Descriptive and Substantive Representation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• In Event: COVID-19 and the Racial Politics of a Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has harmed communities throughout the U.S., but not in equal ways. People of color have been disproportionately impacted. For example, Black and Latinx communities are overrepresented in front-line occupations, have higher prevalence of preexisting health conditions, and have been among the hardest hit by the ensuing economic crisis. Asian Americans have faced widespread discrimination and hate crimes, while also being more affected by unemployment due to the pandemic than other racial groups. Given the disproportionate impact of the pandemic, we expect co-ethnic Members of Congress to be most responsive to pandemic-related issues. Using Twitter data and press releases from the 116th Congress, we find that Asian American and Latinx MoCs were more likely to speak out about the pandemic, particularly about the issues most affecting Asian American and Latinx communities, than their white counterparts.

Authors

• Maneesh Arora, Wellesley College

• Hannah June Kim, University of Nebraska, Omaha

• Natalie Masuoka, University of California, Los Angeles

• Christopher T. Stout, Oregon State University