British East and Southeast Asian

Last updated

The terms British East and Southeast Asian (BESEA) or simply East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) are used to refer to people in the United Kingdom (UK) who identify with the cultures and ethnicities of East and Southeast Asia. The 2021 United Kingdom census recorded a total of 834,262 people (1.25% of the total population) who were born in East and Southeast Asian countries (i.e. does not include British born people of East or Southeast Asian origin) residing in the United Kingdom. This was split near evenly with 417,318 from the Southeast Asian region and 416,944 from the East Asian region. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

According to organisations who uses this term, this includes Brunei, Cambodia, China, Timor-Leste, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. [4] [5]

Introduction

The term East and Southeast Asian has emerged in a UK context where the category 'Asian' is predominantly used to refer to those from a South Asian background. [6] It has been adopted to replace the derogatory racialised term 'Oriental'. [7] [8] The term has gained currency following the outbreak of COVID-19 [9] [10] which led to a rise in anti-Asian racial violence [11] and the creation of a number of groups that have organised under the ESEA term. [12] [13] [14] However, pan-ethnic mass mobilisation among East and Southeast Asians in the UK has longer histories – such as Mulan Theatre, New Earth Theatre (formerly Yellow Earth Theatre) and BEATS (British East & South East Asians in the Screen & Stage Industry) in the arts. [7] [15]

A 2020 pilot study of East and Southeast Asian people in the United Kingdom found that close to 95% of respondents identify or feel comfortable with the term British East and Southeast Asian (BESEA) or East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) to describe their identity. [16] In a 2021 article exploring an East and Southeast Asian identity in the Britain, Diana Yeh describes ESEA as a 'pan-Asian' political identity and alliance which has grown out of wider anti-racist organising in Britain. [7]

The term East and Southeast Asian was used regularly by personalities, institutions and media reports in relation to discrimination and racism during the COVID-19 pandemic. [17] [18] [19] [20] MP Sarah Owen referred to the term ESEA in parliamentary debates in 2020, [21] while the UK Government condemned attacks on ESEA communities in its response to a petition on the UK Parliament Petition Website which called for more funds to support victims of COVID-19 racism and anti-racism programmes. [22] Academic communities have also discussed this term including studies on COVID-related racism [23] [24] and discussion panels on the experiences of ESEA with discrimination and racism. [25] In 2021, a #StopESEAHate GoFundMe campaign was launched with support from public personalities such as actors Gemma Chan, Benedict Wong and Henry Golding. [26] [27]

Groups which use the term

The term ESEA is used in the names and mission statements of several organisations and initiatives such as:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xenophobia</span> Dislike of that which is perceived to be foreign or strange

Xenophobia is the fear or dislike of anything which is perceived as being foreign or strange. It is an expression which is based on the perception that a conflict exists between an in-group and an out-group and it may manifest itself in suspicion of one group's activities by members of the other group, a desire to eliminate the presence of the group which is the target of suspicion, and fear of losing a national, ethnic, or racial identity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katie Leung</span> Scottish actress (born 1987)

Katie Leung is a Asian-Scottish actress. She first gained fame for playing Cho Chang, the titular character's first love interest in the Harry Potter film series, and subsequently for her roles as Caitlyn Kiramman in the Netflix animated series Arcane and Ash in the Amazon Prime Video sci-fi series The Peripheral. Among British television audiences, Leung is known for her lead roles in the miniseries dramas One Child and Strangers and her supporting role in the police dramedy Annika.

esea contemporary, formerly the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art, is a contemporary art gallery based in Manchester, England. It is located on Thomas Street in Manchester's Northern Quarter in the renovated part of the Smithfield Market Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Chinese</span> British people of Chinese descent

British Chinese, also known as Chinese British or Chinese Britons, are people of Chinese – particularly Han Chinese – ancestry who reside in the United Kingdom, constituting the second-largest group of Overseas Chinese in Western Europe after France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Asians</span> British people of Asian descent

British Asians are British people of Asian descent. They constitute a significant and growing minority of the people living in the United Kingdom, with a population of 5.76 million people or 8.6% of the population identifying as Asian or Asian British in the 2021 United Kingdom census. This represented an increase from a 6.9% share of the UK population in 2011, and a 4.4% share in 2001.

