The Struggle Between Traditions and Western Culture
By: Pooja Suresh and Lauryn Boag, Section A2 World Studies
Currently, there is a struggle between 2nd generation Indian Americans and their more traditional parents. The parents want their children to continue with all the traditions of India. But the second generation is struggling to balance their Indian culture and their desire to fit into the American culture. Some traditional parents of the second generation Indian Americans do not understand their children's desire to fit in with their American friends, because they themselves grew up in India, before they immigrated over to America. As a result, the parents try to push their children into becoming more traditional and culturally learned. Although the second generation is proud of their Indian culture, they still want to fit in with their friends. We chose this topic because we think its interesting that Indian Americans would want to fit into the American culture, when they have such a rich and intriguing culture. We would like to study the balance that second generation Indian Americans try to maintain.
Many second generation Indian Americans struggle between balancing their Indian culture with the culture of America. One of the main things that they are faced with is marriage. Second generation Indian Americans' parents usually want their child to marry another Indian, who belongs to the same religion that they are in, but the children sometimes disagree because growing up in America, they are accustomed to the idea of dating. On the other hand, the parents grew up in India and were not exposed to the idea of dating, and so when they came to America, they thought it was unacceptable because they are not used to such an idea.
This shows the ideal traditional Indian American child that parents would like. But, most second generation Indian Americans do not want to dress in traditional attire everyday. Though they are fine with wearing traditional attire during parties and cultural occassions, they do not want to be completely traditional and they want to embrace some American cultural aspects.
Dialogue Cast:
Lakhi- 2nd generation Indian American daughter
Kiran- traditional, conservative Indian mother
Dialogue:
*Lakhi comes home from the mall, after spending a day with her friends*
Kiran: Where have you been, Lakhi?
Lakhi: I was at the library, studying for my upcoming exams, mom.
Kiran: Oh really? My friend, Padma Aunty, saw this girl who looked exactly like you. She said you two could have been twins. But I know it couldn't have been you because this girl was wearing scandalous clothes.
Lakhi: *nervously* But I was at the library. Don't you remember? I asked for your permission to go.
Kiran: Stop lying. I know it was you. You might as well confess. Padma took pictures and showed me!
Lakhi: Allright, I confess. I was at the mall with Rachana.
Kiran: How come you were with boys? That is not acceptable! You are shaming our traditions.
Lakhi: *nervously* I was just buying more school supplies. I had run out of notebooks, Rachana offered to help me choose some nice ones. I wasn't with any guys...
Kiran: Padma said you were in the company of some boys, and that they were too close to you. Padma also said your shirt revealed your midriff and you were wearing a short skirt.
Lakhi: Mom, seriously...chill out. So I'm hanging out with some guys, and wearing those clothes. So what?!? Those are normal clothes.
Kiran: You know your marriage is going to be arranged! What would your future husband and his family think if they saw you fraternizing with some American boys?!? It is absolutely disgraceful.
Lakhi: Mom, calm down. And I'm not marrying some random guy that I don't know. I am going to choose who I marry.
Kiran: What is this nonsense?!? It is shameful. I forbid you from going out of the house wearing such clothes, and from talking with those American boys. If you want to choose whom you are marrying, then why don't you pick a nice Indian boy. I know some boys who are very nice. A+ students, good families, and they are Brahmin too! Maybe they can even tutor you. I asked your teacher recently, and apparently you have many Bs and even a C in your classes. What are you thinking?! You need to focus on your studies, and stop fooling around.
Lakhi: You can't tell me what to do. I'll do what I want, this is my life! I'm just being a normal teenage girl. *runs to her room and slams the door*
*Kiran shakes her head sadly.*
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