Introduction
The culture of America is radically different and diverse form that of the rest of the world, particularly the Asian countries, and more specifically India. India and America are not only distinct by way of their geographical locations, but also their varied cultural practices.
Main body
Children in India are raised mostly in patriarchal joint family systems, and the head of the family is usually the senior most male, in most cases the grand parents of the child. Children are socialized in a happy and cheerful environment with great love and affection.
Since a majority of women in India are still home-makers, there is personal attention in the upbringing of children. The diet of a growing child is carefully and personally prepared at home by the mother and out side food is strictly prohibited for children up to the age of 2-3 years. Emphasis is laid on regular routines such as rising early, bathing, performing religious rituals and having meals together. Respect for elders is a prime conduct and most of the families care for the senior members of the house. Mothers may or may not get the support of their spouses as culturally and traditionally the rearing of children is the responsibility of the mother.
In contrast, American children, in most cases are raised in nuclear families or sometimes even by single working parents. The children are not socialized by familial systems but nannies, care-takers, teachers and friends. There is reduced emphasis on the upbringing of the child in a qualitative manner. Adult supervision is not present for many children and in the case of working parents or working mothers, the practice of eating out side food is common practice. Respect for elders and seniors, is not usually seen as the core values of the cultural American system.
Whereas, there is greater emphasis upon family and relatives in India, American culture does not include stringent family rules. In India, parental authority is supreme and the children obediently abide and act according to the wishes of the parents. So much so, even in cases of marriage, parental choice and decision overrides, with most of the marriages being arranged by the elders of the family. Marriages in India are traditional ceremonies, celebrated with fervor and excitement.
Rituals are an important part of marriage ceremonies, and begin at least a week before the actual marriage. American marriages, on the other hand, take place either in courts or churches, without religious ceremonies and the bride and the bridegroom are in most case the sole decision makers. Parental permission or choice is not a prevalent act in American marriages with maximum marriages being love or by choice of the two partners.
Conclusion
Live-in relations are not accepted in Indian society, which is traditionally orthodox regarding relationships between males and females. The children and adults, especially females are cultured to attire ‘decently’, and revealing clothes are usually not and acceptable part of society and culture. Americans do not lay much emphasis on how they dress and it is absolutely natural and normal to wear revealing clothes. In India, schools have a dress code and prescribed ‘uniforms’ for the students.
Even the teachers have a dress code and are expected to dress in saris or salwar suits. Some colleges in India too have strict rules for dressing appropriately. Strict dress codes are not necessitated in American society where students and people have the liberty and authority to dress in the manner they prefer to.
Thus we see how the two countries are culturally diverse from each other in every which way.