently the mass shooting of a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, in which, among other things, four Sikhs were killed) caused us to revise the manuscript several times. The addition of each example of hate crime added heaviness and fear to our hearts. This feeling of heaviness and fear gives an insight into the world of racism.
Hate crimes / violent crimes against A / AA are not a new phenomenon and racist acts are taking place on a daily basis. But these acts often only attract attention when they lead to mass shootings, viral videos or sensational media coverage. Then the attention gradually fades.
One of our co-authors, Terence Yee, remembers a comic in which everyone wants change, but fewer people want to change and even fewer want to lead change. The fact that anti-Asian hate / violent crimes have attracted national attention and are being talked about is progress. This progress gives us cause for reflection: Now that we know it, what do we do with it?
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Yumiko Ogawa is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counselor Education at New Jersey City University. She has more than 25 years of clinical experience in various settings. In addition, she offers training in play therapy in the USA, Japan and the Philippines. She is co-founder of the Play Therapy in Asia Summit. Contact her at [email protected].
Yi-Ju Cheng is an assistant professor in the Rider University advisory program. She is a licensed professional counselor and registered play therapist whose clinical and scientific interest is focused on children and their families from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Yung-Wei Dennis Lin is an associate professor in the Advisor Education Department at New Jersey City University. He is from Taiwan and has lived in the USA for 17 years.
Terence Yee is Assistant Professor in the Department of Education and Counseling at Villanova University. Since he is an immigrant from Malaysia and identifies as a Malaysian-Chinese, his research interest includes the experiences of international counselor educators and international students. He has a private practice mainly serving Asian and Black men.
Counseling Today reviews unsolicited articles written by members of the American Counseling Association. For writing guidelines and tips for accepting an article for publication, visit ct.counseling.org/feedback.
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