“From Expatriate Aristocrat to Immigrant Nobody”: South Asian Racial Strategies in the Southern Californian Context

1997 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-60
Author(s):  
Rosemary Marangoly George
Keyword(s):  
Racial Identity ◽  
Affirmative Action ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
South Asian ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Immigration Policies ◽  
Proposition 209 ◽  
Proposition 187 ◽  
Racial Category ◽  
Indian American

In post Proposition 187 and Proposition 209 California, there is immense pressure on all Californians to take positions on issues such as affirmative action, immigration policies and practices, “color-blind” futures, and indeed on race itself. Discussion on such issues among the Indian-American communities in Southern California (of which I am a part) has brought to light a certain reluctance to acknowledge a racial identity for oneself and for the community at large. What is refused by nearly all upper and middle class South Asians is not so much a specific racial identity but the very idea of being raced. The only identity that is acknowledged is the cultural and ethnic one of being no more and no less than “Indian-American”; when pressed, the commonly offered affiliation approaching a racial category that is seen as acceptable is “Aryan.”

scholarly journals Mitigating the identity and health threat of COVID-19: Perspectives of middle-class South Asians living in the UK

2021 ◽  
pp. 135910532110276
Author(s):  
Kristin Hanson ◽  
Emma O’Dwyer ◽  
Sharmistha Chaudhuri ◽  
Luiz Gustavo Silva Souza ◽  
Tushna Vandrevala
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Psychological Theory ◽  
Identity Threat ◽  
South Asian Community ◽  
The Uk

The recognition and representation of BAME community as ‘high risk’ of Covid-19 in the UK presents both a health and an identity threat to this ethnic group. This study employed thematic analysis to explore response to these threats as related by a sample of 13 middle class members of the South Asian community. This work advances both health and identity psychological theory by recognising the affinity between expressions of health efficacy and identity. Our findings identify South Asian intragroup stigmatisation and commonalities that have implications for the promotion of health behaviour and health communications for minority groups.

Introduction

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilpa S. Davé
Keyword(s):  
South Asian ◽  
Asian American ◽  
Visual Recognition ◽  
South Asians ◽  
South Asian American ◽  
Film And Television ◽  
Indian American ◽  
Visual Identification ◽  
Racial Performance ◽  
Immigrant Narratives

This introductory chapter first sets out the book's purpose, which is to examine the representations and stereotypes of South Asian Americans in relation to immigrant narratives of assimilation in American film and television. It theorizes the performance of accent as a means of representing race and particularly national origin beyond visual identification. For South Asians, accent simultaneously connotes difference and privilege. To focus on an Indian vocal accent is to reconsider racialization predicated on visual recognition. The remainder of the chapter discusses vocal accents and racial hierarchies; South Asian American and Indian American identities; popular Culture, Orientalism, and racial performance; and comedy and racial performance. It concludes with an overview of the subsequent chapters.

Epilogue

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilpa S. Davé
Keyword(s):  
Racial Identity ◽  
South Asian ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Model Minority ◽  
Racial Stereotypes ◽  
Security Threats ◽  
South Asian Americans ◽  
Film And Television ◽  
Voice Performance ◽  
Racial Performance

This chapter summarizes key themes and presents some final thoughts. This book presents how racial performance of and by South Asians in American television and film acts as both an expression of privilege and difference with regards to racial identity. The progression of Indian accents, such as brownface and brown-voice performance, is not linear but, in fact, teleological as seen by the reappearance of racial stereotypes and the repetition of Indian vocal accents in different manifestations in film and television. Contemporary stories have transformed former stereotypes of the native guide and the street-wise orphan into more-modern avatars, such as Apu, the wily immigrant, and Kumar, the patriotic model-minority stoner, who are well-known American cultural icons. In a post-9/11 world where South Asians and South Asian Americans are viewed as possible national security threats, these racial performances continue to ease American anxieties about difference and promote the American Dream as one of the most valued tenets of American culture.

scholarly journals Mitigating the identity and health threat of COVID-19: Perspectives of Middle-Class South Asians living in the UK

