‘So, Are You Hindi?'

Abstract

Immigrant children and adolescents living in the United States encounter significant stressors during the acculturation process, particularly in schools. South Asian immigrants tend to identify strongly with religious and geographic region background. This study investigates intersections between religion and education in U.S. South Asians' post-migration experiences in the American Midwest. Findings suggest South Asian children in U.S. schools are confronted daily by the duality between their parents' birth culture and mainstream values and traditions of the host culture. Participants and their families experience prejudice, discrimination, and racism as they engage in daily social, work, and school activities. Reported incidents of prejudice range from judgments about English-speaking ability to doubts about the South Asian education system to prepare workers for U.S. jobs. Findings show religious affiliation, foreign accent, skin color, ethnic dress, and non-Euro-American physical features create barriers for South Asians trying to fit into everyday American society.