As our country and the world deals with the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we see examples of sacrifice, kindness, and unity, but also examples of racism, xenophobia, and division. Erroneously calling the coronavirus the “Chinese flu” or some other derisive variation has resulted in a surge of aggression and violence against people perceived as Asian. These actions are unacceptable.
As social workers and members of the global community, we embrace inclusion and respect as our key principles. As stated in a 2019 University of Iowa statement,
The University of Iowa’s status as a premier research university depends on the robust exchange of ideas. The diversity of our students, faculty, and staff helps us fulfill our mission to explore, discover, create, and engage . . . Our ability to foster an equitable and inclusive environment for all who join the UI family will determine our collective success. We eagerly accept this challenge. At the UI, we achieve excellence through diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In our pursuit of excellence, we endorse action steps, described by Dr. Marietta Vasquez from the Yale School of Medicine:
DO: Talk about the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
DO NOT: Attach locations or ethnicity to the disease; this is not a “Wuhan Virus,” “Chinese Virus,” or “Asian Virus.” The official name for the disease was deliberately chosen to avoid stigmatization.
DO: Talk about “people who have COVID-19,” “people who are being treated for COVID-19,” “people who are recovering from COVID-19,” or “people who died after contracting COVID19.”
DO NOT: Refer to people with the disease as “COVID-19 cases” or “victims.”
DO: Talk about people “acquiring” or “contracting” COVID-19.
DO NOT: Talk about people “transmitting COVID-19,” “infecting others,” or “spreading the virus” as it implies intentional transmission and assigns blame. Criminalizing or dehumanizing terminology creates the impression that those with the disease have somehow done something wrong or are less human than the rest of us, feeding stigma, undermining empathy, and potentially fueling wider reluctance to seek treatment or attend screening, testing and quarantine.
DO: Speak accurately about the risk from COVID-19, based on scientific data and latest official health advice.
DO NOT: Repeat or share unconfirmed rumors, and avoid using hyperbolic language designed to generate fear like “plague,” “apocalypse,” etc.
DO: Talk positively and emphasize the effectiveness of prevention and treatment measures. For most people, this is a disease they can overcome. There are simple steps we can all take to stay safe.
DO NOT: Emphasize or dwell on negativity or messages of threat. We need to work together to help those who are most vulnerable.
The School of Social Work prides itself on diversity and inclusiveness. Biased language and hateful acts cannot be accepted. During this time, we challenge racist and xenophobic words and actions, and also offer kindness and support. These actions are particularly important as many students struggle to process emotions associated with hearing about or experiencing incidents based in hate.
Please let us know if you are struggling and need additional support. We are available to provide support and guidance to social work students, in addition to University Counseling Services. International students can also find support at International Student and Scholar Services (319-335-0335 and isss@uiowa.edu). Students who identify as Asian/Pacific Islander can contact the Asian Pacific American Cultural Center (319-335-2719 or email prisma-ruacho@uiowa.edu). Faculty and staff can contact the University’s Employee Assistance Program (319-335-2085) or email eaphelp@uiowa.edu. If you have witnessed or been the subject of a bias incident or concern, contact the Campus Inclusion Team.
A message from the University of Iowa School of Social Work's Diversity and Social Justice Committee, on behalf of the School of Social Work faculty and staff