Equity and Inclusion during COVID-19

Xenophobia & Racism during the COVID-19 Pandemic 

Xenophobia – Fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners.

Racism – Prejudice, discrimination or antagonism directed toward someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior. Racism involves one group having the power to carry out systematic discrimination through the institutional policies and practices of society and by shaping the cultural beliefs and values that support those racist policies and practices.

As COVID-19 has spread from China into other countries, there has also been a spread of Asian xenophobia and racism. This hate is a result of some people making the association between the origin of the virus and linking it to a perceived nationality or population. It is important to remember:

• Asian communities are very diverse and includes people having origins in the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent (for example, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand and Vietnam).
• Viruses do not belong to a certain race ethnicity, nationality, or specific population
• People—including those of Asian descent—who have not recently been in an area of ongoing spread of COVID-19 or been in contact with a person who is a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 are not at greater risk of acquiring and spreading COVID-19 than other people.
• Do not use terms such as “Chinese Virus” or other terms which cast either intentional or unintentional projections of hatred toward Asian communities, and do not allow the use of these terms by others. Refer to the virus as either “COVID-19” or “coronavirus” in both oral and written communications.
• Rowan university does not tolerate hate or bullying either in person nor online, if you are experiencing hatred please report it to the Office of Student Equity and Compliance (OSEC), – https://sites.rowan.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion/departments/osec/titlevi/index.html
• If you are a faculty or staff, report to the Office of Employee Equity and Labor Relations – https://sites.rowan.edu/equity/harassment.html

• Prolonged periods of school closure and movement restrictions may lead to emotional unrest and anxieties
• May be experiencing heightened child abuse
• Heightened parental anxieties and frustrations might lead to an increase in violence against children at home

Indigenous Peoples

• Indigenous Peoples often face persistent infrastructure problems, due to the financial lack of support for Reservations, resulting in overcrowded housing, a lack of sewage systems, and unsafe drinking water
• Indigenous Peoples often live in food deserts and face food insecurity

LGBTQ+

• May face challenges in accessing healthcare systems due to stigma and discrimination, and in contexts where they are criminalized, face threats to their security and lives.
• LGBTQ+ seniors are more likely to be isolated.
• LGBTQ+ families or relationships may face barriers to accessing COVID-19 services and/or humanitarian aid in multisectoral response.

Low Socioeconomic Status People

• May lack the disposable income, flexible work schedules, and the ability to do paid work from home
• May not have paid leave required to take care of children whose schools are closed
• Housing security may be at risk because they’ve lost their jobs or had hours cut back as a result of the pandemic

People of Color

• Xenophobia and racism place people of color in harms way during Covid-19
• May experience stigma and discrimination in health care settings including medications.
• May be uninsured. In 2018, some 7 percent of Asian/Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders and 8 percent of white Americans remained uninsured as compared to more than 11 percent of black Americans, 19 percent of Hispanic Americans, and 22 percent of Native Americans. Being uninsured or being connected to a healthcare provider puts people at immense risk during this pandemic.

Persons with disabilities

• Access to information is often a barrier for persons with a disability who have specific communication needs.
• Persons with disabilities are often excluded from decision-making spaces and have unequal access to information on outbreaks and availability of services.
• May not have resources needed to be able to complete their school work/job remotely.

Refugees and Migrants

• Legal status, discrimination, and language barriers may limit access to otherwise publicly available preventative materials, health care and social services.
• Like other official information, health service information and government announcements may not reach them.
• Refugees and migrants may not be included in the national strategies/plan/interventions
• Lack of documentation and financial resources may hinder access to life-saving health services.

The Elderly

• The evidence for COVID-19 shows they are the most vulnerable group with higher fatality rate.
• Not always able to go to the health services or the services provided are not adequate for elderly.
• May have difficulty caring for themselves and depend on family or caregivers. This can become more challenging in emergencies.
• Elderly in assisted-living facilities live close to each other and social distancing can be difficult.

Women

• Women make up large parts of the health workforce and most primary caregivers to the ill are women.
• Pregnant women may experience services are diverted when health services are overburdened, resulting in interrupted pre-and post-natal care.
• Women may experience increased risks of gender-based violence, including sexual exploitation during crisis. Services Empowering Rights of Victims (SERV), have resources available during the COVID-19 Virus, find the resources here. 

Ways to help marginalized communities during COVID-19

• Advocate for the protection and increase in funding for safety net programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
• Address unequal access to technology, hardware and software. Ask students/employees about their level of access to technology. Use that information to inform the technology choices for your courses. For employees, consider offering loaner laptops or assisting with access to internet service.
• Share supplies and resources as you are able to, to donate to The Shop at Rowan, please contact email  TheSHOP@rowan.edu or call The SHOP @ (856)256-6333 to coordinate delivery details during the scheduled hours of operation.
• State and local leaders are taking immediate steps to support low-income and marginalized communities by deploying their emergency powers in novel ways and repurposing routine authorities to rise to new challenges. At a minimum, authorities can immediately expand paid leave and other employment protections for workers, freeze evictions and utility shut-offs, provide safe and healthy housing, protect people who are experiencing homelessness, and increase nutritional supports in low-income communities. To contact your state officials to advocate for these resources go to : https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
• Reject racism, sexism, xenophobia and all hateful or intolerant speech, both in person and online. Be an “up-stander,” and discourage others from engaging in such behavior.
• Build community through virtual coffee/tea hours with colleagues, office-mates, students and faculty.
• Furthermore, remember to practice self-care! Recognize your own stress, manage yourself before managing others, and make time for your physical and emotional needs.