Catholicism

Filipino American Nurses: Faith and Professional Communities in the Age of COVID and Anti-Asian Hate

April Manalang | Associate Professor, History & Interdisciplinary Studies | Norfolk State University

Christian Gloria | Associate Professor, Sociomedical Sciences | Columbia University

Hans Carlo Rivera | Graduate Student, Gillings School of Global Public Health | University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

What role has God and/or church played in coping with Anti-Asian hate and COVID among Filipina nurses who possess a faith commitment and worked on the front lines of the pandemic? Nearly 1/3rd of the COVID deaths were Filipina nurses. Moreover, Anti-Asian hate spiked 145% in 2020, the height of the pandemic. Over 80% of Fil-Ams self-affiliate as Catholic (Manalang, 2022). In Manalang’s current research, Fil-Am nurses reported that they heavily relied on their faith in God to cope with the tragic COVID losses amid Anti-Asian hate. In our joint project, we will 50+ conduct in-depth interviews; develop a compelling podcast; and publish a scholarly article. Our in-depth national and transnational interviews (e.g., New York, Virginia, France, Philippines, and Germany) will show that for this highly religious community, God matters to Fil-Americans. We will advance research nationally and transnationally, and in the areas of public health, religiosity, and citizenship.

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