One thing I really enjoyed at the conference was there was roughly a 50/50 split in the number of men/women at the conference.
And in my heritage we typically address non-relative men and women as brothers and sisters in our own languages - we also address none relative adults as aunts and uncles.
Of course - it is different among singles that are dating - or where the people are available in accordance with societies standards.
That injects a level of respect in interactions with the opposite sex. And also the mindset of gender based equality. Our bar association officers are men and women - again rougly equal split.
It was nice interacting with men w/o feeling like I was being objectified. Perhaps part of why I get so annoyed when people at work focus on my appearance over my brain - is b/c that is just not that common in my culture.
And when people I don't even know engage in sexual/gender specific appearance based flirting with me or objectify me - it also really annoys me. I am wondering if that is true b/c it is contrary to the social norms in my culture.
It was interesting b/c there are Indians from India that are becoming relatively more western than those of us raised abroad. Ironically - those of us born and raised here are more conservative than our born and raised in India counterparts - b/c we were raised in isolation as our parents were raised w/o any exposure to the evolving social norms of our own generation in India.
While we all share the bond of a common heritage - there were differences between those of us raised abroad and those raised in India. For examples, Indians from India tend to drink more and smoke b/c it is considered to be western.
It was a really great weekend. And I intereacted with men in a way that was comfortable to me. It made me realize how much higher my guard is when I interact with men outside my own heritage b/c of that whole being viewed as a woman/sexual objectification first and a human being second.
I think if I get M again - it will be to an Indian - it would be nice if I can find one that was born and raised here... The older I get, the more I find myself drawn back to my own culture and heritage.
Life is good. And of course - now I have to work! It is a NORMAL Monday for me!
