The Indian culture strives in respecting and honouring our ancestors. Despite being born in New Zealand, as an Indian I still find myself falling into the expected stereotypes that surround our girls. My experiences are heavily influenced through gender, class and ethnicity. This socio-autobiography will analyse and discuss the experiences that many Indian females face. These experiences are enforced by our families to honour our ancestors and not shame the family But, it is often ignored and forgotten the personal feelings of Indian females. Despite not living in India where these beliefs are enforced, I still face a similar treatment here in New Zealand. My focus aims to analyse how the expectations of the Indian society still impacts the
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547). Stereotypes are not only present in our culture but also with how others perceive us. They are also associated with our identities to the point on what is socially acceptable. Charles Cooley’s theory of the ‘Looking Glass Self’ seems relatable in such situations. This theory is how we think others perceive and think of us. I often feel as if strangers because of how my race is portrayed in the media judge me. This also leads into how stereotypes of different cultures come about. The media plays a large role in enforcing these ideals and expectations of other races. As an Indian girl I have noticed a trend when growing up and I encounter it to this day. On many occasions co-workers or friends would ask me if there is any family member that owns a dairy shop or drives a taxi. I do not understand why this has become a negative trait that Indians are associated with when we are simply making a living. The media enforces these stereotypes through films and television shows, the Indian actor is often driving a taxi or working in a diary shop. This limits how we are seen in the eyes of society and allows people to think lowly of us. In relation to an article about stereotypes, the author researches how students portray races. For a media production she writes the students “still relied on stereotypical racial portrayals of African …show more content…
Gender performativity is how gender is performed through influences of the outside culture. These influences include the expectations due to patriarchy and biological aspects. When you are born you are assigned to either male or female, and social influences determine which gender you identify as. Girls are expected to be gentle or kind and therefore must do housework. Boys are seen as wise and must provide for the family. Doing gender is a crucial part to how others and we perceive us. At the heart of patriarchy is the oppression of women (Johnson & Johnson, 2001, p. 1052), which has only slightly improved in the fight against it. The oppression of women limits them from speaking out about societies expectations. I remember events where I was not allowed out at certain times or go out with friends simply because that is not what girls do. I am expected to learn how to cook and clean from a young age as it is for marriage. Family members often asked me what career I would like but would not be impressed as they said I should only be a housewife. As I grew older I found that I am expected to perform my life as what society expects to be a girl. Despite my brother being younger than me strangers often treated him with more respect simply because he is a boy. The Indian community relies heavily on men as the breadwinners and women as the child bearers. If you do not live up to the expectations then you are
547). Stereotypes are not only present in our culture but also with how others perceive us. They are also associated with our identities to the point on what is socially acceptable. Charles Cooley’s theory of the ‘Looking Glass Self’ seems relatable in such situations. This theory is how we think others perceive and think of us. I often feel as if strangers because of how my race is portrayed in the media judge me. This also leads into how stereotypes of different cultures come about. The media plays a large role in enforcing these ideals and expectations of other races. As an Indian girl I have noticed a trend when growing up and I encounter it to this day. On many occasions co-workers or friends would ask me if there is any family member that owns a dairy shop or drives a taxi. I do not understand why this has become a negative trait that Indians are associated with when we are simply making a living. The media enforces these stereotypes through films and television shows, the Indian actor is often driving a taxi or working in a diary shop. This limits how we are seen in the eyes of society and allows people to think lowly of us. In relation to an article about stereotypes, the author researches how students portray races. For a media production she writes the students “still relied on stereotypical racial portrayals of African …show more content…
Gender performativity is how gender is performed through influences of the outside culture. These influences include the expectations due to patriarchy and biological aspects. When you are born you are assigned to either male or female, and social influences determine which gender you identify as. Girls are expected to be gentle or kind and therefore must do housework. Boys are seen as wise and must provide for the family. Doing gender is a crucial part to how others and we perceive us. At the heart of patriarchy is the oppression of women (Johnson & Johnson, 2001, p. 1052), which has only slightly improved in the fight against it. The oppression of women limits them from speaking out about societies expectations. I remember events where I was not allowed out at certain times or go out with friends simply because that is not what girls do. I am expected to learn how to cook and clean from a young age as it is for marriage. Family members often asked me what career I would like but would not be impressed as they said I should only be a housewife. As I grew older I found that I am expected to perform my life as what society expects to be a girl. Despite my brother being younger than me strangers often treated him with more respect simply because he is a boy. The Indian community relies heavily on men as the breadwinners and women as the child bearers. If you do not live up to the expectations then you are