Column

Asian hate and microaggression

Apart from COVID-19, an alarming social issue fueled by hate, xenophobia, and racial injustice has been causing fear and comprising safety among the Asian American population in the U.S. Cases ranging from physical assault to verbal and emotional abuse have been recorded by the police (though most of the cases are underreported). Such incidents, according to a study, have skyrocketed in 2021, when the coronavirus disease was imprudently associated with Asians, leading to wrongful stereotypes and misinformation. 

The unjustified portrayal of non-white American communities when diseases and outbreaks emerge has been circulating since then. Haitian Americans were blamed for HIV; German Americans for the 1918 influenza pandemic; Mexican Americans for the swine flu in 2009; and Asian Americans for carrying diseases. 

But why should you get bothered by the aforementioned happenings when in fact the United States is far from us?

It is known that many Filipino immigrants live in the United States. And it is just right to empathize to our fellow Filipinos who are part of the growing Asian-American population. To mitigate the problem, there is a need for cross-racial solidarity between countries to send a collective message that Asian Americans have to be treated with dignity and respect. A collective message will also secure safe spaces for Asian-Americans who may have developed trauma and anxiety from reports of shootings, physical and verbal assaults, and acts of discrimination even in broad daylight. Living in fear makes the lives of Filipino immigrants and Asian Americans miserable – facing unfair treatments, restricting movement, and getting hurtful remarks even in public places.

On the other hand, microaggression is one thing to get bothered about. In 1970, Harvard University Professor Chester M. Pierce coined the term “microaggression” to describe the “insults and slights he had witnessed against black people.” But it is important to note that microaggressions are more than just insults, unsolicited comments, and superior behavior. It can hide in compliments and seemingly good remarks but the intention is to let others question their identity, demographic, skin color, or even lifestyle. According to a research, microaggressions, although appearing to be minor infractions, have been found to have a significant psychological impact on the recipients. This toll can cause anger and depression, as well as decreased productivity and problem-solving abilities at work.

Let us remember that microaggressions can manifest in our daily interactions such as commenting on someone’s physical appearance; treating the indigenous peoples as inferior; demoralizing farmers, fisherfolks, and the informal sector; dropping sexist and misogynistic comments; and expressing racist remarks. And oftentimes, microaggressions are covertly and unconsciously done. But let us keep in mind that showing kindness and respect is less taxing than thinking of negative remarks towards another person. We all deserve to be treated right.