For Immediate Release: August 25, 2021 | Contact: media@napawf.org

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) released an issue brief highlighting the growing political power of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women voters 50 and older. Supported by AARP, the wide-ranging study is the largest survey of AAPI women 50-plus ever conducted and shows 70% of the population have been impacted by anti-AAPI hate and racism, among other insights on the priorities and perspectives of a growing and formidable constituency. The full brief is now available on the NAPAWF website (Full .pdf download).

“We are a powerful voting bloc in American politics that has yet to reach its full potential,” said Drishti Pillai, Research Manager at NAPAWF. “And contrary to perceived generational differences, older AAPI women are as progressive as their younger counterparts when you consider their voting patterns and beliefs on key issues such as ending racial discrimination and immigration reform.”

“To meet the unique needs of AAPI women 50-plus, organizations must work together to paint a more authentic picture of this growing  influential group,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience Strategy. “As part of our commitment to building more inclusive communities, AARP is proud to support NAPAWF’s efforts to amplify the experiences of AAPI women 50-plus and help drive systemic change.”

“While Asian American and Pacific Islander women experience new levels of political empowerment and civic engagement, we continue to be the targets of racism and hate,” said Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Executive Director at NAPAWF. Nationally, 70% of AAPI women 50 and older report being directly impacted by anti-AAPI hate, with experiences ranging from being called a racial slur in public to workplace harassment or discrimination. 

Other key findings among AAPI women voters 50 and over include:

  • Over 75% report voting in the 2020 presidential election. A vast majority of votes were cast in favor of President Biden, with South Asians and East Asians as high as 78% and 68%, respectively.

  • COVID-19, the economy, and rising health care costs are the most important issues for the Biden administration to address. 

  • Nearly 75% want the Biden administration to work towards ending discrimination of all kinds.

  • Over 80% percent want to see more women and AAPIs in government and politics, and over 70% want elected officials to understand how their priorities differ from white women.

“Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) comprise of diverse cultures, languages, traditions, religions, etc. Having disaggregated data for AANPI allows us to better understand what’s happening, what needs to happen, and who needs the resources,” said Van Ta Park, Professor at UCSF Department of Community Health Systems. “It will help us to demystify the model minority myth that all AANPI are ‘problem-free’ and every effort to disaggregate data is essential to help AANPIs’ voices to be heard.”

“Gathering data that we can disaggregate by age, ethnicity and other factors has been critical in helping Stop AAPI Hate develop policies to protect our elders,” said Russell Jeung, Co-found of Stop AAPI Hate. “For instance, we know that elders are more subject to physical assault than the rest of the AAPI community, and feel attacked because of their limited English proficiency. These data points help us come up with specific recommendations for policy-makers and community stakeholders.”

To share more about the work of AAPI community-based organizations and how data help organizations better serve, communicate with, and protect our AAPI elders, AARP is hosting a virtual event, “AARP #StopAsianHate Panel: Backing Up Our AAPI Elders with Data,” today, August 25, from 4 – 5:15 p.m. ET, featuring Drishti Pillai, Research Manager, NAPAWF. To register, visit bit.ly/AARPStopAsianHate.

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About the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum

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 AARP

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation’s largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org.