The N-Word. "Gay" South Hall. "Asian Nation." Although these three phrases appear to have no commonalities, they have all been associated with bias incidents on the University Campus. When analyzing a bias incident, it is not important to look at whether or not there is a universal reaction to particular words or actions, but to determine whether the incident is capable of invoking a physiological response in an individual.
Everyone experiences a bias incident differently. To dismiss an individual's reaction with an assumption that it is solely "personal" is in fact disregarding the entire incident. If there was a physiological response, such as your heart racing or your knees buckling, it indicates that the remark or action was more than just a "joke" or "playful banter." A physiological response to a bias incident may come as a result of many emotions, including fear, anger, anxiety, isolation, confusion and a desire to be invisible.
More than generalizing about bias incidents on campus, we wish to speak about bias incidents against Asian Americans, which on the whole go unnoticed and under-reported. To examine incidents targeting Asian Americans it is necessary to put common misconceptions and stereotypes on the table. In general, Asian American women have been "fetishized." They are viewed as servile and docile in public but exotic in private.
Asian American men are portrayed as desexualized - feminine and homosexual. Asian American students are typically considered "whiz kids" who only belong in the math or science fields, future engineers or doctors. When Asian American students try to step out of their "academic" sphere, questions arise and heads turn with the thought of "foreigner."
This perception of Asian Americans as unwelcome outsiders is pervasive on the Tufts campus, most recently in athletics. When a group of students of Asian descent gathered for a basketball game in good fun, Chinese Americans were labeled as Japanese Samurai warriors, solely because of their race. Although this comment may appear to be "innocent," especially to an individual who is unaware, it is offensive to Asian American students here at Tufts. It may be a common perception that Samurai warriors are revered in Asian cultures, but in contemporary America, this carries a derogatory connotation because times have changed. The larger issue is that it implies racial lumping: the idea that all Asians are the same.
The greatest challenge when facing a bias incident is how to react. At times, when confronted with a situation, your natural physiological response may affect your ability to respond in a respectful and empowering manner. This is due to the fact that physiological responses are unpredictable and uncontrollable. We propose that no matter how you are feeling, the worst scenarios are when you become paralyzed and silence yourself. The most important thing to do in a bias incident is to interrupt the incident by identifying what is offensive to you, no matter the criticisms that follow.
This ripple makes the perpetrators step back and think about their actions, even if it is only for a split second. Due to your non-silent reaction, you are encouraging the perpetrators to rethink their actions in the future and change their perceptions entirely.
People are always worried about how they will be perceived. We all fear criticism. But think about what silence does in a bias incident. Think about its implications and its consequences. Your lack of reaction conveys that you condone such behavior. It does not create a pause and it does not identify the situation as inappropriate. Not only would you walk away feeling alone, scared or angry, but you would leave the door open to another potential bias incident. Remember that your silence will not protect you, nor will it protect anyone else.
Diana Chang is a freshman majoring in quantitative economics with a minor in entrepreneurial leadership. Linh Phan is a junior majoring in American studies and community health.