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Hanson ◽  
Emma O’Dwyer ◽  
Sharmistha Chauduri ◽  
Luiz Gustavo Silva Souza ◽  
Tushna Vandrevala
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Psychological Theory ◽  
Identity Threat ◽  
South Asian Community ◽  
The Uk

AbstractThe recognition and representation of BAME community as “high risk” of Covid-19 in the UK presents both a health and an identity threat to this ethnic group. This study employed thematic analysis to explore response to these threats as related by a sample of thirteen middle class members of the South Asian community. This work advances both health and identity psychological theory by recognising the affinity between expressions of health efficacy and identity. Our findings identify South Asian intragroup stigmatisation and commonalities that have implications for the promotion of health behaviour and health communications for minority groups.

Domestic Violence Victimization among South Asian Immigrant Men and Women in the United States

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110152
Author(s):  
Abha Rai ◽  
Y. Joon Choi
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
South Asian ◽  
South Asians ◽  
The United States ◽  
Asian Immigrant ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Violence Victimization ◽  
Immigrant Men ◽  
South Asian Immigrant

Domestic violence is a pernicious social problem in the United States and a cause of national concern. The South Asian culture disempowers individuals experiencing domestic violence from recognizing and reporting victimization. Structural inequities may also discourage reporting victimization. These issues have led to inconsistent findings of domestic violence prevalence rates. Additionally, domestic violence studies with South Asians in the United States have predominantly focused on women, omitting men from this purview of research. The purpose of this study was to examine domestic violence victimization rates as well as their correlates among South Asian immigrant men and women. The sample for this cross-sectional study included 468 South Asians across the 50 U.S. states. Descriptive statistics were used to establish rates of domestic violence victimization. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to examine the correlates of domestic violence victimization. All of the sociodemographic information was added in step 1, and acculturation and gender-role attitudes were added as covariates in step 2. The most prevalent type of domestic violence victimization was physical violence (48%), followed by emotional (38%), economic (35%), verbal (27%), immigration-related (26%), in-laws related (19%), and ultimately sexual abuse (11%). Prevalence rates were higher for women than for men in each type of violence. According to the logistic regression results, education, generational position, family type, and employment were significant correlates of domestic violence victimization. Prior to development of prevention programs by community agencies, it is essential to understand the nature and prevalence of domestic violence experiences among South Asians. The victimization of men in addition to women adds to the novelty of this research study and paves the way for practitioners and scholars to engage in conversations about providing both male and female victims of domestic violence with the needed resources and support. The article will discuss implications for research, practice, and policy.

Abstract P199: Mean Lipoprotein Levels and Composition in South Asian-Americans Compared to the US Population

Circulation ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Flowers ◽  
Cesar Molina ◽  
Ashish Mathur ◽  
Bradley Aouizerat ◽  
Mintu Turakhia
Keyword(s):  
South Asian ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Low Density Lipoproteins ◽  
Lipid Lowering ◽  
Lipid Lowering Therapy ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
South Asian Americans ◽  
Lowering Therapy ◽  
The Us

