Caught in the middle? Chinese international students’ self-formation amid politics and pandemic

Abstract

With neo-nationalism spreading in both China and the US as well as the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese international undergraduate students are perceived as in-between: racialized in their host country and labeled as out-group members in their home country. In both contexts, their voices are constantly marginalized and silenced. Drawing upon the concept of self-formation, this article uses an ethical paradigm to emphasize students’ self-determining agency and capability in the process of personal transformation. Based on online observation and semistructured Zoom interviews, this study demonstrates that Chinese students tend to live and study resiliently amid current heightened uncertainties. More importantly, they actively exercise independent autonomy to facilitate plural identities, albeit under social circumstances beyond their control. Instead of being caught in the middle as framed by dominant discourses, this study shows that Chinese students’ decisions about study abroad, choices about social adaptation, and career ambition are deliberate and conscious, confronting ever-changing social, cultural, political, and economic conditions.

“Somewhere I belong?” A study on transnational identity shifts caused by “double stigmatization” among Chinese international student returnees during COVID-19 through the lens of mindsponge mechanism

“…During an encounter with local medical personnel in her hotel quarantine, a returnee demanded bottled water but was rejected, which the returnee considered a violation of her human right ( Global Times, 2020 ). The video clip of this altercation went viral on Chinese social media, and Chinese netizens overwhelmingly sided with the medical personnel and stigmatized the returnee as a “giant infant” for defying COVID-19 prevention measures ( Yu, 2021 ). Soon the stigmatization was escalated to a higher level across the country when a state-run TV station host commented on the returnee’s return as a malicious attempt to poison the motherland ( Joe, 2020 ).…”

“…Because of the COVID-19 safety concerns and mask-wearing stigmatization, as the leading source of international students in the US, the Chinese international student population plunged in the academic year 2020–2021 after a decade-long growth, from 372,532 in 2019 to 317,229 in 2020 ( Statista, 2022 ). However, what coincided with their return was the blame game between China and the US, and their identity as returnees from the United States had made them caught in the crossfire in domestic anti-America sentiment ( Yu, 2021 ). As a result, returnees experienced “double stigmatization”: the initial stigmatization was imposed by the US government and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s mask mandating rule, whereas the subsequent stigmatization stemmed from Chinese domestic anti-west populism/cyber-nationalism ( Yu, 2021 ).…”

“…However, what coincided with their return was the blame game between China and the US, and their identity as returnees from the United States had made them caught in the crossfire in domestic anti-America sentiment ( Yu, 2021 ). As a result, returnees experienced “double stigmatization”: the initial stigmatization was imposed by the US government and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s mask mandating rule, whereas the subsequent stigmatization stemmed from Chinese domestic anti-west populism/cyber-nationalism ( Yu, 2021 ). A few studies have been conducted on Chinese international students’ stigmatization abroad in western countries such as the US, the UK, and their social media ( Roberto et al, 2020 ; Catalano and Wang, 2021 ; Smith et al, 2022 ); yet limited research has been done in terms of domestic stigmatization occurred during the COVID-19 and how the double stigmatizations shifted these returnees’ transnational identity gradually.…”

Examining identity shifting due to “double stigmatization”

“…Particularly, the issues of mental health stigmatization affecting help-seeking behavior against suicidal ideation [1] and discrimination affecting radicalization and hostility [2] During the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese international students studying in the United States of America (US) faced stigmatization from not only Americans [4] but also from Chinese nationals upon returning to China [5]. The "double stigmatization" was further fueled by political rhetoric, extremism, and misinformation.…”

Examining identity shifting due to “double stigmatization”

“…During the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese international students studying in the United States of America (US) faced stigmatization from not only Americans [4] but also from Chinese nationals upon returning to China [5]. The "double stigmatization" was further fueled by political rhetoric, extremism, and misinformation.…”