Posted on by Gotamist

Caste, cows and curry

A large part of the lack of knowledge about social stratification in one’s own country comes from some myths learned from childhood, some even systematically taught in schools.  While I was not at all surprised to find a wide range of familiarity with India among Americans, when I first came to this country (after all, it is a far away land), I was surprised to find that everyone’s perception included “caste, cows and curry” (maybe the stereotype in the opposite direction is sex, fat, gun-happy, maybe even irreligious).

The cow situation (so radically different from other countries) and “curry” (btw, there is no such dish in India, you know that, right?) being widely known were quite understandable to me, but the caste bit was puzzling to me because many societies are strongly stratified, many of them on by-birth criteria and professions too – so many examples of caste on every continent [“caste” is a European word to describe something that was seen in Europe, for example].  I can see that India’s is the largest and most current application of the term and there’s a good argument for it being currently the paradigmatic example because of it’s slowness of change but it’s hardly unique. (And India has been slow in all aspects of modernizing, anyway).

Not that any of this means India’s caste system is “not so bad” or anything. It was and remains (despite vigorous attempts by many to rid society of this scourge) horrible. But I hope people across the world can stop using other countries’ caste mechanisms to willfully avoid looking at what’s right around them. Because, everyone’s strongest sphere of influence is first their own mind, then their immediate circle of people, then their own broader network, then their own societies and much further along is some society far away. So it’s worthwhile thinking about our own situation.

Nor is it the case that Isabel Wilkerson’s explanation is going to find an exact one-to-one mapping of the stratifications in the two countries that all of us here have become closely connected with. I’m drawing attention to the fact that while it’s easy to find some difference to hold up, why did it take so long for the glaring similarities to be brought to the surface?

Another seemingly misunderstood aspect is the idea among many people that Indians are for the caste system. It must be, right? Why else does it exist? That’s poor logic. It’s like saying Americans support racism. Why else does it exist? (and it certainly does exist). For more on how caste and race are analogous, I have to refer you to a different post. Let me state clearly for those unfamiliar with India (obvious to most Indians already) – from the day India became independent (1947), successive governments have worked tirelessly to end this scourge – obviously with the support of large swathes of the population.

It’s also worth pondering why exactly are children in American schools (and in those of allied countries) are taught about the caste system? In contrast, children in Indian schools learn about the marvels and good qualities of other societies, not their ills. They do get an education on social ills, but those of their own country, not other lands. This question is not a trivial one and is related to American introspection.

Posted on by Gotamist

This really stings

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is upon us and I am truly hating the self-flagellation among 1st generation Indian Americans in the form of laughing at the fact that South Asian kids dominate the winners list.  It’s claimed that what is tested in the Bee is a “completely useless skill” and that Indian parents (unlike other parents) pressure their children into competing.

I do point out that white kids also participate and have won many, only to be told that “white kids do it out of their own interest” while Indian kids are “forced by their parents against their wishes”.  I can’t see how this is not a prejudiced statement.  I didn’t cartoon anything. What’s in the quotes above was actually said.  With such supporting evidence as the fact that in the documentary Spellbound (2002), some Indian children are shown starting the day at 4 am to study for the Bee (with parental support, of course). 

Further assertions are that Indian parents in the US do this just for competition amongst themselves.  So that they can say to each other “my kid is the champ”, similar to the Tiger Mom trope for East Asians. And…somehow this doesn’t happen among white people?  

I see the media in general routinely admire the kids who win the Bee each year.  Only Indian immigrants are ashamed of it.

Some facts to recall:

Have you ever seen the amount of energy some white parents put into their kids’ sports? And the competitive yelling from the sidelines at kids’ games?  This is unmatched by Asian parents.  My point being – this is selective vision.

Speaking of useless skills – aren’t there films, even documentaries about the crazy competitive parents who put their kids through a lot for them to compete in children’s beauty pageants?  I am countered with the fact that this is only some white parents.  Whereas all South Asian parents are crazy about the spelling bee (except for those few enlightened ones who “get it”)???

As to the criticism of the Bee “robbing children of their childhoods”, all winners of the Scripps Bee before 1997 were white.  No criticism at that time. Most of the winners since 1998 are South Asians and the criticism starts. Even now, those very same people, when told of the black children who won in 1998 and 2021, celebrate this fact.  Then why the scorn and myth-making only for South Asian children?

As to the criticism for this being a “useless skill” – how useful are fencing, horse riding and water polo in the contemporary world – excellence in each of these is considered for college admission and white parents routinely arrange for their kids to excel in?  I don’t buy the “health and fitness” argument, because that can be had in much cheaper ways.

If the meaning of “useless” is simply that it’s not going to get you college admission, that is probably true.  Consider the skills that Asian kids can excel in – that is, things that Asian parents can help their kids with [math, SAT scores, chess, classical music, Spelling Bee]  vs what elite white parents (and yes, I am talking specifically about things that poor white people don’t have, just the elite) can help their kids with  [some elite sports like the ones mentioned above, public speaking and selling skills in the manner that is traditionally American, certain arts]. The college admissions process is continuously in the process of devaluing excellence in the first group of activities.  Why, is anyone’s guess, but I shall refer you to the reason that elite US universities changed their admissions criteria in the 1920s away from just academic excellence for some hints.

Further, notice there is a big movement in the public discourse to devalue academic excellence for college admissions and attack the parents who tried to get their kids to excel scholastically.  Remember these arguments are all for the purpose of justifying aforementioned college admissions – I just ask Asian Americans to recognize these arguments for what they are… and not to buy these stories and embark on self-loathing.