Chinese International Secondary Students’ Experiences with Racism: “It Was the Same Before and After COVID… It Was Just Something Really Normal.”

The number of international students enrolled in Canadian K-12 schools has grown tremendously, but there remains limited research available that provides insights into the unique perspectives and challenges of this population. Through in-depth interviews with five Chinese international secondary sc...

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Main Authors: Helen Liu, Roopa Desai Trilokekar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Alberta 2025-08-01
Series:Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education
Online Access:https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/jcie/index.php/JCIE/article/view/29703
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author Helen Liu
Roopa Desai Trilokekar
author_facet Helen Liu
Roopa Desai Trilokekar
author_sort Helen Liu
collection DOAJ
description The number of international students enrolled in Canadian K-12 schools has grown tremendously, but there remains limited research available that provides insights into the unique perspectives and challenges of this population. Through in-depth interviews with five Chinese international secondary school students and using Critical Race Theory (CRT), neo-racism and Asian Critical Theory (AsianCrit), this study identifies four key themes that help explore their experiences during the COVID-19 period with anti-Asian sentiments and racism in GTA schools. The article highlights both the strengths and limitations of CRT and AsianCrit and the contributions of Neo-racism in fully accounting for the racist experiences of Chinese international secondary students. It suggests the importance of exploring newer frames such as neo-racism, but also co-ethnic racism and new geopolitics to analyze what shapes and defines international students’ experiences. Finally, the article stresses the need for K-12 schools to confront their problematic institutional cultures and make a sincere and concerted effort to establish an inclusive and supportive environment for international students.    
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publisher University of Alberta
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series Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education
spelling doaj-art-e2cd0823432a4588a005a0c0ec8bf6532025-08-25T07:52:56ZengUniversity of AlbertaJournal of Contemporary Issues in Education1718-47702025-08-0120110.20355/jcie29703Chinese International Secondary Students’ Experiences with Racism: “It Was the Same Before and After COVID… It Was Just Something Really Normal.”Helen Liu0Roopa Desai Trilokekar1York UniversityYork University The number of international students enrolled in Canadian K-12 schools has grown tremendously, but there remains limited research available that provides insights into the unique perspectives and challenges of this population. Through in-depth interviews with five Chinese international secondary school students and using Critical Race Theory (CRT), neo-racism and Asian Critical Theory (AsianCrit), this study identifies four key themes that help explore their experiences during the COVID-19 period with anti-Asian sentiments and racism in GTA schools. The article highlights both the strengths and limitations of CRT and AsianCrit and the contributions of Neo-racism in fully accounting for the racist experiences of Chinese international secondary students. It suggests the importance of exploring newer frames such as neo-racism, but also co-ethnic racism and new geopolitics to analyze what shapes and defines international students’ experiences. Finally, the article stresses the need for K-12 schools to confront their problematic institutional cultures and make a sincere and concerted effort to establish an inclusive and supportive environment for international students.     https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/jcie/index.php/JCIE/article/view/29703
spellingShingle Helen Liu
Roopa Desai Trilokekar
Chinese International Secondary Students’ Experiences with Racism: “It Was the Same Before and After COVID… It Was Just Something Really Normal.”
Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education
title Chinese International Secondary Students’ Experiences with Racism: “It Was the Same Before and After COVID… It Was Just Something Really Normal.”
title_full Chinese International Secondary Students’ Experiences with Racism: “It Was the Same Before and After COVID… It Was Just Something Really Normal.”
title_fullStr Chinese International Secondary Students’ Experiences with Racism: “It Was the Same Before and After COVID… It Was Just Something Really Normal.”
title_full_unstemmed Chinese International Secondary Students’ Experiences with Racism: “It Was the Same Before and After COVID… It Was Just Something Really Normal.”
title_short Chinese International Secondary Students’ Experiences with Racism: “It Was the Same Before and After COVID… It Was Just Something Really Normal.”
title_sort chinese international secondary students experiences with racism it was the same before and after covid it was just something really normal
url https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/jcie/index.php/JCIE/article/view/29703
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