A Swansea University research team has shared their research into East and South-East Asian (ESEA) communities’ engagement with Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan to mark UN Day for Elimination of Race Discrimination on 21st March.
Dr Yan Wu, who has led an interdisciplinary research team including Dr Matthew Wall, Dr Nicholas Micallef, and Dr Irene Reppa, talked about their findings following workshops held with ESEA communities in south Wales where participants talked about their personal experiences of racism and discrimination, explored contributing factors, and proposed solutions.
Participants highlighted various racist experiences, including public harassment, derogatory name-calling, and social exclusion during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Microaggressions, such as differential treatment in public spaces, the mispronunciation of names in professional settings, and discrimination in healthcare were also brought to light. Digital racism emerged as a significant issue, with people encountering racist slurs and discriminatory comments on social media and gaming platforms.
Dr Wu said:
“People also highlighted the damaging impact of the 'Model Minority' stereotype, which portrays ESEA individuals as successful and resilient while, simultaneously reducing recognition of their struggles.
“Participants often felt limited by cultural norms that discourage confrontation leading to lower reporting of racist incidents due to reluctance, doubts about authorities taking meaningful action, or cultural expectations that prioritise endurance over direct challenge.
“A gendered pattern also emerged, with Chinese women more likely to openly discuss or report racism than men, who often feared ‘losing face’ in sharing their personal experiences of racism.”
The Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, which aims to create an anti-racist Wales by 2030 was also evaluated, and participants offered insights into its effectiveness and proposed practical steps for improvement.
Key recommendations included establishing a dedicated anti-racism department, developing a centralized reporting system, embedding anti-racism education in the national curriculum, promoting workplace equality through unconscious bias training, and addressing the growing impact of digital discrimination and racism, as well as to mitigate the risks they pose to future generations.
Dr Wu said:
“The range of experiences indicate that, for the ESEA community, there is still a long road to travel to achieve the Welsh Government’s vision of an anti-racist Wales by 2030. Their experiences underscore the urgent need to address racism in digital spaces and emphasize the importance of sustained commitment and proactive measures.”