7 Everyday Challenges Faced By British Asians

British Asians navigate a complex landscape shaped by cultural expectations, navigating two cultures and systemic barriers.

But what challenges can British Asians face every day?

Are any challenges a consequence of factors internal to Desi communities and families? What difficulties are due to wider societal structures and barriers?

British Asians are a diverse group encompassing individuals from Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, and Nepalese backgrounds.

Importantly, British South Asian is an umbrella category; there are differences between and within the groups.

Their lived experiences are not uniform, but many across and within the groups face similar challenges.

This can be in part due to their position as non-white people and in part, navigating and balancing two cultures. However, this is only one part of the picture.

Other challenges manifest due to, for example, Britain’s socio-economic climate.

DESIblitz explores seven everyday challenges faced by British Asians.

Cost of Living and Financial Security

Many British Asians struggle with rising living costs and financial security.

Inflation, housing costs, and stagnant wages make achieving financial stability harder.

British Asian individuals may support family members, adding financial pressure.

High living costs limit opportunities for homeownership and financial independence among young British Asians.

Research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows ethnic minorities, including Brit-Asians, are more likely to experience poverty and economic hardship.

In 2022-23, 56% of Bangladeshi households and 49% of Pakistani households lived in poverty.

British Pakistani Mohammed told DESIblitz:

“I’m on 24k before tax, and it’s hard. Living with family makes it all easier. Without them, I couldn’t live.

“The cost of living, poor living quality, racism and greed of the politicians is why I am going to leave.”

“Better money and lifestyle abroad. I don’t want to spend my life struggling, and I don’t want my parents to either.

“If me, my brother and parents didn’t pool our money, we’d be drowning.

“What’s the point of working almost every day just to barely live life?”

Mohammed’s words highlight the deep frustration that people can feel.

His decision to leave reflects a broader sentiment of disillusionment with the financial strain and systemic issues, including racial inequality and political dissatisfaction.

For him, the promise of a better daily lifestyle and economic stability abroad outweighs the struggles of staying in Britain.

Challenge of Navigating Socio-Cultural Expectations and Ideals

Brit-Asians can face the challenge of navigating traditional socio-cultural values and expectations, particularly regarding family, marriage, and career.

These expectations can create a sense of conflict, especially for younger generations.

Family dynamics play a significant role in shaping expectations.

Many South Asians, particularly women, are expected to prioritise family responsibilities over personal ambitions and desires.

Desi women can feel trapped between societal expectations and values and their career or personal goals.

Life, Career and Business Coach to Desi women Priya Mohal stated:

“Navigating the delicate balance between expressing oneself and maintaining respect can be a challenge for South Asian women.

“[…] we may have seen self-sacrificing mothers and female family members and, as a result, can feel guilty when we perhaps don’t or can’t do the same.

“There are also certain expectations within communities of what a woman’s role ‘should’ be.”

The pressure to conform to cultural norms and ideals can have a significant impact on mental health.

Mental Health Pressures and Stigma

Mental health pressures remain a taboo topic in many South Asian communities but a potent issue.

South Asian communities form the “biggest ethnic minority group” in the UK, and common mental health disorders are more prevalent in this population than in the general population.

For example, research has shown that depression is significantly more common among British South Asians compared to the general White population.

In turn, the Mental Health Foundation highlighted:

“Older South Asian women are an at-risk group for suicide.”

Yet British Asians are less likely to seek help due to cultural stigma and misconceptions.

Traditional beliefs can link mental health struggles with personal weakness or family dishonour. This prevents open discussions and discourages individuals from seeking necessary support.

Many hesitate to speak up due to fear of judgement and shame.

Barriers to seeking support include a lack of culturally competent services/therapists, language barriers, and community stigma.

Addressing stigma requires better mental health education and culturally sensitive therapy options.

Non-profit organisations are aiming to provide culturally nuanced mental health support to British Asians and the distinct groups that constitute the category.

Gaining Culturally Sensitive Healthcare

British Asians face significant barriers in accessing culturally sensitive healthcare, leading to disparities in health outcomes.

Healthcare providers can lack an understanding of cultural beliefs and practices that affect health choices.

For example, some British Asians may follow specific dietary restrictions or rely on traditional remedies, which may be ignored by healthcare professionals who are not culturally aware.

