6-Year-Old Indian Origin Girl Assaulted in Ireland: Experts Say Racism is Learned

The boys struck the girl in her private parts with a bicycle while shouting, “Go back to India.” The girl’s mother, an Irish citizen of Indian origin who has lived in the country for 11 years, says the family now feels deeply unsettled and unsafe.

According to the reports by The Irish Mirror, the incident occured when the mother went inside to feed her 10-month-old son. "It was around 7:30 pm, and she was playing inside the house. She wanted to play outside and go cycling. I let her outside for a few seconds,” she recalled.

After the girl got assaulted by a group of boys aged between 12 and 14, one of her friends told her mother that the boys hit her private parts with bicycles and punched her in the face. "One of the boys pushed the bicycle wheel onto her private parts, and it was really sore. They said the F word and ‘Dirty Indian, go back to India’. She told me today they punched her neck and twisted her hair,” the friend said.

After the incident, she saw the gang of boys staring and laughing at her, she added.

The incident has been reported to the Gardaí (Irish police), but the mother said she is not seeking punishment for the boys. Instead, she hopes they will be given counselling.

Parents serve as the first emotional mirror for children. Their reaction to conflict, diversity, and stress forms the foundation of a child’s worldview. Positive parenting leads to fostering secure and healthy behaviour in children, while environments filled with criticism, fear, or conditional acceptance can lead children to become defensive, rigid, or reactive toward those they perceive as different.

Research suggests that children as young as three years old can pick up on racist attitudes and stereotypes from their parents, which can influence their own racial biases. Growing up in a home where parents constantly criticise, underestimate others and different nationalities, can cultivate feelings of hostility and prejudice. Ultimately, children are deeply influenced by what they see and hear in their immediate environment, and what they observe.

According to a study by the American Academy of Paediatrics, children who experience racism are more likely to develop mental health problems. Furthermore, it can affect their academics, social relationships and overall well-being.

Professor Dr Vishal Akula, National Director, Council member, Indian Psychiatric Society says, “There is no genetic basis for racism. It is a socially learned behaviour. Children who grow up hearing derogatory remarks or witnessing discriminatory actions absorb these cues, just as they would learn kindness or honesty if those values were modeled. Racism is transmitted not through blood, but through behavior, conversations, and silence in the face of injustice."

"The responsibility lies with adults, particularly parents, educators, and community leaders, to break this cycle. "Addressing such attitudes early on through open dialogue, inclusive education, and positive reinforcement of empathy can change the trajectory of a child’s social development,” he adds.

The article has been authored by Akshara Ramachandran, an intern at Deccan Chronicle.