Cultural Analysis 

Asian Americans have significantly improve, and grow within the melting pot of American culture. Myths and misconceptions surrounding Asian American culture, stereotyping, and prejudice that are associated with this culture. However, this is completely opposed to the reality.

Asian Americans, focusing on Indian Americans in the United States. Indians serve as one of the most successful groups in America.

The Indian Culture

The Indian Culture is a relatively ancient and interesting culture that differs from American culture in many ways including; family values, relationships, foods, dress, entertainment, and language. 

One of the great factors influencing Indian lifestyle and choices is interdependence. People are born into groups, families, clans, subcastes, castes, and religious communities and live with a permanent sense of belonging to that particular group.

Social interaction is regarded as being of the highest priority in Indian families, as well as social bonds. All social interaction involves constant attention to hierarchy, respect, honor, rights and obligations, hospitality, and gifts of food, clothing, and other desirable objects.

Indian American Wealth

These are some among many other cultural customs. In America, Indian Americans excel in the competitive employment world. Indians make the highest salary of all Asian American groups.

For instance, Indian Americans earn nearly $150,000 annually, compared to nearly $100,000 , a difference of nearly 50%. This can be seen in the medical fields greatly represented by Indian Americans, including many Indian born.

Asian American Cuisines

Indian culture has many traditional cuisines. For instance, some of the food they eat include; rice, banana chips, bread omelet, pour which is rice, papad, puffed rice, and up. However, meat, such as beef is not part of Indian cuisine.

In America Indians integrate into American culture composed of many immigrants. Indians may eat meat, and follow their independent paths.  

At least 80% of Indians are vegetarian; fish is a major component of their diet, This culture has a host of many different items that could be eaten for breakfast lunch, and or dinner (Hindustantimes, 2015).

The national dress of India is the saree which is six yards of unstitched cloth that is skillfully draped to impact grace and elegance. However, Jeans are popular among college students. 

The people of this culture wear many different colors and prints that stand out due to the relatively bright colors (Cook, 2013). A unique style that mixes Asian, Hindu, and Indian culture, later integrating into the American pot.

There are various misconceptions about Indian culture that generally arrive from racist and discriminatory ideas that plague the mind. “Racism exists on three levels: within the individual, within institutions (such as our schools), and within the culture of the United States.

Each aspect reinforces the others, making them all the more difficult to change” (Moule, 2011, p. 70). 

India’s stereotypes

India’s stereotype in the following ways; people believe India is very poor, people believe Indians speak Hindu when in reality that is a religion, and education in India is very ineffective and not a priority. However, all these misconceptions and stereotypes are wrong.

Indians are very well educated completing at least a B.A  at a minimum. Additionally, Indians speak Hindi, and India has a steadily growing economy with a very big economy (Cook, 2013). 

Ultimately, stereotypes are the result of wrongful ideas about a group of people based on misconceptions. Therefore, educators, students, and people, in general, should not fall prey to stereotypes, but rather evaluate one person for their individual acts, not the entire culture.  

References 

Cook, S. (2013). Top 10 Indian Stereotypes. Retrieved from goindia.about.com: http://goindia.about.com/od/indiancultureetiquette/tp/Top-10-Indian-Stereotypes.htm 

Hindustantimes. (2015, 06 02). More than 80% of Indians suffer protein deficiency, reveals study. Retrieved from Hindustantimes: http://www.hindustantimes.com/health-and-fitness/more-than-80-of-indians-suffer-protein-deficiency-reveals-study/story-E7k5pZI7VmcVdM8xikhBNO.html 

Moule, J. (2011). Cultural Competence: A primer for educators. Cengage Textbook.