ESEA may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asian Australians</span> Australian of Asian ethnicity or ancestry

Asian Australians are Australians of Asian ancestry, including naturalised Australians who are immigrants from various regions in Asia and descendants of such immigrants. At the 2021 census, the proportion of the population identifying as Asian amounted to approximately 17.4 percent with breakdowns of 6.5 percent from Southern and Central Asia, 6.4 percent from North-East Asia, and 4.5 percent from South-East Asia.

Racism in Asia is multi-faceted and has roots in events that have happened from centuries ago to the present. Racism in Asia may occur from nation against nation, or within each nation's ethnic groups, or from region against region. The article is organised by countries in alphabetical order.

Racism in Canada traces both historical and contemporary racist community attitudes, as well as governmental negligence and political non-compliance with United Nations human rights standards and incidents in Canada. Contemporary Canada is the product of indigenous First Nations combined with multiple waves of immigration, predominantly from Europe and in modern times, from Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Racism in the United Kingdom</span>

Racism in the United Kingdom has a long history and includes structural discrimination and hostile attitudes against various ethnic minorities. The extent and the targets have varied over time. It has resulted in cases of discrimination, riots and racially motivated murders.

The Asian American Movement was a sociopolitical movement in which the widespread grassroots effort of Asian Americans affected racial, social and political change in the U.S., reaching its peak in the late 1960s to mid-1970s. During this period Asian Americans promoted anti-war and anti-imperialist activism, directly opposing what was viewed as an unjust Vietnam war. The American Asian Movement (AAM) differs from previous Asian American activism due to its emphasis on Pan-Asianism and its solidarity with U.S. and international Third World movements such as the Third World Liberation Front.

Asian New Zealanders are New Zealanders of Asian ancestry . At the 2023 census, 861,573 New Zealanders identifying as being part of the Asian ethnic group, making up 17.3% of New Zealand's population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6ixBuzz</span> Online media platform

6ixBuzz, is a controversial online media platform based in Toronto, Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xenophobia and racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic</span> Racial prejudice as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic was first reported in the city of Wuhan, Hubei, China, in December 2019. The origins of the virus have subsequently led to an increase in acts and displays of sinophobia, as well as prejudice, xenophobia, discrimination, violence, and racism against people of East Asian and Southeast Asian descent and appearance around the world. With the spread of the pandemic and formation of hotspots, such as those in Asia, Europe, and the Americas, discrimination against people from these hotspots has been reported.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Social stigma associated with COVID-19</span> Discrimination towards people based on perceived links to COVID-19

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, people can sometimes be labelled, stereotyped, discriminated against, treated separately, or experience loss of status because of real or perceived links with the disease. As a result of such treatment, those who have or are perceived to have the disease, as well as their caregivers, family, friends, and communities, may be subjected to social stigma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stop Asian Hate</span> Movement against violence targeting Asian Americans

Stop Asian Hate was a slogan and name of a series of demonstrations, protests, and rallies against violence targeting Asians, Asian Americans, and others of Asian descent during the COVID-19 pandemic. It began in the United States in 2021 in response to racial discrimination against Asian Americans relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Diana Yeh is a British Chinese sociologist, writer, curator, arts worker, and a prominent social and political activist in the United Kingdom. She is regarded as a leading expert on the history of British Chinese artists, and on racism and anti-racism, particularly in relation to Chinese diasporas. Yeh is a regular commentator on these issues, appearing frequently in interviews for international's news outlets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killing of Yao Pan Ma</span> Beating death of a Chinese American man in New York

Yao Pan Ma, a 61-year-old Chinese American, was attacked on April 23, 2021, before he was declared dead 8 months later on December 31, as a result of an attack by 49-year-old African American Jarrod Powell in East Harlem, New York City, United States. The racist attack drew national attention as part of a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in America.

