Growing up in India, I have always been fascinated by science. That’s because my parents worked in science, and I thought science answered, or at least tried to answer, some of the most fundamental questions about the universe.
Nine-year-old Advait was naive. I distinctly remember discussing my educational future with her parents. It was clear what came out of that conversation. I was told that I would eventually study abroad. At the time, I didn’t understand what studying abroad actually meant, and I still don’t really understand it. Now that my dream of studying abroad has come true, I am confused.
Immigration from the Indian subcontinent to the United States slow 1800s to early 1900s. Although early immigration had a huge impact on the cultural perception of Indians in the United States, I think the biggest change occurred with his 1990 reform, which introduced a new temporary visa category. highly skilled workers.
In the United States, the rise of the information technology field, a decline in the number of undergraduate students earning degrees in major sciences, and a shortage of personnel in highly technical industries such as software development have created the perfect environment for graduates of India’s top technical schools. Ta. Indian Institutes of Technology aims to attract people to migrate for higher wages and overall better living conditions.
The economic and social benefits associated with immigration are overlooked.
From a socio-economic perspective, In 1991 collapse of the ussrIndia’s main ally, has faced multiple economic adversities in India such as declining foreign exchange reserves and balance of payments problems that have led to liberalization, privatization, and globalization. policy reforms in india. These reforms opened India’s economy and workforce to the world.
These reforms took place during the following periods: ttechnological revolution In the world. Naturally, many were motivated to get an education in the field. Becoming an engineer was one of the few opportunities for social upward mobility available to poor and lower-middle class people who could afford an education. Climbing remains one of the most common opportunities. socio-economic youthWell, today.
The idea of becoming an engineer has gone beyond a mere financial incentive to become a kind of social expectation among Indians. This career path has become an aspiration for many young Indians who are socialized to follow a determined path from the day they are born.
I was encouraged to study STEM subjects at school. Studying science is seen as being intelligent and meticulous, while the arts and humanities are generally frowned upon in Indian culture. I would like to be careful not to make general claims about perceptions in these areas, but rather to think of them as social expectations that I have received.
Many Indian immigrants brought this idea with them to the United States, where technical and medical jobs were valued not just for their economic benefits, but for their social status and the respect they received. imitating the situation.
The higher incomes that people earn from these jobs certainly contributes to the formation of such a status, but it also represents the attributes of hard work and analytical thinking in society. This history of mass immigration and concentration on technical jobs leads to the formation of identity perceptions and subsequent stereotypes of Indian students.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing anti-Asian racism in Bloomington and across the country.
Stereotypes, even if they are positive, Harmful For those who feel pressured by this perceived identity. Failure to meet common expectations can lead to feelings of alienation. It’s a feeling I experience regularly as an international student at IU.
My interest in science led me to study economics and sociology. This is an unconventional path given the history and expectations I’m following here. I can’t ignore that burden, but I want to change people’s perception of what Indians “should” be. I cannot change the perceived identity itself, but I can increase the awareness that Indians are more than just IT professionals with just a career path to contribute.
Our culture has so much more to offer. We are artists, activists, and athletes. I want to increase the visibility and excellence of Indians in various fields, including fields unrelated to STEM.This is what Indian writers look like Arundhati Roy and Amitabh Ghosh And artists like aNish Kapoor If you want to explore Indians in a more artistic realm, this is a good place to start.
Let’s foster a world that celebrates Indian talent beyond perceived expectations and niches. I’m not an engineer.
Advait Save (he/they) is a new student studying economics and sociology.