Strangers in a Divided Land: Chinese International Students’ Encounters with Discrimination and Racial Politics

• In Event: Asia and Asian American Section Roundtables Session
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 11: Asia and Asian America Section Roundtable - Race, Culture and Politics

Abstract

This study explores the experiences of Chinese international students in the United States, focusing on how they navigate racial politics amidst increasing anti-Asian sentiments and shifting dynamics in higher education. Drawing on qualitative interviews with two cohorts—30 students in 2019 and 33 students in 2021—this research highlights a significant shift in the nature of their encounters with racism. The 2019 cohort predominantly faced implicit microaggressions on campus, which they often attributed to their own cultural differences or integration challenges. Consequently, these students frequently adopted strategies to “Americanize” themselves to fit perceived social norms. In contrast, the 2021 cohort reported overt acts of discrimination in public spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic and attributed these experiences to structural factors rather than individual failings. This heightened their racial consciousness and led to a greater willingness to express empathy and support for social justice movements like Black Lives Matter (BLM). However, despite these differing perspectives, both groups demonstrated ambivalence towards affirmative action policies, reflecting broader tensions within intraracial solidarity efforts and the complexities of navigating racial hierarchies as temporary migrants. These findings reveal that racial discrimination can both be a source of solidarity and division. By examining how Chinese international students negotiate racial politics, this research sheds light on the unique challenges faced by temporary migrants in an increasingly polarized American context.

Author

• Weirong Guo, University of California-Riverside