Fear, identity, and activism during COVID-19: Conceptualizing and supporting racialized Asian youths’ experiences of sinophobia, foreigner racialization, and anti-Asian hate in the US

This research examines the impact of anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic on racialized Asian youth in the US and how policymakers and community based organizations can best support youth after experiencing anti-Asian hate. From 2020-2021, Stop AAPI Hate reported over 10,000 incidents of anti-Asian hate, exacerbated by rhetoric such as “Kung Flu” and “Chinavirus.” These events prompted Asian American youth to question their identities and engage in activism against anti-Asian hate. This study aims to document youths’ experiences, understand the pandemic’s lasting effects on their sense of identity and wellbeing through a contemporary and critical ethnic studies lens, and provide community leaders with informative data to support the target population. Data will be collected from 15 participants via semi-structured and unstructured interviews, focusing on youths’ experiences of anti-Asian hate, identity-formation, introduction to activism, and types of support preferred. ATLAS software will be used for transcription and inductive thematic analysis. Findings will provide insights into how anti-Asian hate influenced the identities and wellbeing of racialized Asian youth, contributing to scholarship in ethnic studies, psychology, sociology, and youth development. Finally, the study will collaborate with policymakers and community leaders to determine best practices in supporting Asian American youth.