Page 24 - The Indian EYE 061821

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JUNE 18, 2021 | The Indian Eye 24

risiNg racisM

One in two indian americans feel discriminated

because of skin color, gender and religion

Almost three-quarters of the respondents stated that religion plays an important role

in their lives. According to the data, 54% of respondents identified as Hindu

Our Bureau discrimination from that seg-
ment may include populations
New York
A from other South Asian coun-
new 2020 Indian Amer-
tries where it “holds greater sa-
ican Attitudes Survey
lience”.
released on Wednesday
Almost 75% of perpetra-
reveals that one in two Indian tors of discrimination based on
Americans report being discrim- country of origin or skin color
inated against in the past year were identified as non-Indian.
(during the Trump term), with In about one-fifth of incidents,
prejudice based on skin color both Indians and non-Indians
identified as the most common were reported jointly be respon-
form of bias. Indian Americans sible.
born in the US are much more A little less than half of the
likely to report being victims of dents report feeling discrimi- cent respectively, respondents respondents believe that Indian
discrimination than counter- nated against due to the color of born in the US report twice Americans face more discrimi-
parts born outside. their skin. as much discrimination along nation than at least one minori-
The survey asked respon- An equal percentage of re- gender and religious lines than ty group. But 52% believe that
dents about discrimination with spondents—18 percent apiece— those born outside of US. people living in the US discrimi-
relation to skin color, gender, report that they have been dis- nate more against all of the oth-
religion and caste – beyond just criminated against due to their amid stray cases of caste er minority groups listed com-
country of origin. “The data gender or religion. Overall, 31 pared to Indian Americans.
suggest that discrimination per cent of respondents report- bias and discrimination Almost three-quarters of the
based on skin color is the most ed that discrimination against even among indian-amer- respondents stated that religion
common form of bias: 30 per- people of Indian origin is a ma- plays an important role in their
cent of respondents report feel- jor problem, 53 percent believe icans, the survey reveals lives. According to the data,
ing discriminated against due it is a minor problem, and a that roughly half of all 54% of respondents identified
to the color of their skin,” the small minority (17 per cent) be- as Hindu.
survey said. “An equal percent- lieve it is not a problem at all. Hindu indian americans The second-largest bloc of
age of respondents – 18 percent Placed in a comparative con- identify with a caste, re- 16% included agnostics, atheists,
apiece – report that they have text though, the survey shows a and people with no religious af-
been discriminated against due majority of respondents -- 52 markable for a group with filiation. Thirteen percent of
to their gender or religion.” per cent -- believe that people in high academic attainment. respondents identified as Mus-
It recorded responses of the United States discriminate lim, 11% as Christian and 1% as
1,200 Indian Americans be- more against all of the OTHER Buddhist.
tween September 1 and Sep- minority groups than they do The survey also found “sev- Among Hindus, 86% associ-
tember 20, 2020, in partnership against Indian Americans. eral indications that polariza- ate themselves with some form
with the research and analytics The survey reveals that Indi- tion in India had successful- of “Indian” identity, while 71%
firm YouGov. The results carry an-Americans of Muslims faith ly metastasized in the Indian Christians and 52% Muslims do
an error margin of 2.8%. report the greatest degree of American community in the the same. Religion also influ-
The survey, conducted joint- religious discrimination by far United States.” ences the composition of social
ly by Johns Hopkins Universi- (39 percent), followed by Hin- Five percent of respondents networks of Indian Americans,
ty, University of Pennsylvania dus (18 percent), Christians (15 said that they were discrimi- along with the region of origin
and Carnegie Endowment, with percent), and believers of other nated against based on their and caste.
polling group YouGov, un- faiths (9 percent). While both caste, almost equally by Indians, However, the social net-
spools data that suggests dis- US- and foreign-born Indian non-Indians or both. The survey works were observed to be
crimination based on skin color Americans report significant noted that since non-Indians more homogenous in terms of
is the most common form of discrimination based on skin might not necessarily believe in religion compared to the other
bias, with 30 percent of respon- color—35 percent and 27 per- caste divisions, the caste-based two parameters.

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