Conflating culture with COVID-19: Xenophobic repercussions of a global pandemic

Abstract

This commentary aims to deconstruct xenophobia and its worldwide impact, particularly on people of Asian descent, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. The commentary begins with an overview of COVID-19’s impact on the United States economy and educational landscape, continues with a discussion about the global history of pandemic-prompted xenophobia and its relationship to sensationalized media discourse, and concludes with recommendations to reconsider various aspects of intercultural communication in relation to public health issues.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• Xenophobia
• Pandemic
• Media
• Communication
• Education