Data resulting from studies investigating the rise in Asian hate crimes across the country are not the only alarming studies to be released about the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Several studies have been published this week in which surveys have found the devastating impact anti-Asian rhetoric has had on Asian Americans.
Not only do members of the AAPI community feel less included in the workplace as opposed to other demographic groups, but many have changed their daily routines due to fear of anti-Asian violence.
According to a study from Bain & Co., only 16% of Asian men and 20% of Asian women reported feeling included at work. The study touches on the misconception of Asians having no issues in the workplace. Many individuals believe that because Asians are more likely than any other racial or ethnic group to hold professional or managerial roles that they face no obstacles. However, despite the roles they hold, many Asian Americans feel like they do not belong in the workplace. Xenophobia and stereotypes often play a role in the perception of Asian Americans.
According to data compiled by USA TODAY, among the professional and management ranks of the nation’s top companies, 1 in every 45 white men and 1 in every 60 white women are executives. Comparatively for Asian managers and professionals, only 1 in every 96 men and 1 in every 124 women hold a high position. The data also found that Asian women are less likely to move up in the workplace due to harmful stereotypes and racist tropes.
“In this context, it is hard not to view Asian experience in the workplace in a new light,” Bain partners Karthik Venkataraman and Pam Yee wrote.
The disparity is similar to that of statistics analyzing Hispanic and Black women.
"The facts on the ground, as opposed to widespread assumptions and stereotypes, demonstrate clearly that US companies need to start paying attention to inclusion and belonging for Asian American employees – our own organization included," Venkataraman and Yee wrote.
The study follows a rise in attacks against the Asian American community, not only in the U.S. but across the globe due to COVID-19 misconceptions. As a solution, Bain researchers recommended taking into account cultural differences when recruiting, deciding on promotions, and building performance systems.
Violence toward the Asian community has not only impacted working individuals but those of all ages.
Another survey published Monday by the Pew Research Center found that one-third of Asian Americans have changed their daily routine due to concerns over threats and attacks. A majority of AAPI community members noted the increase in violence across the country, with only 8% saying they believed it has decreased. This year’s survey found 63% acknowledging a rise in attacks compared to last year’s results, during which 81% felt violence was increasing.
According to the survey, 1 in 5 said they worry daily or almost daily about being attacked; comparatively, 51% said they worry sometimes. But what’s more alarming is that at least 36% said they changed their daily schedule or altered their routine in the last 12 months out of fear of being threatened or attacked.
The survey took place in between April 12 and April 18, a year after the 2021 Atlanta spa shooting in which several Asian American women were murdered. According to the authors of the survey, since the survey only analyzed data from English-speaking individuals, it does not represent the overall Asian population. Results for those who aren’t native English speakers are expected to reflect larger numbers of people being fearful of attacks.
About half of Asian American correspondents in the study, 48%, noted that stronger laws were needed against hate crimes.
According to a Poverty Tracker by Robin Hood, roughly 1 in 4 Asian New Yorkers lived in poverty in 2020. The study connected the rise in poverty to misinformation about the pandemic contributing to people boycotting or refusing to support Asian-owned businesses.
A report released last week supports this conclusion, noting that Americans continue to wrongfully accuse Asian Americans of starting the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. According to the report released by nonprofits Leading Asian Americans to Unite for Change (LAAUNCH) and The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), 21% of U.S. adults now say Asian Americans are at least partly responsible for COVID-19.
This type of misinformation only fuels hate.
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