The latest Brown Girls comic made me cringe with unease when it popped up on my blogreader this week. Swiped from my latest blog addiction, Devis With Babies, this week’s Brown Girls episode made me wonder just how many similar conversations were had this election cycle.
As a SDMF (Single Desi Muslim Female) in my twenties, I’ve had my fair share of Brown Girls-type talk, usually over brunch and usually about boys. Many boys. Over the years, I’ve dated a Desi Hindu and a Black Muslim and I’ve always wondered with whom my parents would cringe less with — would their racial prejudice or Muslim orthodoxy take precedence? I’ve always thought they would be more accepting of a Muslim man, no matter what race, but my friends always begged to differ that racism prevailed over all. Of course, I would like to think that my parents would accept anyone that I would love, but we all know the desi Bradley effect there.
Truth is no boy over the years has met the bar to be introduced to my parents so I have no way to test this effect yet. But I am curious, if Obama is elected President, and my parents vote for him, will it be more acceptable for me to bring home a black man? If elected, will Obama essentially increase the desi dating pool of what boys us SDMFs can bring home? Single brown girls, what are your experiences with the Desi Dating Bradley Effect?
Way to go, Devis, on hitting the nail on the head on this one. I am Brown Girls comic latest biggest fan. Other Brown Girls Comics: Episode 1, Episode 2, and Episode 3.
The contemporary west has lifestyles that were an
offshoreoffshoot of easy, plentiful credit and …M. Nam
147 · Wow! said
Please can you clarify what is the difference between “western” and desi idea of marriage ? Working husband and/or wife (desis or non-desis ) in america pretty much do the similar(if not same) thing in terms of socio-cultural and family life. The only things is that if both parties want to strongly adhere to their cultural things you will have to two different things to choose from in your daily planner and scheduling. Increased financial independence is leading to broken families even amongst desis (and is also on the rise in Indian urban centers)
Interesting post…much more so as I have several family members who have/in the process of dating/married those from the “do no marry” list. In the married case, a distant cousin (Hindu) raised in UK married a man (Muslim) from India. Initially the families were not very excited, but decided that as long as she was happy, they would support. Now they have three beautiful daughters. 🙂 I also have a cousin (Hindu) dating a wonderful man (African American)…the jury is out on what will happen. We think they’ll get married. The parents aren’t too keen on this (per her mom its b/c he’s not educated as she is (she’s a doc, he’s a journalist)…but he is a GREAT guy and hopefully she’ll come around as well. Right now she’s so worried about what everyone else will think of her as a mother….and then there is a good friend super attracted to her “soul” mate …only one problem for both of them, he’s Muslim, she’s Hindu. Both don’t want to pursue the relationship due to the religious diff..but who knows how they’re story will end. Now that I read this…my family has a lot of mini Bollywood stories within it…
146 · Brigette Gabriel said
I’m sorry, but who are you to tell Indian parents how to raise their kids? I’m proud of my Indian heritage and Hindu faith. Who in world would want mutt children anyway? I’m not ready to throw my kids off into the deep end of American multiculturalism.
123 · NaraVara said
As long as I live a stable and fulfilling life, and I’m comfortable in my identity as a person, does it really matter whether I adhere to my parents’ lifestyles?
I think way too much emphasis has been placed on preserving culture for culture’s sake.
136 · Brigette Gabriel on October 27, 2008 08:10 AM Btw since many are throwing culture and tradition generously. Let me try to first define desi/south-asian culture in the US context in attempt to understand/discuss the Desi Bradley effect ? (a) Visiting temples/gurdwaras/mosques/churches (b) Learning some south-asian dance, song or art form (c) fan of Bollywood (d) Celebrating desi festivals and wearing south-asian dress for festivals/parties etc. (e) Discussing south-asian politics and relevance to US policies or desi immigrants (f) desi traditional or mixed style marriage.
Let me see how much of that list I can check off from my perspective: ABD Malayalee in Dallas
a) Well, I’m Roman Catholic, so I attend an American church. But I’ve been to the Indian churches a few times, seen a temple once. Check.
b) Most of my community’s song and dance participants are girls. I was an art major in college. I’ll consider Malayalam an art form, and I know it, so I’ll give the above total a cumulative check.
c) I like Bollywood! Check.
d) I attended India Association events in college, plus my family and I did the circuit in grade and high school. I used to wear more traditional Indian garb to some of the events, but as time went on, dress-code has been simplified for males: suit, shirt, tie. So I’ll give me a check, more or less.
e) Discussing South Asian politics? No check. Discussing South Asians in American politics/ how US politics affects Desi immigrants? Check with a bullet!
f) Marriage: I’m single. So no check. But I’ve attended Malayalee weddings. Check. I don’t know what format my wedding will take. So I’ll say no check, with an option for check.
Taz, I wrote the “Brown Girls” comic that you posted over the weekend–thanks for putting it up, love all the dialogue it provoked. I was going to post a response of some sort on our blog this afternoon and was planning on posting it on Sepia too, but just noticed that the comments are closed Admin: Here is the response on Deepa’s blog.