Stereotypes of South Asians
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Stereotypes of South Asians are oversimplified ethnic stereotypes of South Asian people, and are found in many Western societies. Stereotypes of South Asians have been collectively internalized by societies, and are manifested by a society's media, literature, theatre and other creative expressions. However, these stereotypes have very real repercussions for South Asians in daily interactions, current events, and governmental legislation.
Some stereotypes of South Asians overlap with Stereotypes of East and Southeast Asians, such as the model minority stereotype and stereotypes of exclusion. However, not all stereotypes of Asians apply to South Asians, and South Asians have their own independent set of stereotypes as well.
South Asians as well as other Asian Americans have been stereotyped as "model minorities": hardworking, politically inactive, studious, intelligent, productive, and inoffensive people who have elevated their social standing through merit and diligence.
Particularly in Britain, South Asians have been stereotyped as being a majority of newsagent and convenience store shopkeepers, the stereotype Paki shop; and also making a majority of doctors, these are all again often associated as being hardworking. This stereotype was made fun in the television and radio sketches of Goodness Gracious Me by four British Asian comedy actors themselves. This stereotype also exists in America as well. Apu Nahasapeemapetilon from the animated TV show The Simpsons is a prototypical hard working South Asian convenience store owner who essentially never takes a vacation, has an arranged marriage and a large number of children.
Pakistanis
Pakistanis are often stereotyped as Taxi Drivers in America.
Indians
Both South Asians and East Asians were subject to stereotypes of exclusion, especially during the late 1800s and early 1900s with the advent of what Americans called the Yellow Peril and Hindu Invasion. American newspaper headlines illustrating stereotypes of exclusion towards South Asians include: "The Tide of Turbans" (Forum, 1910) and "The Perils of Immigration Impose on Congress a New Issue: the Hindoo Invasion - a new peril" (Current Opinion, 1914).
General
Violent fighting over securing an Indian wife
"The shortage of Indian women resulted in violence commited by jealous lovers and husbands, creating a stereotype of East Indian men, which gained in infamy[1]... coolies reputation with the police was bad and significantly while the Negroes use their tongue in argument, the Indian commit murder, and given the scarcity of Indian women, without hesitation.[1] Thus the stereotype is reinforced ascribing to the Indian husband a frantically jealous discposition."[1]
Irrationality
"[I]n the Western popular consciousness the Indian subcontinent... is denounced for its irrationality[2]...Hindu beliefs and traditions are often represented as a superstitious localized collection of archaic cults[2]...During the impressionable teenage years, these negative portrayals [of Hinduism] can cause shame and embarrassment among Indian-American students regarding their ancestry and can engender a dislike for India[2]... Negativities may persist in classes at the University level [in the United States], in which Hinduism is represented as myth,"[2] (this refers only to those following the Hindu religion, and another stereotype is presented here: most people think that all Indians are Hindu)
Monkey brain eaters
"The wholly fictional depiction of India in the Steven Spielberg film, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, seems to have been taken as a valid portrayal of India by many teachers, since a large number of students surveyed complained that teachers referred to the eating of monkey brains." [2]
Tech Support
There is prevalent stereotype of Indians being responsible for handling tech support and is deeply involved in the IT industry in general.
See also
- British Asian
- South Asian American
- Indo-Canadian
- Stereotypes of East and Southeast Asians
- Brown people
- Oriental Chinese