A Cognitive Analysis of Caste in the American Workplace

This study examines caste within the Indian diaspora in the United States (US), focusing on attitudes toward caste-based Affirmative Action (AA), cross-caste interactions, and Islamophobia. We use a sample of the Indian diaspora (n = 421) in the US and based in cognitive framework; the research explores how caste identity, caste centrality, and Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) influence these attitudes. The findings reveal that while caste affiliation did not directly impact support for AA, high-caste (HC) individuals were more likely to object to AA on meritocratic grounds, reflecting a justification of privilege. Low-caste (LC) individuals with caste centrality also opposed AA, likely due to internalized stigma and aspirations for social mobility. US-born participants exhibited greater cross-caste closeness, and people with high SDO showed less closeness. We examine attitudes toward Muslims as influenced by caste and cultural factors. These insights underscore the complexity of caste and identity within diaspora communities, with implications for workplace initiatives.