In the Western world or in non-Asian countries, terms such as "racism against Asians" or "anti-Asian racism" are typically used in reference to racist policies, discrimination against, and mistreatment of Asian people and Asian immigrants by institutions and/or non-Asian people.

Mei Mac is a British actress and theatre maker. For her performance in the stage adaptation of My Neighbour Totoro, she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award.

References

  1. ↑ "Country of birth (extended)". www.ons.gov.uk. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  2. ↑ "Table UV204 - Country of birth: Country by Country of Birth by Individuals". National Records of Scotland. Retrieved 24 May 2024. > 'All of Scotland' > 'Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion' > 'Country of birth: UV204'
  3. ↑ "MS-A18: Country of birth - full detail". nisra.gov.uk. Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 "ESA Scotland". ESA Scotland. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  5. ↑ "Yellow Earth Theatre". Yellow Earth Theatre. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  6. ↑ Aspinall, P. J. (2003-06-01). "Who is Asian? A category that remains contested in population and health research". Journal of Public Health. 25 (2): 91–97. doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdg021. ISSN   1741-3842. PMID   12848395.
  7. 1 2 3 Yeh, Diana (2021). "Becoming British East Asian and Southeast Asian". British Journal of Chinese Studies (11). doi: 10.51661/bjocs.v11i0.131 .
  8. ↑ "Rallying banners: How did the terms 'ESEA' and 'Asian American' take root?". besea.n. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  9. ↑ "East and Southeast Asians: Documenting a Category in the Making". Public Data Lab. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
  10. ↑ Bao, Hongwei (2021-09-07). "Envisioning and Enacting a Pan-Asian Political Identity: The Cultural Politics of the First 'Stop Asian Hate UK' Protests". The Sociological Review. doi: 10.51428/tsr.crwi5533 . S2CID   239654703.
  11. ↑ "Hate Crime Data". End Violence and Racism Against ESEA Communities. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  12. ↑ "Network | ESEA Online Community Hub". ESEA Community Hub. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  13. ↑ "Map of ESEA Organisations". End Violence and Racism Against ESEA Communities. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  14. ↑ Chan, Emily (22 January 2023). "How ESEA Sisters Found Community Amid A Wave Of Anti-Asian Hate". British Vogue . Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  15. ↑ "B E A T S". wearebeats.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  16. ↑ Bao, Hongwei (July 20, 2021). "A pilot study on East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) people's experience of racism and hate crime in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic". Centre for Contemporary East Asian Cultural Studies.
  17. ↑ "How the UK's East and South-East Asian communities are fighting COVID-related violence". openDemocracy. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  18. ↑ Tsjeng, Zing (September 27, 2021). "'We Want to Share Our Joy' – The Women Behind the UK's First ESEA Heritage Month". Vice. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  19. ↑ Phillips, Ronke (October 7, 2021). "Covid racism fuels 80% rise in hate crimes against east and south east Asians in London". ITV News. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  20. ↑ Mohdin, Aamna (August 9, 2022). "UK helpline launched for east and south-east Asian victims of racism". The Guardian. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  21. ↑ Owen, Sarah (July 22, 2020). Hate Crimes: South and East Asian Communities. Hansard Volume 678. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Voice ESEA - Petition". Voice ESEA. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  23. ↑ "News - Covid-related racism has traumatised East and South East Asian communities, study finds - University of Nottingham". www.nottingham.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  24. ↑ UCL (2020-10-03). "We are not the virus". UCL Grand Challenges. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  25. ↑ "Discrimination and racism during the COVID-19 outbreak – a community response". LSHTM. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  26. ↑ Iqbal, Nosheen (May 9, 2021). "Celebrities unite to back #StopAsianHate campaign". The Guardian. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  27. ↑ Lai*, Ching Kaitlyn (2022-05-27). "6 Asian Women On Racism And The Impact Of The #StopESEAHate Campaign A Year On". ELLE. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  28. ↑ "Artists call for 'white-run' UK Chinese gallery to be defunded in racism row". the Guardian. 2021-06-21. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  29. ↑ "Asian Leadership Collective". Asian Leadership Collective. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  30. ↑ "besea.n". besea.n. