Racial Discrimination of International Students: A Persuasive Essay

This essay examines the critical issue of racial discrimination faced by international students in Australia. It highlights Australia's multicultural identity and the growing problem of prejudice against overseas students, emphasizing the negative impact on their student experience and well-being. The essay argues for a culture change to combat negative perceptions and attitudes, advocating for the integration and acceptance of international students. It details the various forms of discrimination, from verbal abuse and cultural stereotyping to social rejection and violence, referencing Alizadeh's experiences as a Muslim immigrant. The essay presents anecdotal, empirical, and expert evidence to support the thesis, including the detrimental effects of racial discrimination on mental health, social isolation, and academic performance. The conclusion proposes a culture change to promote diversity, inclusion, and improved experiences for international students. The essay also includes references to support the arguments presented.

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 1
Why Racial Discrimination of International Students Should be Eliminated.
Name
Institution

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 2
Why Racial Discrimination of International Students Should be Eliminated.
Australia prides itself as a vibrant multicultural nation. It is this national identity that is
the primary basis of the upcoming Harmony day, which is a celebration of the nation’s cultural
diversity (Department of Home Affairs, 2020). Notably, in line with this national identity of
multiculturalism, Australia has one of the largest overseas student population. According to
Ferguson & Sherrell (2020), there were over 398,000 foreign enrolments in Australia’s higher
education institutions. However, despite the nation’s reputation as a prosperous multicultural
nation, racial discrimination still exists. Specifically, racial discrimination against overseas
students has grown to become a critical issue in Australia, which is harming the affected
individuals and their overall student experience. Therefore, I am advocating for a culture change
that changes the current negative perceptions and attitudes of people towards immigrant students
to positive ones.
Racial discrimination against international students exists and is a critical social problem
in the nation that needs addresing. As Grayson (2014) points, racial discrimination, both on and
off-campus, is a critical challenge that overseas students face daily. On-campus, international
students face discrimination from their fellow students, staff, and professors. Off-campus, they
face discrimination as they interact with other structures of the society, such as in public
interactions, public transport, accommodation facilities, and the health sector. The main reason is
that local people view immigrants as inferior and thus isolate them and treat them with contempt.
It is difficult to imagine how challenging the situation is daily for international students as
everywhere they go, they to face and cope with prejudice. Therefore, it is only right that
individuals change the attitudes and perceptions that they hold against immigrants. They need to

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 3
view them as human, as their fellow colleagues, and embrace them instead of isolating them. In
this way, we can solve this critical issue.
Additionally, a reality that exarcebates the issue is that,the students do not just face
discrimination, but they experience it in multiple forms as well. From verbal abuse to cultural
stereotyping, to social rejection, to violence, international students have to cope with all these
forms of racial injustice. Alizadeh’s testimony in his poem, “The Suspect,” well highlights the
type of abuses that overseas students undergo. As a Muslim immigrant, Alizadeh states that he
has to cope with multiple issues. Unemployment is one of them, where the Australian Human
Rights Commission (2020) points, immigrants are often overlooked for various employment
posts in favour of the natives. Alizadeh is also unfairly prejudiced due to his ethnic background
as an Asian Muslim. Notably, Muslims have often been negatively discriminated by being
associated with terrorism activities. The individuals who promote this form of discrimination
point to the fact that some of the Islam dominated regions have emerged as terror hotbeds.
However, I have always believed that terrorism perpetrators do not act on behalf of Muslims.
Being a Muslim is not a criterion for identifying a terrorist. Nevertheless, Alizadeh has to endure
constant suspicion that he is a terrorist. Notably, the suspicion extends from society to the
authorities, whereby constant police attention has become a standard part of his life. Verbal
abuse is also another form of abuse that Alizadeh has had to face. A girl he tried to woo labelled
him a “Muslim rapist.” How does Alizadeh cope with all these? There is clearly a need for a
change in the attitudes and perceptions that people hold against these immigrants. People should
treat others humanely regardless of their background.
Research further indicates that racial discrimination and abuse has detrimental effects on
the individual. One significant negative effect entails social isolation, whereby the individual

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 4
avoids interaction with the broader society to avoid getting abused. Additionally, the self-esteem
of these individuals is also impacted since they are constantly considered as individuals of low
social status. For example, Ali refers to himself as a hairy, accented adolescent, showing how
lowly he regards himself. Also, as Neblett & Roberts (2013) point, constant racial discrimination
leads to psychological conditions such as anxiety, depression, and social awkwardness. Another
point worth noting is that the isolation of foreigners, who are new to the country and the culture
significantly affects their adaptation to their new environment. Consequently, the failure to adapt
to the new system causes significant stress to them. Therefore, it is no surprise that as research
points, the academic performance of these individuals is negatively affected (L’Heureux &
McCoy, 2014). Thus, it can be observed that the existence of racial discrimination puts the over
300,000 international students at risk of the harmful effects of the vice discussed above.
Therefore, it is only right that the vice is stopped. Instead of isolating immigrants, locals should
accommodate them and make them feel included in the society. In this way, their individual
well-being can be enhanced.
In conclusion, racial discrimination against international students is a critical issue in
Australia. The vice has led to a negative student experience for overseas students and has also
had a detrimental individual impact on them. One of the interventions I have propose is a culture
change. These change will aim at changing the perceptions and attitudes of people from those
that encourages isolation and discrimination of foreigners. Instead people should appreciate
diversity and integrate each and every member to the broader society. Notably, this is a crucial
objective of the Harmony day and its activities. If this is achieved, the experience and wellbeing
of overseas students can be enhanced.

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 5
References
Australian Human Rights Commission. (2020). International Students’ Human Rights: a review
of the Principles and the issues | Australian Human Rights Commission.
Humanrights.gov.au. Retrieved 14 March 2020, from
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/race-discrimination/publications/
international-students-human-rights-review-principles-and.
Department of Home Affairs. (2020). Harmony Week. Harmony.gov.au. Retrieved 14 March
2020, from https://www.harmony.gov.au/about.
Ferguson, H., & Sherrell, H. (2020). Overseas students in Australian higher education: a quick
guide – Parliament of Australia. Aph.gov.au. Retrieved 14 March 2020, from
https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/
Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1819/Quick_Guides/OverseasStudents.
Grayson, J. (2014). The experiences and outcomes of domestic and international students at four
Canadian universities. Journal Of International Students, 27(3), 262-278.
L’Heureux, R., & McCoy, L. (2014). Inequality in the Promised Land: Race, Resources, and
Suburban Schooling. Stanford University Press.
Neblett, E., & Roberts, S. (2013). Racial identity and autonomic responses to racial
discrimination. Psychophysiology. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.12087