Convergence
From atomic structures to the trillions of cells that compose each one of us, every human being shares a divine connection to the universe. Every element found within the human body originated in stardust.The celestial bodies of our world influence our lives, our interactions with nature, our dispositions.
Aunty Jokes: We’re Laughing at Our Own Expense
The aunty stereotype is a popular trope in both Indian and Western media. These middle-aged, South Asian women are often typecast as silly and overbearing, with an unwavering desire to control others. Recent examples of this caricature can be seen in the Netflix series Mismatched, and movies like 2 States and The Big Sick. All of the mothers in these productions are shown to be loud, dramatic, and emotionally manipulative. The problem doesn't always lie within the caricature itself. Lots of people, myself included, make jokes about the funny things their family members do. The consequence of the Aunty stereotype in particular, however, is the way it perpetuates regressive ideas and ultimately pits women against each other. As we work towards creating more diverse, empowering representations of South Asians, it is important to understand the impact of this generalisation.
The Cultural Parent
The topic of discussion for this essay is the Cultural Parent - which unpacks the generational trauma of behaviors, communication, interactions, and dynamics which are passed down the generations. It is left up to parents that raise new generations, to either conform to what they know and refuse to change any unhealthy patterns; or overcome and do better to break those patterns in the best way they can for themselves and future generations. (2020, Paras).