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It all started when a former president began calling the coronavirus the “China Virus.” The result? A significant uptick in hate crimes targeting East Asian individuals. The pandemic was already a source of fear, but the additional violence against Asians was overwhelming. In every speech about the virus, there were derogatory references to Chinese people or Asians. Since March 2020, the U.S. has witnessed a 150% rise in hate crimes against Asians, particularly in cities like New York and Los Angeles. This increase in hostility can be traced back to the inflammatory language used by one misinformed leader.
Even now, some scientists inadvertently perpetuate racism by labeling various strains of the virus based on their origins rather than using more precise scientific terminology, like SARS-CoV-2. This has led to terms like the “Brazilian strain” and the “African variant” becoming commonplace, and for some, it reignites the prejudice initiated by the former president.
When we hear terms such as “Brazilian strain” or “China variant,” it can trigger buried biases within our minds. According to the World Economic Forum, our brains are wired to take shortcuts when processing information, leading to “systematic thinking errors” or unconscious biases. Repeated exposure to these terms can lead us to make unjust associations between a virus and an entire ethnic group, unfairly blaming them for the perceived threat to our safety.
SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that does not discriminate, and we should not either. Referring to variants by their geographical origin fosters division and can lead to an inclination to isolate ourselves from those who differ from us. This phenomenon is known as affinity bias, where we naturally gravitate toward people who resemble us in appearance, beliefs, and backgrounds.
Karthick Ramakrishnan, a demographic researcher, noted that the former president’s language shaped a particular narrative that contributed to rising hate. For four years, inflammatory rhetoric stoked animosity, culminating in a spike of attacks against Asian Americans as COVID-19 cases surged in March 2020. Racial bias, whether explicit or implicit, inflicts emotional and physical harm, and neither form is acceptable. The reality is that we have overlooked the issue of racism for far too long, and the former president’s words forced many to confront this uncomfortable truth.
We can challenge this cycle, starting with our language. The words we use are significant and have lasting impacts. In February 2020, a student named Leo Tan from Singapore was assaulted in London. The attackers expressed their disdain for the virus, and Tan eloquently responded on social media, stating, “Racism is not stupidity — racism is hate.” He made it clear that individuals who harbor such hatred will always find excuses to justify their actions.
To combat the racial stigma associated with the virus, we must refer to it by its proper name, rather than its country of origin. Let’s call it what it is: a disease that transcends race or ethnicity. For further insights into the topic of home insemination and pregnancy, you might find this article on home insemination helpful, as well as this resource from Healthline about pregnancy and home insemination. If you’re interested in artificial insemination kits, check out Make a Mom’s selection.