Staying "One Step Ahead of a Racist": Expanding Understandings of the Experiences of the Covid-19 Pandemic Among People From Minoritized Ethnic Groups Living in Britain.

Saffron Karlsen,Rosie Nelson

doi:10.3389/fsoc.2021.730313

Abstract

Covid-19 has had a disproportionate impact on those in minoritized ethnic groups. Considerable attention has been given to evidence of ethnic inequalities in rates of infection, hospitalisation, and death. But other ways in which the pandemic experience has been affected by ethnicity have received less consideration. This paper explores the lived experiences of people in different minoritized ethnic groups living in South West England, during the United Kingdom’s first pandemic lockdown, using qualitative data collected from interviews and comments provided on a survey. Perceived positive opportunities for growth were offset by anxiety and stress, which were themselves compounded by an awareness of the additional risks they experienced as members of racialised groups, and a sense that this was being ignored—or intentionally exacerbated—by the British authorities. Frustration with an incompetent and corrupt national Government was intensified by concerns regarding their racist motives. Racism in wider society undermined confidence in key public institutions, such as the NHS and the police, while also producing barriers to informal local-community pandemic responses. Only through recognition of the particular ways in which the pandemic affected those in minoritized ethnic groups, including the multiple and compounding effects of current and historical racism, will it be possible to identify avenues for transformative systemic policy change and opportunities to rebuild trust and a better post-pandemic society for all.

Highlights

The evidence regarding the disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on those in minoritized ethnic groups living in Britain and elsewhere is irrefutable (Aldridge et al, 2020; Haque et al, 2020; Larsen et al, 2021; PHEd 2020a; 2020b; Platt and Warwick 2020a; Sze et al, 2020; WEC, 2020)
This paper aims to help develop a clearer picture of the experiences of the first pandemic lockdown, using interviews conducted with, and written comments provided by, individuals who considered themselves part of a minoritized ethnic group and living in the South West region of England
This paper reports qualitative findings from a project exploring the pandemic experiences of people in minoritized ethnic groups living in the South West of England, conducted between June and September 2020

Summary

Introduction

The evidence regarding the disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on those in minoritized ethnic groups living in Britain and elsewhere is irrefutable (Aldridge et al, 2020; Haque et al, 2020; Larsen et al, 2021; PHEd 2020a; 2020b; Platt and Warwick 2020a; Sze et al, 2020; WEC, 2020). People in ethnic minority groups already struggling to make ends meet found themselves in occupations more vulnerable to the economic consequences of social distancing measures or less open to working at home or furlough (BSWN, 2020, Platt and Warwick, 2020a,b). The “digital divide” (and implications of overcrowded accommodation) became even more significant in a world where work and study were conducted almost entirely online (Baker et al, 2020). These negative experiences will, in turn, exacerbate persistent ethnic inequalities in health (Bambra et al, 2020; John et al, 2021; Maddock et al, 2021). Research from the US has indicated higher risk of food scarcity as a consequence of the pandemic among marginalised ethnic groups which is likely to be replicated in the United Kingdom (Siddiqi et al, 2021)

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