Western American views of Punjabis
-
Western Americans viewed Punjabis in a negative light, deeming them inferior and unworthy of marrying into their race. Leonard states, “the strongest prejudices were against Punjabis associated with white women.” The superlative “strongest” indicates that excessive anger or frustration was felt when the notion of the unworthy Punjabi man was violated. In a patriarchal society where women were subject to their husbands, a relationship between a Punjabi man and a white woman created a dilemma. Does a brown man have the right to be in a relationship with a white woman? Leonard recounts an incident where “an offended Anglo neighbour rousted him out of her house with a shotgun and had him arrested.” This illustrates that many Western Americans felt that he did not have this right and were insulted when he tried. The violence of using a “shotgun” to have him “arrested” for merely being in a relationship with a white woman highlights the disdain felt for Punjabis.
This situation reveals two systemic issues in Western America: the first being their racist ideology and the second being their sexism. In this scenario, not only was the woman not allowed to be in a relationship with a man of her choice—according to her male neighbor, who felt it was his place to ‘fix’ this improper relationship—but the use of “offended” indicates that a relationship with a Punjabi man was considered shameful. This can be generalized to Hindus and Sikhs as well, as shown by the “clerk who judged the potential mates to be too different in skin color and would not issue a license.” This highlights that any Indians or darker-skinned individuals were barred from marrying those who appeared white. This demonstrates that although both parties would have consented to the marriage, the ‘superior’ view of Western American society overpowered them purely due to their contempt for Punjabis and people of darker skin. -
Anya, your analysis effectively highlights the intersection of racism and sexism in Western American society's treatment of Punjabis, particularly when it came to relationships with white women. The focus on the "strongest prejudices" against these relationships underscores how they were perceived as a direct threat to deeply entrenched racial and patriarchal hierarchies. The use of a term like "unworthy" to describe Punjabi men reflects how racial ideologies dehumanized them and sought to exclude them from forming relationships that crossed these socially constructed boundaries. The violent response, such as the incident with the shotgun, exemplifies how far society was willing to go to enforce these boundaries, showcasing not just personal prejudice but the systemic enforcement of racial superiority.
Your discussion also does an excellent job of addressing the lack of agency afforded to women in these dynamics. The societal contempt for darker-skinned individuals extended not only to Punjabi men but also to white women who were vilified for choosing relationships outside their race. This highlights how white supremacy and patriarchy worked together to control women’s autonomy and reinforce the dominance of white men. The example of the clerk refusing to issue a marriage license due to differences in skin color further emphasizes the institutional nature of this racism, showing how personal consent and choice were overridden by societal prejudice.
Overall, this post effectively ties together the systemic nature of racism and sexism in Western America, illustrating how these ideologies reinforced one another to maintain a rigid social order. By focusing on both the dehumanization of Punjabi men and the restriction of women’s choices, it provides a nuanced understanding of how personal relationships became battlegrounds for broader societal control and exclusion.