Racism Still Runs Rampant In BC With Chinese And South Asians Bearing The Brunt Of Racial Abuse

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VANCOUVER  – Despite BC’s celebrated diversity, racism still runs rampant in the province with Chinese and South Asian communities bearing the brunt of racial abuse

A new poll says that from stereotyping to slurs to outright violence, a shocking number of ethnic British Columbians say they have faced discrimination.

The Insights West poll suggests four out of five people of South Asian or Chinese descent have been targeted because of their ethnicity.

Just over half have faced what they consider a “small amount” of discrimination, but 25 per cent have have faced what they consider a “significant” or “moderate” amount.

“This is a groundbreaking poll, given the number of people we spoke to in the Chinese and South Asian community and also the results showing that only 16 per cent say that they’ve never encountered discrimination or racism during the time they’ve lived in Canada,” says Steve Mossop with Insights West.

Stereotyping was the most common form of discrimination faced (56%), but about a third have endured poor customer service (36%) or been the subject of a racial joke (33%).

More than one in four Chinese and South Asian British Columbians say they have “frequently” or “sometimes” been excluded from consideration as dating prospects (28%), been excluded from social groups (also 28%), were verbally harassed (27%), were subject to name calling and racial slurs (26%), or were mocked or ridiculed (also 26%) because of their ethnicity.

In addition, 28 per cent of Chinese and South Asian British Columbians say they have “frequently” or “sometimes” lost a potential employment opportunity because of their ethnicity, while 24 per cent claim to have been treated unfairly in the workplace.

Many have faced violence because of their ethnicity.

“What’s shocking is that we have 10 per cent of Chinese and 14 per cent of South Asians who have experienced violence or physical harassment because of their race,” Mossop told News1130.

“As a society, we shouldn’t be very proud that a significant number of a populous group — in Vancouver’s case, a majority — have felt these experiences,” he adds