how young Indians have fun in the United States the Desi way

1. Sunaina Maira in To Be Young, Brown, and Hip explains how young Indians have fun in the United States the Desi way. Indian parents are strict and so are their cultures that require Indians to remain upright and not to engage in immoral things. Some young Indian love the pop culture that they found in the United States while some practise the culture as a way of defying their parents (Maira, 2004). Either way, Indian young men and women have embraced the pop culture in large numbers. There are, however, different responsibilities, expectations and believes about male and female Indians on the dance floor. These differences range from their dressing, looks, responsibilities and dancing styles.

Attractiveness is found differences among men and women. Girls have to dress pretty to be considered pretty on the dance floor. During dances, young girls are expected to dress suggestively and attract men. The more skin they show, the prettier they are considered. Most girls, therefore, end up in the dances very scantily dressed, which goes against the beliefs of and cultures of the Indians (Maira, 2004). Men, on the contrary, are not required to wear in a particular manner, young men can be dressed in a hood and trousers, and they are considered pretty.

Young Indian women have a closer affection for their shapes and bodies, unlike men. Ladies may spend a lot of time trying to look beautiful and pretty when presenting themselves to the dance floors. When they believe that they look good, ladies tend to show their bodies more than men. Men are less concerned about their outlooks, and all they are concerned about is getting the good ladies. Dances by girls have to be sexualized. The moves that girls make are suggestive and have to move their bodies in such a way that men are attracted. This is because men are more interested in seeing the sensitive parts of a woman’s body. Men are supposed to make some unique moves.

Dance moves are supposed to entice the girls; however, the dance moves are not yet sexualized like those of girls, and they just have to be right moves. There is more competition among girls than there is among men. Girls feel pressurized when going to the dances as they will have to be approached by a dozen men. Other girls will also be giving them a very tight competition. Men also have different levels; these levels are determined by their ability to buy drinks. A good sign of the capacity is designer labels on their clothes (Maira, 2004). These attributes explain that men and women will have different roles to play in their marriages. Men are supposed to be providers while women are supposed to ensure there is beauty in the family.

References

Maira. S., 2004. To Be Young Brown and Hip.

2. There are many yellow cab drivers in the United States; sixty per cent of them are from South Asia, 85% and 95% are Muslims and immigrants, respectively (Gupta, 2004). These drivers were some of the most affected immigrants after 9/11, where they are accused over and over again for been terrorists (Gupta, 2004). Though most immigrants from south Asia and Muslims have since been perceived as terrorists, drivers were always in contact with white American customers and were suspected publicly and directly. Customer refused to pay and some insulted and assaulted the cab drivers for being in the wrong country and for attacking the World Centre. Their incomes dropped by thirsty per cent until they felt that they could handle no more. They then decided to take it upon themselves to erode the stereotype adopted by the Americans. During their struggles, these drivers received help from West African and white American cab drivers.

The drivers embarked on teaching their customers the reality about Islam, South Asia and Immigration. They took it upon themselves to tell them that there were more countries in Asia than India and Pakistan. A driver from Palestine had to explain to a customer that Palestine was not in India or Pakistan, Palestine was a country by itself and was not even located in the Middle East (Gupta, 2004). These steps were in a bid to tell the customer that there was more than met the eye. Not everybody was a terrorist just because he came from Asia or was a Muslim.

Another driver had to explain to a customer that immigration was not such a bad thing, and after migration, most the immigrant became like any other citizen in the United States. The driver had lived in the United States for a decade and had to explain that he was a peace-loving citizen like the rest of them (Gupta, 2004). He told his customer that probably, he was the son of an immigrant, and that the only difference was that the customer’s grandparents migrated before the driver.  Another driver used his explanation to gain sympathy from his customer. He told him that he had come to look for greener pastures after his country was destroyed, and in the US, people had killed his dignity (Gupta, 2004). Other drivers explained to their customers that they were only in the United States to seek better lives. They told that their countries did not have the opportunities and had to come look for them in the United States. The drivers decided that they would not keep quiet; they would stand up and speak for what they believe. They refused to sit down and take the insults and assaults from American customers.

