AboutAnil Expertise Indian culture could be a subject for a lifetime, but I can answer general questions regarding the Indian culture. I can answer questions relating to relationships, family, religion, and education in the context of the Indian culture.I have lived in the US for about 10 years and therefore can answer some cross-culture type questions.
Experience I was born and raised in India. I lived in India for about 25 years before I came to the US. I lived in the US for 10 years, but in those ten years, I had closed ties in India, so I am quite familiar with the Indian culture and the mainstream Indian society. I have always been fascinated by culture and diversity, so I can give a critical analysis of some of the cross cultural issues. I have conducted culture related training programs to educate visitors to India.
Expert: Anil Date: 4/18/2008 Subject: Young Indians in America
Question Hello there!
I would love to know how young Indians fit in with or compared to white
American children, youngsters or students or even with the young Blacks or
Hispanics or Asians. How are their opportunities to have proper schooling?
Are the young opposed to discriminations just as much as older generations,
or less/more? How do they deal with such their situation, how do they feel
about being an Indian in America?
Answer Hi Antonia,
I will try and answer your questions, but not in the order you have asked.
How young Indians fit in the United States is to a very high degree directly a function of parenting. As it is Parenting is a challenging job; Parenting in the US is even more challenging; And furthermore challenging is Parenting by people of Indian origin staying in the US. There are many reasons why people of Indian origin staying in the US have a tough time doing a good job doing in parenting. Whatever the reasons maybe, it is manifested in how their children fit in the American society. In my observation most of these young kids are caught up between the conflicts of the two worlds – the world projected at home, and the world they see outside. Most times these young Indian kids are trying to resolve the conflicts themselves and often end up quite confused. In fact the Indian community has even coined a term to characterize these young Indians “ABCD”. “ABCD” stands for American Born Confused Desi (Indian).
I am not sure what you mean by “Are the young opposed to discriminations just as much as older generations, or less/more?” Discrimination is extremely rampant within the Indian community. Discrimination in the Indian community is based on several factors – Religion, the caste within a religion, the region/state (in India) you come from, your socio-economic status, your education, your family lineage etc etc. If you are referring to this form discrimination, then the older generation is more discriminating than the younger one. And in case you are referring to the racial discrimination in the US, then again generally the older generation is more discriminating than the younger one.
Because of the conflicting values at home and the outside world, the young Indians have a tough time relating to their identity and how they fit in the context of White, Blacks, Hispanics, or Asians. Culturally, Indians identify more with the non-white cultures (Blacks, Hispanics, or Asians).
Lastly, about the opportunities to have proper schooling, that would depend on the school district you reside. Some of the Indians in the bay area (California), New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta have the luxury of getting excellent educational opportunities.
I hope I have managed to answer some of your question.