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  31. ↑ "B E A T S". wearebeats.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  32. ↑ "ABOUT US". CARG. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  33. ↑ "Ways to access support for ESEA racism – China Exchange". 17 March 2021. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  34. ↑ "Home". daikon* zine. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  35. ↑ "Don't Call Me Oriental". Don'tCallMeOriental. Archived from the original on 2022-09-03. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  36. ↑ "East and Southeast Asians for Labour". East and Southeast Asians for Labour. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  37. ↑ "ESA.NE". ESA.NE. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  38. ↑ "EdiUniCorn - UoE ESEA Queer Society (@uoe_eseaqueersoc) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  39. ↑ "End Violence and Racism Against ESEA Communities". End Violence and Racism Against ESEA Communities. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  40. ↑ "ESEA Archives Book Club (@esea.archives) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  41. ↑ "esea contemporary". esea contemporary. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  42. ↑ Chow, Vivienne (9 January 2023). "A Prominent Asian Art Center in the U.K. Drops 'Chinese' From Its Name Amid Growing Geopolitical Tensions". Artnet. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  43. ↑ "ESEA Green Lions (@esea.green.lions) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
  44. ↑ "Green Lunar New Year". Museum of the Home. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  45. ↑ Sarah, Shaffi (23 January 2023). "First UK festival for east and south-east Asian writing announced". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  46. ↑ "ESEA Lit Fest". ESEA Lit Fest. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  47. ↑ "ESEA music - Every Sound Every Action". www.eseamusic.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  48. ↑ "ESEA Online Community Hub". ESEA Community Hub. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  49. ↑ "ESEA Publishing Network (@eseapn) • Instagram photos and videos". ESEA Publishing Network. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  50. ↑ "Esea.Sisters (@esea.sisters) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  51. ↑ "ESEA Young Londoners (@esealondonyouth) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  52. ↑ "Colston project aims to create 'grassroots' change in Bristol". BBC News. 2021-08-28. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  53. ↑ "Every Asian Voice (@everyasianvoice) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  54. ↑ "FoundlingProductions (@foundlingproductions) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  55. ↑ "Hackney Chinese | Home". Hackney Chinese Community Services. Archived from the original on 2022-09-15. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
  56. ↑ "Half East Records (@halfeastrecords) • Instagram photos and videos • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  57. ↑ "ABOUT". Hidden Keileon. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  58. ↑ "Horizons Collective". Horizons Collective. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  59. ↑ "Kakilang - Southeast and East Asian Contemporary Arts". Kakilang. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
  60. ↑ "Chinese Arts Now". Chinese Arts Now. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  61. ↑ "About Us – KANLUNGAN". 14 July 2020.
  62. ↑ "kindredpacket". kindredpacket. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  63. ↑ "Home". Liverpool Esea Netwo. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  64. ↑ "HOME". moongateproductions. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  65. ↑ "New Earth Theatre". New Earth Theatre. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  66. ↑ "On Your Side". On Your Side. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
  67. ↑ "Papergang Theatre". Papergang Theatre. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  68. ↑ "Home | Racism Unmasked Edinburgh". Racism Unmasked Edin. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  69. ↑ "Home". remember-resist.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  70. ↑ "Rising Waves". New Earth Theatre. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  71. ↑ "SOAS dis-Orient Society (@soasdisorient) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  72. ↑ "Southeast and East Asian Centre". Southeast and East Asian Centre. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  73. ↑ http://www.tanstopics.com [ bare URL ]
  74. ↑ "Empowering East and Southeast Asian officials was a highlight: Civil Service Race Forum looks back on 2022". Civil Service World. 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  75. ↑ "Voice ESEA". Voice ESEA. Retrieved 2022-09-16.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.