Nearly two-thirds of AAPI-Georgians also report racist encounters in new landmark study

For Immediate Release
March 30, 2021
Contact: media@napawf.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) released new polling data that details how Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) women have been significantly affected by anti-Asian racism and xenophobia in the United States. This new research was conducted just two weeks before the killing of six Asian-American women in the Atlanta area.

NAPAWF’s poll found that 78 percent of AAPI women had been affected by anti-Asian racism in the past two years and that more than half had personally encountered specific incidences of racism (55 percent). More importantly, this data also reveals how AAPI women’s experiences with racism impacts their policy priorities – nearly seven-in-ten AAPI women consider improving protections for immigrants from violence a top priority (69 percent). 

Notably, AAPI women in Georgia reported experiencing instances of racism at much higher rates than nationally. Nearly two-thirds of AAPI-Georgians (66 percent) reported experiencing a racist encounter in recent years and were also more likely to report violence (17 percent) or discrimination in the housing market (11 percent) because of their race or gender.

National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum Executive Director Sung Yeon Choimorrow issued the following statement:

“It’s no surprise that more than half of AAPI women have been affected by anti-Asian racism in the past two years. Even before the pandemic and the racist scapegoating that was perpetuated by President Trump and his supporters, AAPI women have long been the targets of ugly racial misogyny and fetishization. 

“This is a watershed moment for the United States. The AAPI community is one of the fastest growing electorates and as demonstrated during the 2020 elections, we have the power to shape and influence elections throughout the country. We are demanding to be fully seen and to be heard. The deaths of the six Asian American women in Atlanta, who were the victims of specific racialized gendered violence, were deeply felt by AAPI women across the country who recognized themselves in these women. This was not an isolated incident. We demand a response that tackles the sexism and racism that is embedded in our culture and our systems and invests in our community’s well-being for the long term. Anything less is unacceptable, because AAPI women do not lead siloed lives.”

The key findings from the nationwide poll include:

National Impact of Anti-Asian Racism on Women

  • Almost four out of five (78 percent) AAPI women report that racism has impacted their lives at least a little, and half (49 percent) report it has impacted their lives greatly or somewhat.

  • More than half of AAPI women (55 percent) report experiencing specific incidences of racism in the past two years. 

  • The most common instances of self-reported anti-Asian racism are being called a racial slur (28 percent), feeling unsafe walking around outside (26 percent), and experiencing discrimination or harassment at work (18 percent).

Racism Against AAPI-Georgians who are Women

  • Nearly two-thirds of AAPI-Georgians (66 percent) reported having had at least one of these encounters. 

  • AAPI women in Georgia are also more likely to report experiencing violence because of their gender or race (17 percent) and being denied housing (11 percent).

  • Seventy percent of AAPI-Georgians think improving protections for immigrants from violence is very or extremely important.

Impact of Anti-Asian Racism against Women on Policy Change

  • Seven-in-ten AAPI women (69 percent) think improving protections for immigrants from violence is very or extremely important. 

  • This number is even higher among first-time voters (78 percent), Democrats (77 percent), South Asian women (77 percent), and women under 40 (77 percent). 

The poll, which was conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of NAPAWF, to our knowledge it is the largest survey of AAPI women ever conducted. The study interviewed over 3,537 adult AAPI-American women across the nation on a fully representative sample, allowing for a deep analysis of key demographics. Respondents either self-identified as Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) or of any ethnicity/national origin recognized in the Asian race category by the U.S. Census Bureau. Interviews were conducted online and via telephone from February 1 to March 2, 2021, and respondents were given the option to complete the survey in English, Mandarin, Korean, or Vietnamese.

Further insights on the poll are available here. 

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The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) is the only multi-issue, progressive, community organizing and policy advocacy organization for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women and girls in the U.S. NAPAWF’s mission is to build collective power so that all AAPI women and girls can have full agency over our lives, our families, and our communities.

About The Harris Poll

The Harris Poll is one of the longest running surveys in the U.S. tracking public opinion, motivations and social sentiment since 1963 that is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm that delivers social intelligence for transformational times. We work with clients in three primary areas; building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. Our mission is to provide insights and advisory to help leaders make the best decisions possible. To learn more, please visit www.theharrispoll.com