Xenophobia: Difference between revisions

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Xenophobia differs from racism, which has a broader meaning set that includes believing that racial differences produce superiority for some and inferiority for others. Although they are similar, it is possible to be both xenophobic and racist.
Xenophobia differs from racism, which has a broader meaning set that includes believing that racial differences produce superiority for some and inferiority for others. Although they are similar, it is possible to be both xenophobic and racist.


==Examples of Xenophobia in Canada==
== Examples of Xenophobia in Canada ==
 
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=== The COVID-19 pandemic  <ref>https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/2/chinese-canadians-denounce-rising-xenophobia-tied-to-coronavirus</ref>  ===
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The COVID-19 virus originated in the city of Wuhan in China. Some people called for an end to immigration from China, even after the virus had already made its way into Canada. Some called the virus the 'Chinese virus.' For some people, the virus gave them 'permission' to target immigrants, or people who look like immigrants, of Asian decent with hateful words and actions.
 
 
 
===Canadian Figures===
 
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Disposability discourse
=== The COVID-19 pandemic  <ref>https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/2/chinese-canadians-denounce-rising-xenophobia-tied-to-coronavirus</ref>    ===
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Much discussion around the severity of COVID was lessened by expressing how it mainly sickens and kills elderly, chronically ill, and disabled people. This discourse suggests these groups are seen disposable.&nbsp;
*The COVID-19 virus originated in the city of Wuhan in China. For some people, the virus gave them 'permission' to target immigrants, or people who look like immigrants, of Asian decent with hateful words and actions.
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*Some people called for an end to immigration from China, even after the virus had already made its way into Canada.
*Some called the virus the 'Chinese' virus.
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Loosened restrictions too early
=== Canadian Figures ===
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When governments loosened COVID restrictions in response to business demands, political pressure, and public impatience, rather than scientific evidence, high risk populations (the chronically ill, disabled and elderly) were subsequently told they are disposable yet again.&nbsp;
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Working through illness
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Regulations around how many sick days should be required when someone falls ill with COVID also demonstrated ableism. In relation to these regulations, and in favour of profit above health, many politicians including US President Joe Biden, praised themselves for working through COVID, instead of encouraging people to rest and recover if they'd fallen ill.&nbsp;
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Individualism
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Individuals have been encouraged to make 'personal' choices on vaccines, masks and gatherings.
*Quebec Premier François Legault commented that multiculturalism is a threat to the French language. He explained "it's important that we don't put all cultures on the same level; that's why we oppose multiculturalism," Legault said.  <ref>https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-premier-multiculturalism-1.6501246</ref>
 
*In 2018 Don Cherry, who for many years hosted Coach's Corner on Hockey Night in Canada, was fired for accusing immigrants, who he called 'you people that come here' of disrespecting Canadian veterans by not wearing poppies (of which he had no evidence). <ref>https://theconversation.com/don-cherrys-xenophobia-forces-canada-to-grapple-with-tough-questions-126914</ref>  
"''There is no individual safety without collective safety and collective safety requires that no one is safe unless everyone is safe." - Mia Mingus  <ref>https://leavingevidence.wordpress.com/2022/01/16/you-are-not-entitled-to-our-deaths-covid-abled-supremacy-interdependence/</ref> ''
 
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Quebec Premier François Legault commented that multiculturalism is a threat to the French language. He explained "it's important that we don't put all cultures on the same level; that's why we oppose multiculturalism," Legault said.
<span>In 2018 Don Cherry, who for many years hosted Coach's Corner on Hockey Night in Canada, was fired for accusing </span>immigrants, who he called 'you people that come here' of disrespecting Canadian veterans by not wearing poppies (of which he had no evidence).  <ref>https://theconversation.com/don-cherrys-xenophobia-forces-canada-to-grapple-with-tough-questions-126914</ref>





Latest revision as of 17:16, 6 September 2022

Xenophobia describes a fear and hatred of those who are perceived to be foreign, strange, or dangerous, that is often reflected in anti-immigration rhetoric. - Asian American Activism: The Continuing Struggle [1]


Xenophobia differs from racism, which has a broader meaning set that includes believing that racial differences produce superiority for some and inferiority for others. Although they are similar, it is possible to be both xenophobic and racist.

Examples of Xenophobia in Canada

The COVID-19 pandemic [2]

  • The COVID-19 virus originated in the city of Wuhan in China. For some people, the virus gave them 'permission' to target immigrants, or people who look like immigrants, of Asian decent with hateful words and actions.
  • Some people called for an end to immigration from China, even after the virus had already made its way into Canada.
  • Some called the virus the 'Chinese' virus.

Canadian Figures

  • Quebec Premier François Legault commented that multiculturalism is a threat to the French language. He explained "it's important that we don't put all cultures on the same level; that's why we oppose multiculturalism," Legault said. [3]
  • In 2018 Don Cherry, who for many years hosted Coach's Corner on Hockey Night in Canada, was fired for accusing immigrants, who he called 'you people that come here' of disrespecting Canadian veterans by not wearing poppies (of which he had no evidence). [4]


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