“You have a great American accent!”

“You’re so pretty for an Indian!”

“Do you like curry?”

These are all questions that stem from microaggression. Microaggressions are subtle forms of discrimination or prejudice that may be unintentional or unconscious, but still have a negative impact on the person who experiences them.

It is the subtlety that makes microaggression different from blatant racism. In this blog post, I will talk about microaggressions against South Asians specifically. Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood and school district, I dealt with microaggression all the time. Of course, many of the comments were unintentional; however, I never corrected them or said anything about them.

Some examples of microaggressions against South Asians might include:

1. Assuming that all South Asians are the same.

South Asia is a diverse region with multiple states and languages, and assuming that all South Asians are the same (or just Indian) can be seen as erasing their unique identities. There are many states– Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka—that surround India that are often overlooked. So, next time you speak to someone, do not specifically ask if they are from India. Some people are tired of hearing this.

2. Making fun of South Asian accents.

South Indian accents can be distinct from other Indian accents, and making fun of them can be hurtful and perpetuate stereotypes. Of course, the media is not helping at all. Indian characters almost always have some sort of heavy accent and are stereotyped the exact same way. To name a few characters: Baljeet from “Phineas and Ferb” and Ravi from “Jessie.”

3. Associating South Asian food only with “spicy” or “exotic” flavors (or just curry).

While South Indian cuisine is known for its use of spices, reducing it to only these characteristics can fail to appreciate the complexity of the cuisine. There is such an extensive menu in South Asia—not just the ‘curries’ and ‘spices.’ Reducing South Asian cooking to just ‘curry’ is not good. No one ever talks about the various desserts in India!

4. Commenting on skin color, saying you are “lighter” or “darker” than someone else.

South Asian have a range of skin colors, and commenting on or making assumptions about their skin color can be offensive and perpetuate colorism. In India, colorism is a crazy issue (and I will cover this in my next blog post.) Being white and having lighter skin is extremely desired. So, after a lifetime of learning ‘brown is dirty, white is good,’ comparing skin tones might not be the best idea.

These are some of the most prevalent microaggressions today. It’s important to recognize and address these subtle comments to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all individuals, regardless of their background.

Sources:

Microaggression | Psychology Today

What is a microaggression? How to address subtle racism – Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

https://thehuronemery.com/2478/opinion/how-stereotyped-tv-minorities-ruined-my-impression-of-myself/