Well, actually I had forgotten about this one until a friend recently brought it up again.
We had a substitute in World History class that day and we were learning about Hinduism. When the sub goes over the instructions for the day she decides to add that if anyone needs help they should just ask me. My response is looking at her like she is crazy, and saying ‘I’m Catholic.’ I feel like being Indian has forced me to say that way more than necessary. Now if someone is Caucasian nobody bothers to ask their religion, but if you’re Asian the assumptions are all out. If you’re Indian you are by default Hindu; if you’re Chinese you either follow Confucianism or Buddhism.
It’s actually one of the more common stereotypes I get. A lot of people ask me my religion the first time we meet. Ironically that is typically poor etiquette, but when you’re Asian that whole personal-info-thing goes out the window. I can’t even begin to say how funny it is when people freak out when they see me eat meat. It’s that ‘Oh snap!’-moment because they think I just broke my religion. But I have my own fun with it. Sometimes I freak out like I really did just commit the cardinal sin by eating meatJ. Oh, but it’s all just for fun.
I completely agree with the absurdity of such ideology. It is ridiculous to classify every person of a certain race with the religion associated with the country they are from. So all of a sudden every Indian needs to abide by Hinduism, speak Hindi, and refrain from everything that is meat? So what, are all Caucasians supposed to be Catholic? God forbid that they follow Hinduism, Buddhism or anyt other form of religion.
ReplyDeleteAnother example is a stereotype of how people of one race all look exactly the same. Something I find ironic is how whenever there are Chinese visitors at our school they associate students that are asian with Chinese. Not only that but they also expect these students to know Mandarin. I find it hilarious;not in the funny way.