Background South Asians have increased disk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) that is not captured by traditional risk factors, including TC and LDL-c. Low-density apolipoprotein-B (apoB) containing lipoproteins are heterogeneous in size and composition, and the particles with the greatest triglyceride content are thought to ultimately be the most atherogenic. Specific composition of low-density lipoproteins is not captured by common lipid measures (i.e. TC, LDL-c). A high proportion of triglyceride-rich low-density lipoproteins could be a mechanism for CVD risk in South Asians. Our objective was to compare mean TC, LDL-c, HDL-c, triglycerides, and apoB-triglyceride ratio (an estimate of low-density lipoprotein content) between South Asian-Americans and the US population. Methods We studied 2,876 South Asian adults living in the United States participating in a wellness program. Demographics were obtained by self-report. Lipoprotein levels were measured after 10-hour fast. US population means were calculated from NHANES (2007-2008, n = 5,113). Individuals on lipid-lowering therapy were excluded (780 (33%) South Asians, 1,194 (19%) NHANES). Results LDL-c (118mg/dL vs 116mg/dL, p<0.05) and triglycerides (139mg/dL vs 131 mg/dL, p<0.05) were higher in South Asians than the US population, whereas TC was lower (192mg/dL vs 197 mg/dL, p<0.05). HDL-c was lower in South Asians (46mg/dL vs 52mg/dL, p<0.05). ApoB was not statistically significantly different (93mg/dL vs 92mg/dL, p = 0.1), however the apoB/triglyceride ratio was lower in South Asians (0.8 vs 0.9, p<0.05). After stratifying for age by decade and gender, we found that South Asians have lower HDL-c until the age of 50, and lower apoB/triglyceride ratio until the age of 60, with no substantial differences between men and women. Conclusions Mean TC, LDL-c, and triglycerides were normal in South Asians, however the apoB/triglyceride ratio was lower in South Asians than in the US population. This finding indicates that a higher proportion of low-density lipoproteins in South Asians are of the triglyceride-rich atherogenic type. This may portend non-HDL-c as a better indicator of CVD risk than LDL-c in South Asians. Further, low apoB/triglyceride ratio and low HDL-c occurs at a young age in South Asians, suggesting that onset of risk is early. The disappearance of these patterns after age 60 may be the result of sample bias (excluding individuals on lipid lowering therapy), and/or survival bias.

A DYSTOPIAN VISION IN THE PALACE OF ILLUSION- A CRITICAL STUDY

2021 ◽  
pp. 11-12
Author(s):  
Simran Siwach
Keyword(s):  
South Asian ◽  
The United States ◽  
Asian Immigrants ◽  
Critical Study ◽  
Psychological Approach ◽  
South Asian Immigrants ◽  
Indian American ◽  
Alternative Perspective ◽  
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni ◽  
Indian Epic

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an author, poet, activist and professor. She is considered an Indian American writer. Divakaruni often focuses on the experience of South Asian immigrants and her works are largely set in India and the United States. The present paper deals with the reading of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's remarkable historical ction- “The Palace of Illusion”. A number of researches have been done on this work with a Feminist and Psychological approach. This research paper will attempt the analyzing the work with an alternative perspective which is a Dystopian vision. With answering these questions- How Divakaruni's work- 'The palace of Illusion' is re-imaging the protagonist's perspective in a dystopian society instead of retelling the Indian epic? How dystopian vision is an appropriate choice for analyzing the present work? The paper will also argue that Dystopia is not just bounded to science ction although it can also be related to other genres of ction.

Promoting allyship among South Asian and Arab Muslims toward Black and Latino/a Muslims in American Islamic centers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nausheen Pasha-Zaidi ◽  
Meg Aum Warren ◽  
Yvonne Pilar El Ashmawi ◽  
Neneh Kowai-Bell
Keyword(s):  
South Asian ◽  
South Asians ◽  
The United States ◽  
Muslim Americans ◽  
Social Categories ◽  
Islam In America ◽  
The Us ◽  
Racial Dialogue ◽  
Muslim Communities ◽  
Black And Latino

Increased social justice awareness in the United States and shifting demographics are giving birth to a more diverse and egalitarian generation. Improving relations across social categories has been a key topic in di-versity, equity, and inclusion work, but less emphasis has been placed on cross-racial allyship within mi-nority populations. While allyship in racial contexts is often perceived as a White versus non-White issue, this binary position erases the diversity that exists within communities of color. A dichotomous approach to allyship that positions White heterosexual males as the primary holders of privilege does not address the disparities that exist within and across minoritized communities. While Arabs and South Asians are minori-ties in the US on a macrolevel, they often hold privileged positions in Islamic centers and other Muslim spaces—even though Black Americans make up a larger percentage of the Muslim population. Additional-ly, there is an increasing number of Latino/a Muslims in the US, but they are often invisible in larger con-versations about Islam in America as well as in discourse among Muslim Americans. In this chapter, we explore the concept of allyship and how South Asian and Arab Muslims can support and advocate for Black and Latino/a Muslims in American Islamic centers. We also discuss Islamophobia in the US as well as the anti-Blackness and racism that exists within Muslim communities and provide suggestions on how Islamic centers can serve as spaces of allyship and cross-racial dialogue.

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