References

Gupta*, M. D. (2004). A view of post‐9/11 justice from below. Peace Review, 16(2), 141-148.

3. There are many young people from South Asia that have moved to the United States and are looking forward to gaining USA citizenship. After the coordinated attacks by Muslim rebels Al Qaeda on 11 Sep 2001, people from Asia have been under surveillance for been seen as a threat. Most Asians have admitted that at one time or the other they have been profiled as Muslims and terrorists. Most of these immigrants are just in the country to get a better life for them and their families. However, ethnic and religious profiling has made it difficult for Asians to work effectively. Islam, as a religion, has been demonized, and one becomes a suspect just because they are Muslims. For these reasons, it has become challenging for South Asian youth to acquire US citizenship. There are several reasons that these immigrants want to receive flexible citizenship. One is to get the right to vote since they are living in the United States and feel that they should decide how they are led. Other reasons are to travel freely in the USA and outside and economic gains.

Flexible citizenship is more about economic gains for the immigrants. Faisal is a young man living in the United States; his father also lived in the United States since his birth. Faisal’s father came to the United States in a bid to acquire a better life for his children and himself. When Faisal and his brother went to the United States, he joined the school, but his brother was too old to join the school and had to sit for GED tests. He would then seek odd jobs that required low academic qualification and little knowledge in English. Students also have to work part-time to keep up with the American Lifestyle. Soman, a student, have to work in a restaurant in the afternoon after living school, others undertake jobs like guarding at night while they study during the day. Flexible citizenship is, therefore, just about making money for themselves and their families back in Asia.

There are challenges involved with this citizenship as the employees have to be highly qualified to make enough money for their families. One of the main problems is that these people have minimal time and space to enjoy life. Soman admits that experience is better and the cage may be golden, but it is still a cage. Most of the youths work in different shifts. They may achieve their economic goals but at the expense of their social lives.

References

Maira, S. (2002). Desis in the house: Indian American youth culture in New York City. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

6. Lilia is a ten years old American born of Indian parents. Her parents came to the United States of America before she was born and was born an American. Lilia’s parents enjoy life in the United States but still miss their presence in India. After coming to the United States the family settled next to a university, and that is where they look for Indian students they can spend time with and remember home. At this time, her parent has gone through the school catalogue and spotted Mr Pirzada, they located the name, and this was his the beginning of their friendship and the education of Lilia (Barclay, 2019). Mr Pirzada came from Dacca, Pakistan and had won a scholarship to study in the United States. The friendship between Mr Pizarda and Lilia’s family grew stronger, and since he only had a sleeping apartment. He would join the family for supper and to watch news about Pakistan.

Lilia had very little knowledge about the lives out of the United States and would not tell the difference between India and Pakistan. Her mother was contented with the way things were and was proud that her child was not born in India but in the United States, where she could enjoy the safety and proper education (Barclay, 2019). However, this was not the case with her father, who felt that she needed to know about her parents’ country. He would complain to her mother that Lilia didn’t differentiate countries and would neither recognize the difference between the states nor the religions. Her father did not see the success of her education but the failure.

For this reason, Lilia’s father and Mr Pirzada embarked in educating her about the difference between the two nations. Mr Pirzada explained that after attaining independence in 1947, India was divided into two where the Hindu believers stayed in India while the part where Muslims stayed was Pakistan (Barclay, 2019). Mr Pirzada became friends with the young girl, and they ended up becoming close, they would watch together and do other things together. One day while Mr Pirzada was helping Lilia make a jack-o’-lantern, news of war between Pakistan and India are read, and he freezes (Barclay, 2019). By now, Lilia has become very close and a close follower of the issues about Pakistan and India, unlike before when her school education just enlighted her about shallow things. Mr Pirzadi goes home and after the war and this keeps Lilia curious of what was going to happen. The knowledge she gets from Mr Pirzadi and her father transforms her interests from US-based to global, her school education would not have given her this.

References

Barclay, J., 2019. When Mr Pirzada Came To Dine by Jhumpa Lahiri (full audiobook). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYOuPQFq_f8