Colonial History and Racism

When the Spanish colonized the Andes, Indigenous cultures, languages, and knowledge systems were devalued. That legacy persists today: speaking Quechua is often wrongly associated with being “less educated” or “lower status,” even though Quechua is one of the oldest, richest linguistic and cultural traditions in the Americas.

Urban vs. Rural Divide

Quechua is spoken more commonly in rural Andean regions. In many countries, rural communities receive fewer resources, less investment, and face more barriers to education and healthcare. This creates stereotypes equating rural life—and therefore Quechua speakers—with poverty or backwardness.

Lack of Representation

While Peru has two official Languages, Quechia and Spanish, is the dominant language in government, schools, media, and business. This means:

• Quechua speakers may struggle to access public services.

• Children who speak Quechua as a first language may face discrimination or lack support in school.

• Speaking Quechua in public can lead to ridicule or exclusion.

Internalized Stigma

For generations, many Indigenous families were discouraged—sometimes violently—from speaking their language. This creates long-lasting stigma and shame around Quechua, even among Quechua-speaking communities.

Economic Inequality

Economic barriers, created by centuries of marginalization, often overlap with language and Indigenous identity. People may discriminate not just based on language, but on class and ethnicity at the same time.