Contemplating Chinese American Identity in the U.S. During and Post COVID

Keywords: Chinese American, Asian American, Ethnic Identity, COVID
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Tuesday
Session Start / End Time: 3/1/2022 03:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 3/1/2022 05:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 13

Abstract

Historically and contemporarily, Chinese immigrants and Americans have long been perceived as perpetual foreigners and temporary sojourners. Since the COVID pandemic, the social rejection and social ressentiment toward Asians, especially toward Chinese Americans, have been fueled by the rising geopolitical tension between China and the U.S. The soaring Asian Hate crimes also painted Chinese with a tainted color of “foreignness,” which is further linked with the exotic COVID virus. Using in-depth interviews with first-generation Chinese immigrants with green cards, this paper reveals the lack of public acceptance and recognition of being “American” and part of “our citizens” hinders Chinese migrants from being aligned with other intersectional social groups, nor to seek solidarity with other minority groups when facing racial discrimination. Thus, Chinese immigrants mitigate their identities during the COVID pandemic and social hostility in the U.S. to navigate in the “new normal” world.