Language barriers can also impact older Brit-Asians access to healthcare.

NHS reports show that Brit-Asians are disproportionately affected by chronic conditions like diabetes.

Such conditions can be frequently underdiagnosed or inadequately managed due to cultural misunderstandings.

Addressing these issues requires targeted investment in cultural competence within healthcare.

Training healthcare workers to understand cultural differences will reduce health disparities and improve outcomes for British Asian communities.

Dual Identities and Navigating Two Worlds

The struggle with dual identity and navigating two worlds is a key everyday challenge for many British Asians.

British Asians can struggle to balance Western/British and South Asian identities.

Associate Professor A.K.M. Ahsan Ullah examined the difficulties faced by second-generation South Asians in the diaspora. He stated:

“The identity problems of second-generation South Asians arise from their position at the crossroads of two cultures.

“Unlike third and fourth-generation people, who have a more solid sense of identity, second-generation people often find themselves caught between two worlds, leading to a range of psychological, social, and cultural challenges.”

However, identity struggles persist beyond the second generation.

Third-generation British Bangladeshi Hasina* shared her experience:

“I’m 29 and still struggle with what to do and how to live. Parents can be like, ‘Don’t act too White, don’t forget your culture.’

“And then sometimes White people only see my Bengali-ness and not that I’m British.”

“But I’m British and Bengali—I’m not trying to be too White or too Bengali.”

The struggle with dual identity and navigating two worlds remains a key challenge for British Asians.

While second-generation individuals often face pronounced conflicts, later generations continue to experience pressures, highlighting the ongoing complexity of belonging and identity.

Racism and Microaggressions

Racism and discrimination, direct and indirect, remain a systemic issue affecting British Asians in many areas of life.

British Pakistani Aisha maintained:

“Nowadays, it feels like it’s a strand of my life, sometimes hidden but gets pushed to the surface a lot.

“The stereotyping of Asians, especially Pakistanis, in media and by some politicians doesn’t help.

“It’s in your face one way or another every day these days.

“For me, there are things that offset it. But I have friends and family who want to leave the UK due to it.”

Beyond overt racism, microaggressions—subtle but offensive comments and actions—impact British Asians.

Microaggressions are the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults. They can be intentional or unintentional.

These include assumptions about cultural backgrounds, exclusion from workplace opportunities, and insensitive remarks about identity.

Microaggressions and racism can create daily barriers that impact, for example, career progression, health and social integration.

Research has shown that Desi individuals face stereotyping, name mispronunciations, and cultural assumptions, creating long-term emotional and psychological stress.

Microaggressions contribute to mental health issues, reduced self-esteem, and a sense of not belonging.

Generational Tensions and Communication Issues

Intergenerational tensions and communication gaps can create significant challenges for British Asians, impacting family relationships, cultural identity, and social integration.

For some, the internal struggles within British Asian communities and families can be overlooked.

Ikhlaq Din, a researcher and expert in South Asian community affairs, stated:

“Entirely focusing on racism and discrimination prevents discussions within the community about deeper issues that affect British Asians.

“The challenges are mostly within rather than external. Yes, racism is there, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.

“Main challenge facing British Asians is the lack of communication between the generations, the tensions run deep into the community as is the lack of understanding.

“Most British Asians lack role models. Instead of looking up to their elders who are always seen as being out of touch with British society, instead look up to rappers and gangs.

“One outcome of this is that an increasing number of British Asians are falling victim to outside influences.”

“And most Asian parents are worried about their young people falling into the ‘wrong’ kind of company, becoming perpetrators of knife crime, falling to drug crime, gangs or becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs further exacerbated by mental health issues […].”

For Ikhlaq, a key way to address the internal challenges faced within the Brit-Asian community and across generations is to take a “community-wide approach”.

Such an approach, he asserts, needs to encourage and facilitate open and honest intergenerational dialogue.

Brit-Asians face a variety of daily challenges that are shaped by both internal community pressures and tensions and external societal structures and inequalities.

From financial instability to navigating cultural expectations, the challenges are multifaceted.

The socio-economic climate, along with systemic barriers, creates an environment where British Asians have to undertake a difficult balancing act.

Issues like mental health stigma, lack of culturally competent healthcare, and generational tensions within families only add complexity to these everyday challenges.