Face Masks in the COVID-19 Pandemic and Anti-Asian Racism in Germany

Abstract

This paper discusses anti-Asian racism in Germany before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. While wearing masks for public health purposes is a widely-accepted practice among residents of many East Asian countries, those of most Western countries, including Germany, have been more hesitant to adopt it, with people of Asian descent wearing masks becoming subjects of ridicule and discrimination at the beginning of COVID-19. With the increasing number of cases and the demonstrated effectiveness of wearing masks in preventing the spread of the disease, an increasing number of people have begun to adhere to the practice in Germany. As a member of the South Korean minority in Germany, the author experienced this transition with fear and uncertainty. This paper is a reflection on and comparison of the experiences of people in various Asian communities in Germany, elucidating the everyday racism against the Asian population that is often ignored in society. While anti-Asian discrimination long preceded the pandemic, it has become even more prominent with the spread of the novel coronavirus. This paper argues that more media coverage is necessary to increase the awareness of such racism and decrease the number of fatal crimes resulting from it.