By Sehyr Bhattal & Samsara Shrivastava, Sakhi Development & Communications Interns
The alarming absence of swimming skills within the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean diaspora has emerged as a critical public safety issue. According to USA Swimming, 66% of Asians do not know how to swim. A study from the University of New South Wales found that roughly half of their 249 respondents from the South Asian Diaspora can not swim but still go into the water. Even more concerning is that over half confessed entering unpatrolled waters when visiting lakes, rivers, or oceans with family and friends.
This lack of swimming proficiency is especially troubling in light of recent drownings on New York City beaches. Two Indian women tragically drowned, after being swept off rock formations into the ocean, unaware of the dangers of walking on rocks near the shoreline. These incidents underscore the urgent need for swimming and water safety education with the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities.
Under-served populations in the United States, including South Asian and Indo-Caribbeans are still experiencing the effects of historical segregation, which limits their access to swimming facilities and lessons. Cultural norms and a lack of emphasis on swimming within our community further exacerbate the issue. The result is a heightened risk of drowning and water-related accidents. Addressing this problem requires a concerted effort to dismantle these cultural barriers and prioritize water safety education. By doing so, we can prevent further tragedies and ensure that our community has the skills and knowledge to stay safe in the water.
Culture and access are prevailing factors that limit many people in the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean diaspora from learning how to swim and water safety skills. Traditional gender norms emphasize modesty, making it difficult for women to feel comfortable while swimming. Traditional swimming gear goes against conventional South Asian ideas of modesty, causing many South Asian women to avoid swimming. It is clear that we need a greater diversity of swimming environments that can meet the various cultural needs of different populations, particularly South Asian and Indo-Caribbeans.
Equipping South Asians with water skills requires not only internal effort, but also a supportive external environment. Unfortunately, accessibility to swimming facilities has not been easy due to a lack of funding and government initiative. A 2017 Health Department study found that in New York, 1 in 3 Black and Asian students could not swim. A New York Times article described the city as a “swimming desert,” highlighting the lack of accessible swimming classes and public pools. Jackson Heights, a neighborhood hub for immigrant families, does not have a single public pool. The withdrawal of many white Americans from public swimming pools following the end of segregation led to decreased public investment in municipal swimming pools. Moreover, the high costs of swimming lessons further prevent under-served communities from learning this crucial skill. These barriers not only prevent South Asians from gaining water skills but also perpetuate a cycle of exclusion, making it vital to address both the systemic and financial obstacles to ensure equitable access to swimming education.
However, there is hope. Recently, a member of our community, New York City Council Member Shekar Krishnan, has taken steps to alleviate the epidemic of drowning that afflicts so many in the South Asian community. 1 in 4 children in New York do not know how to swim, a statistic that is even higher in Black and Brown communities. In response to this, Krishnan recently helped launch a free swim program, Wavemakers, targeting communities that have historically lacked swimming accessibility. Partnering with larger organizations such as YMCA, Wavemakers delivers swimming lessons to over 200,000 children across all 5 boroughs. This program represents how crucial steps can be made within our own community to dismantle barriers and make way for more accessible swimming education.
Another initiative addressing these concerns is in the UK, where Minreet Kaur, a swim coach specifically for Indian aunties, has developed a program to teach older South Asian women how to swim. The lessons are about more than just floating; they are a bold step against long-standing cultural norms and a move toward enabling independence. Kaur’s program empowers women who were never encouraged to engage in sports or physical activities, teaching the life-saving skills and boosting their confidence. By integrating culturally-sensitive swimming lessons and water safety into our community, we begin to break down decades old cultural barriers and shift attitudes towards empowering individuals with life-saving knowledge.
Addressing the lack of swimming skills and water safety knowledge within the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean community requires dismantling internalized stigmas and challenging cultural stereotypes. Breaking down these cultural barriers starts with us and our families. Let’s encourage each other to learn these skills and continue advocating for our communities to have access to swimming lessons and facilities. Promising initiatives such as WaveMakers and Minreet Kaur’s swim program highlight the positive impact of culturally sensitive programs. By supporting these efforts and advocating for more, we can prevent further tragedies and promote a culture of water safety and fun!