Recognizing AAPI Month and the Women Impacted by AAPI Hate

By Alyssa Velez

For centuries, women have been harassed, killed, and discriminated against for their gender.  Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women are not only facing sexism but racism at significantly higher rates than in the past because of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a report done by Stop AAPI Hate, nearly 3,800 anti-Asian hate incidents were reported between March 19, 2020, to February 28, 2021. Of those 3,800 incidents, 68% were reported by women. From verbal attacks to being coughed and spit on, AAPI women have been enduring unspeakable traumas during this pandemic. 

According to NBC News,

“One Chinese American woman reported that a ‘man on the subway slapped my hands, threatened to throw his lighter at me, then called me a ‘---- ------.’ He then said to ‘get the ---- out of NYC.

Another woman, who’s Filipino American, reported that while in a Washington, D.C., metro station with her boyfriend, a man shouted ‘Chinese -----’ at her, coughed at the couple, and physically threatened them.”

These are only examples, the list of harassment and hate is plentiful. On March 16, 2021, the harassment and hate took a turn for the worst. A series of mass shootings took place at three spas/massage parlors in Atlanta, Georgia. Eight people were killed. Of those eight, six were Asian American women. We can call this what it was. This was a hate crime against the AAPI community. 

This past week, President Joe Biden took a stand and signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act into law. This act addresses hate crimes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with special emphasis on the increase of violence against Asian Americans. This piece of legislation aims to make the reporting of hate crimes more accessible at the local and state levels by boosting public outreach and ensuring reporting resources are available online in multiple languages. Learn more about it here.

Women4Change stands with the AAPI community in fighting against racism and sexism. While we are ending AAPI Heritage Month, we invite you to continue this fight and take a stand. Do not be a bystander. If you see something, say something. It is everyone’s responsibility to fight against AAPI hate and violence.