South Asian characters and the stereotypes they present/ don’t present (A Thread)

I’m just listing every South Asian character I know of. I think this will be mostly kids shows/ cartoons but feel free to add anyone else.

The first one of course will be Apu from the Simpsons. He’s a Yogi with a PHD yet works at Gas Station. Yoga, Academics, and Gas Station owner? Plus the accent? How many stereotypes does this character hold? (If you want to go deeper, watch The Problem with Apu)

Baljeet from Phineas and Ferb. He’s an awkward nerdy boy who gets picked on by all of his friends. He has an accent and his only care in life is getting straight As and going to College. Not to mention the show mocking bollywood in this piece:

Ravi from Jessie. He’s an Indian immigrant boy who is constantly picked on by his friends. As always, he has an accent. He also owns an exotic lizard, which adds to the “uncivilized” stereotype that brown people grow up knowing how to handle exotic wild animals.

Mowgli from the Jungle Book. The very blatant “uncivilized stereotype” revolving around exotic animals yet again. Do I really need to say more?

Guru Pathik from Avatar: The Last Airbender. A Ghandi like starving figure who helps the main character open his chakras. In a dream Aang sees him playing a sitar, resembling the many hands of a Hindu god (when the show has themes of Buddhism). He also forces aang to drink-

-Onion Banana Juice, which could be comparable to Curry (although I don’t want to stretch). He’s overall a stereotypical Guru caricature.

Although these two are strong, confident and inspiring characters, Ms.Marvel and Connie from Steven Universe do play into the stereotype of a white boy love interest freeing them from their strict parents.

Connie’s mom is a Tiger Mom who’s also a Doctor. This is also works into the Academia stereotype.

A stereotype defied in Ms.Marvel is that every South Asian has to be Indian/ Hindu. Instead, Ms.Marvel is A Pakistani Muslim. (Not a stereotype but she had a dog companion, Pakistani Muslims typically don’t have pet dogs. Just a bit of misinformation there)

A stereotype both of these characters defy is also that they’re not nurturing, motherly figures as brown women are typically shown to be. They’re very tough and powerful characters.

Stevonnie from Steven Universe is a Non-Binary, half South Asian character from Steven universe. This is bold as there’s very little representation of LGBT+ with South Asian characters, if any at all. Their character is determined and strong willed.

The last character I want to mention on this thread is Prince Naveen from Princess and the Frog. Although he’s from Maldonia (fictional) it’s based off of Maldives and Macedonia. Not much of his culture is present, but he is confident, respectful, and handsome albeit a bit lazy.

Prince Naveen’s character directly opposes the stereotype of overworking, dangerous, undesirable, and awkward South Asian men.

If anyone wants to share, add more or anything please do! :) Although many of these stereotypes are harmful and even racist, I’m glad we also have some good representation, even if it’s very little.