Mapping Anti-Asian Xenophobia: State-Level Variation in Implicit and Explicit Bias against Asian Americans across the United States

Abstract

Using national data from Project Implicit, the authors examine state-level variations in implicit and explicit bias against Asian Americans held by non–Asian Americans ( n = 196,678) from 2018 to 2022. The authors also explore state-level sociodemographic correlates of both types of bias. The findings reveal considerable heterogeneity in implicit and explicit bias across states. Moreover, Republican and swing states had higher levels of implicit bias against Asian Americans, and states with older median ages and greater percentages of Asian populations were associated with less explicit bias. This study underscores the importance of state-level variation in and structural factors of biases against Asian Americans as contexts for examining attitudes toward Asian Americans.