Understanding Stereotypes of Chinese International Students in a U.S. University: A Case Study

ABSTRACT

The recent coronavirus pandemic, combined with Trump's anti-China rhetoric, made the international students and scholars of Chinese origin the easy racist target. A qualitative case study with 34 undergraduate Chinese international students (CIS) and 10 of their chosen faculty members, the study examined CISs studying abroad experiences in a U.S. university before, during and after the pandemic. Guided by the frameworks of neo-racism and model minority stereotype, this study showed that before the pandemic, there was implicit racism directed toward CIS in the academia while explicit racist attack was evident during and after the outbreak of the pandemic. Practical applications were discussed focusing on how the U.S. higher educational institutes could create a more inclusive environment for the CIS and the other international students.