Living in the US many times yes I do get curious questions as well from people from all different cultures regarding the Indian culture. However, what is really interesting is watching the stereotypes redefine themselves. People have a set image of Indians and then its always interesting to hear 'I would have never guessed that you were Indian" or "Your english is impeccable - its shocking that you weren't born here" - Ahem many Indians can actually speak english very well. Does one have to be born in America to speak impeccable English? And as for not looking Indian - is there a model for what each and every Indian should look like?
But as I said these stereotypes do not only exist about our culture. It is the same for every culture and country in this world. And the sad part is that most of it comes from the Media!
Oh and besides the whole arrange marraige no dating concept, the one common perception is that of the Caste System. I have a feeling that India has moved away from the caste system. Everytime we open a world history textbook, the chapter on India talks about castes and saati. Isn't there so much more to the culture than that?
Must say this is a gr8 discussion going on!
Dolly
Originally posted by: abhijit shukla
Happy Spamming Minnie and Sowmyaa. We have sooooo much to learn from the Dev. Team. Right oooooooooooooooon! 👍🏼
BTW, I have often wondered: Since you guys are the Dev Team, is there a Daanav team too? We never hear from them! Whom do you guys match up with?😕
Coming to the original discussion...remeber that US is in a unusual if not unique position culturally. Not too many countries exist where people of all culture and all ethinicities get to come. I agree that some people are just plain racist and would gladly deport all people with any more amount of melanin than they possess. Most people though are just too overwhelmed with cultural diversity that they face and cannot absorb all the 411 offered to them.
I cannot accurately tell people from China, Korea and Japan apart just by looking at them. And I am just as poorly informed about cultures around the world as an average American is.
Other than India and America, I know about other countries only as much as I have read or seen in movies or TV...and I have not read extensively about different cultures.
I give people benefit of the doubt. Yes, some people are racists and wish to put you down. Most others are, however, just curious or ignorant or sometimes dumb without being mean.
Since I don't always remember things being told at the very first time, I do not mind repeating things asked to me. There are intelligent open-minded people who want to absorb Indian culture.
The Elephant question of course is stupid and the answer was hllarious. But if you look at it, a lot of movies and TV serials have propagated that stereotype. In 60s there was an American TV serial called "Maya" where Maya was an elephant, Then movies that Americans have seen such as Indiana Jones and the temple of doom, Lagaan, Bride and Prejudice,
Octopussy etc. have Desis riding elephants. So you can see where people get this impression.
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