Stereotypes of South Asians consist of various generalized beliefs about individuals from South Asia which derive from the region's history and interaction with other cultures and peoples. These stereotypes are often rooted in orientalism, xenophobia and racism and date back to the history of European colonialism and imperialism in South Asia during the 18th and 19th centuries along with the immigration of South Asians to the English-speaking world in the 20th century. According to academics Omar Rahman, David Pollock and John Berry, such stereotypes, which have been primarily propagated through popular culture, have played a major role in hindering the process of acculturation for South Asian immigrants in Western nations.[2][3][4]
From the 16th century onwards, European colonialists began to arrive in South Asia as part of the Age of Discovery. This contact soon led to the proliferation of stereotypes of the region's inhabitants by Europeans, which increased as the majority of South Asia came under colonial rule. European and North American commentators promulgated various stereotypes of South Asians, many of which served as implicit justification for colonial rule. During the 19th and 20th centuries, there were significant levels of immigration from South Asia to Africa, the Americas and Europe, which led to creation of further stereotypes. These stereotypes can have the effect of dehumanizing those of South Asian descent, making them more prone to abuse or being the victim of a crime and potentially leading to depression and ill-health.[2][5][6]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
mcdonaldwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
rahmanpollockwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Hagendoorn, Louk (January 1993). "Ethnic categorization and outgroup exclusion: Cultural values and social stereotypes in the construction of ethnic hierarchies". Ethnic and Racial Studies. 16 (1): 26–51. doi:10.1080/01419870.1993.9993771.
- ^ Berry, John W. (January 1997). "Immigration, Acculturation, and Adaptation". Applied Psychology. 46 (1): 5–34. doi:10.1111/j.1464-0597.1997.tb01087.x.
- ^ Bowler, Isobel (March 1993). "'They're not the same as us': midwives' stereotypes of South Asian descent maternity patients". Sociology of Health & Illness. 15 (2): 157–178. doi:10.1111/1467-9566.ep11346882.
- ^ Wang, Jennifer; Siy, John Oliver; Cheryan, Sapna (2011). "Racial Discrimination and Mental Health Among Asian American Youth" (PDF). In Leon, Frederick T.; Juang, Linda (eds.). Asian American and Pacific Islander children and mental health. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-38300-7. OCLC 729636780.