Resilience of North Eastern Indians In The Face of Workplace Discrimination: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

The aim of this thesis was to examine the resilience of North Eastern Indian migrants in the face of workplace discrimination across metropolitan cities, specifically in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Delhi. Using a mixed-methods, explanatory sequential design, the study combined quantitative survey data (N = 66) with qualitative interviews of five North Eastern participants and three Human Resources professionals. The quantitative phase assessed relationships between perceived discrimination, coping flexibility, protective factors, resilience skills, and aggression, while the qualitative phase explored lived experiences and institutional perspectives. Findings revealed a complex pattern. Of the four primary hypotheses, only one was supported: higher perceived discrimination was significantly associated with lower coping flexibility. No significant differences were found across cities in reported discrimination, nor between city and resilience, or resilience and aggression. However, qualitative findings indicated that discrimination is often normalised, which may limit its identification through standard measures. Participants' responses reflected coping as context-dependent, with their strategies becoming more selective over time. Community support emerged as a central protective factor, highlighting resilience as a socially embedded process rather than an individual trait. Additionally, expressions of aggression among higher-resilience individuals appeared to function as adaptive resistance rather than maladjustment. Overall, this thesis hopes to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of resilience under conditions of ethnic prejudice. It aspires to emphasize the role of structural, social, and contextual factors in shaping both discrimination and adaptive responses.