Asian Indian Celebrations of Ethnicity: Perspectives from the Mid-western United States

Asian Indian Celebrations of Ethnicity: Perspectives from the Mid-western United States

Asian Indians are among the fastest growing immigrantgroups in the United States today. Eighty-two percent ofAsian Indian immigrants now living in the U.S. arrivedbetween 1980 and 2000, and their population more thandoubled in the 1990s. Currently, the U.S. Asian Indianpopulation totals more than 3.2 million (U.S. Census 2010,March 2011 Update). The majority of Asian Indians residingin the United States are English language proficient, havea high socio-economic status, are better educated thanthe general populace, and are well represented amongprofessional career groups (Chandras, 1997; Mogelonsky,1995; Helweg and Helweg, 1990; Takaki, 1989). In spite oftheir strong presence in U.S. institutions and economy,little research has focused on the everyday experiences ofAsian Indian families in the United States (Mehra, 1997;Bhola, 1996). Voices of Asian Indian women in particular,have been absent from the literature. This paper exploresU.S. Asian Indian women"s efforts to retain ethnic cultureduring their transition into American society, withparticular emphasis on public and private celebrations.

Asian Indians are among the fastest growing immigrantgroups in the United States today. Eighty-two percent ofAsian Indian immigrants now living in the U.S. arrivedbetween 1980 and 2000, and their population more thandoubled in the 1990s. Currently, the U.S. Asian Indianpopulation totals more than 3.2 million (U.S. Census 2010,March 2011 Update). The majority of Asian Indians residingin the United States are English language proficient, havea high socio-economic status, are better educated thanthe general populace, and are well represented amongprofessional career groups (Chandras, 1997; Mogelonsky,1995; Helweg and Helweg, 1990; Takaki, 1989). In spite oftheir strong presence in U.S. institutions and economy,little research has focused on the everyday experiences ofAsian Indian families in the United States (Mehra, 1997;Bhola, 1996). Voices of Asian Indian women in particular,have been absent from the literature. This paper exploresU.S. Asian Indian women"s efforts to retain ethnic cultureduring their transition into American society, withparticular emphasis on public and private celebrations.