South Asian Sociologists (SAS) seeks to build community and provide opportunities for mentoring, networking and the exchange of ideas among South Asian, South Asian American, and South Asian diaspora sociologist. The initial idea for SAS came out of informal discussions during the American Sociological Association (ASA) annual meetings where the absence of a space dedicated to the concerns of persons of South Asian descent (defined inclusively and broadly)in the profession and discipline of sociology was identified.
In a series of organized meetings that followed, sociologists from across the United States, at different institutions and at varied career stages came together to resoundingly affirm the need for a South Asian Sociologists community. There was support for the formation of an inclusive group open to all sociologists who identified themselves as of South Asian/American/diaspora descent, regardless of their particular area of specialization. Those in attendance at the meetings included scholars of South Asia/diaspora and others with topics and interests that did not have a South Asia focus.
At the meetings, attendees discussed a pervasive sense of marginality as South Asians in US sociology. As articulated by one member and supported by many others, “a driving reason for the group . . . is a certain type of invisibility for persons of South Asia origin in the U.S. We need community.” This sense of collective invisibility reflects the particular dynamics of US racialization for persons of South Asian descent who are marginalized in multiple contexts, including within the “Asian American” umbrella. Graduate students and junior faculty mentioned how difficult it had been for them not to have mentoring resources to turn to as they were navigating the many steps of the academic process. Senior scholars mentioned the challenges they faced and were continuing to face in their negotiation, as persons of South Asian/diaspora descent, of US academic environments and the sociology profession. The general feeling was that a community dedicated to mentorship and support would provide a way forward.
Based on these discussions, the primary goal of the South Asian Sociologists community is to provide support for sociologists at various stages in their academic careers from graduate students to senior scholars. SAS has an in-person meeting at the annual American Sociological Association conference. Other activities, including writing workshops and virtual mini-conferences, will take place throughout the academic year. Elections for SAS committee positions will take place in the spring during the American Sociological Association elections.
South Asian Sociologists 