What you can do to stop the spread of social stigma

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It is a sad truth that during an outbreak of public stress, we also see an increased outbreak of xenophobia, discrimination, and racism. Fear often makes us do and say things that we normally wouldn’t, and we start looking for a group to blame. This gives rise to social stigma, xenophobia, and racism and causes discriminatory behaviours against groups of people.

This, in turn, leads to social stigma becoming a part of our everyday language, and embedding itself in our everyday lives. We cannot allow this to happen; we cannot allow COVID-19 to become a means of xenophobia or discrimination. We cannot allow COVID-19 win by destroying us.

So what can you do to prevent social stigma?

  1. Acknowledge Social Anxiety

Social stigma is brewed during times of high stress: we don’t like not knowing, we don’t like being frightened, and so we need to find a group to blame because we often associate fear with the ‘other’ (for you social science and anthropology people, alterity). With the COVID outbreak, we really don’t know what’s going on, because the virus is so new and our lives have literally been thrown upside down and inside out.

By acknowledging that this is an unprecedented time, that it has never happened before in living memory, that we are literally in uncharted waters—and we are all experiencing the same thing—we can start controlling our reaction to what is happening.

  1. Be Informed

Facts are important in combatting any forms of stigma, and this is particularly true in times of a pandemic. Misinformation can not only harm, but is dangerous. Be equipped with the actual facts (as opposed to what Sandy Plankton is spouting on Insta).

Here are some important facts:

  1. COVID-19 can make anyone ill, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or age.
  2. ANYONE can transmit the virus equally, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or age.
  3. EVERYONE can reduce the transmission by washing their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or with 70% alcohol-based hand sanitisers); sneezing and coughing into your elbow; staying at home and respecting the health guidelines; and self-isolating when you are sick.
  4. You can have COVID and not show any symptoms and still be a vector.
  5. The only way to know if you have COVID is through a swab test administered by a health professional. The holding your breath for 10 seconds without coughing is a baseless rumour.
  6. Garlic will not ward off the novel coronavirus. It might help with warding off vampires though.

For other debunked myths, check out the WHO’s Myth-buster section here.

Use the Right Words

Words matter. Certain words or phrases have negative meaning and fuel discrimination by furthering false association between the virus and groups of people, maintaining stereotypes, spreading fear, and making xenophobia acceptable.

Here are some ways you can talk about COVID-19:

  1. A person who has acquired or contracted COVID.
  2. It’s the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 (or COVID); it’s not the “Chinese” or “Asia” virus or “Wuhan” disease.
  3. Don’t go around joking to a person that they “are Corona” just because of their ethnicity. It’s not funny.
  4. Challenge Stereotypes

Coronavirus and COVID-19 does not justify discrimination or xenophobia. People are dying from this illness, and everyone is equally affected. Fear is understandable and normal, racism and xenophobia is not and is never normal. Full stop.

We are all responsible in correcting misconceptions and to take a stand against the tide of discrimination. If you do see a meme, post, tweet, video, etc that perpetuates stereotypes (ie, like a recent tweet asking whether it is wise to send those of Italian decent to Italy so they won’t ‘infect’ others), call them out.

  1. Report Incidents of Hate Crime

No one likes a tattle-tale, however hate crime is on the rise. It’s serious, violent and dangerous scapegoating: it puts very real people’s lives at risk. We need to stop dismissing actions against ethnic or religious groups, because it not only affects other people’s safety, but it also affects yours. If you have experienced, or see or hear of an incident of hate crime, then report it. The SPVM has an excellent resource on hate crime here, and how to report it here.

While the novel coronavirus is unprecedented, it also unites us in an unprecedented way: we are all in this together. We have a duty towards each other, and to protect those who are more susceptible. That is what makes us a compassionate society: how we show consideration, care, and empathy towards others, especially those who are more vulnerable.

Are you up for that challenge?

Be safe, bon courage, and, as always, wash your hands.

 

Written by:

Ildiko Glaser-Hille, Interim Coordinator of Programming
Dawson’s Peace Centre



Last Modified: March 31, 2020