Caste in a New Land: The Enduring Psychological Toll on South Asian Immigrants

1) Background and Purpose:
Caste-based oppression, a deeply rooted hierarchical system in South Asia, continues to inflict psychological and social harm on marginalized communities, even among diasporic populations in North America. Despite assumptions that migration erases caste identity, emerging research reveals its persistent influence on social dynamics, mental health, and systemic discrimination. This study examines how caste-based trauma manifests in the South Asian diaspora, focusing on its intergenerational transmission, health impacts, and pathways to resilience. The primary objectives are: (1) to analyze how caste operates in diasporic spaces such as workplaces, educational institutions, and housing; (2) to explore the gendered and intergenerational dimensions of caste trauma; and (3) to identify resistance and healing strategies employed by Dalit communities. The central research question asks: How does caste-based discrimination perpetuate trauma in the diaspora, and what are its psychological and structural consequences?

2) Methods:
This qualitative ethnographic study draws from seven focus group discussions with over 50 Dalit immigrants in the U.S., employing a narrative-based approach to capture lived experiences. Participants were recruited through community organizations and snowball sampling to ensure diverse representation across age, gender, and professional backgrounds. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews exploring childhood experiences, migration narratives, workplace discrimination, and mental health impacts. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring patterns of caste-based exclusion, trauma responses, and coping mechanisms. The study also incorporates secondary analysis of existing literature on caste and diaspora, including works by scholars such as Yengde,2015 , Rajadesingan, A., Mahalingam, R., & Jurgens, 2019.

3) Results:
Findings reveal that caste-based trauma persists in diasporic settings through covert discrimination, social exclusion, and microaggressions. Participants reported experiences such as workplace bias (e.g., exclusion from professional networks, questioning of competence), housing discrimination (e.g., coded rental ads favoring "vegetarians"), and educational marginalization. Many respondents described reliving childhood trauma in diaspora spaces, with caste-based humiliation contributing to depression, PTSD, and internalized casteism. The study also highlights intergenerational transmission, where parents’ trauma shapes their children’s socialization, often instilling both resilience and fear. Despite these challenges, Dalit communities resist through solidarity networks, legal advocacy (e.g., pushing for caste protections in anti-discrimination laws), and cultural reclamation. Women and lower-income individuals faced compounded oppression due to intersecting caste, gender, and class identities.

4) Conclusions and Implications:
This study underscores that caste is not confined to South Asia but adapts to diasporic contexts, perpetuating systemic harm. The psychological toll of caste-based trauma necessitates culturally sensitive mental health interventions that recognize caste as a critical factor in wellbeing. Policy recommendations include explicit legal protections against caste discrimination in immigration-receiving nations and institutional reforms in workplaces and educational spaces. Future research should expand quantitative measures of caste-based trauma and examine cross-generational healing practices. Ultimately, dismantling caste oppression in the diaspora requires centering Dalit voices, fostering allyship, and challenging the myth of caste-neutral multiculturalism. By bridging academic inquiry and advocacy, this work contributes to global efforts toward caste equity and justice.