Judith Cofer's The Myth Of The Latin Woman

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Recommended: The challenge of cultural relativism

There are many different cultures in the world and it is essential to understand the concept of how cultures function and the information it provides to people. The impact that cultures bring to a group of people changes their way of life. The Indian culture has one of the largest populations and is studied by many anthropologists. Indian culture is best studied from a native perspective, rather than a foreign one, because they have a deeper understanding of the Indian language, tradition, and religion, due to their daily exposure. Language is a prominent key in culture, and it is essential to understand the language to study the culture. Natives have a better grasp on the language than outsiders do because they are constantly submerged …show more content…

It is stereotypical for people to assume that the only religion in India is Hinduism, but that is not the case, there are many religions practiced in India, such as, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity and other important religions. In the essay of “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I just Met a Girl Named Maria” by Judith Cofer, she explains that there are many people being stereotyped constantly and it is a “constant struggle against the misconceptions perpetuated” (255). This represents that there are many foreigners that perceive people from common stereotypes, even though there are common misconceptions that true natives can relate about their culture.This represents that even though among the large population of Indians, there are a few that do not have the luxury of staying strong with their belief because they do not have the same opportunities as other Indians that Muslims and Christians may have. To fully appreciate the landscape of Indian faiths, one would have a better grasp of them by being native and having a lifelong understanding of the culture overall. In the excerpt of “The Cult of Ethnicity” by Arthur Schlesinger Jr. reveals that “[e]thnic and racial conflict – far more than ideological conflict – is the explosive problem of our times” (page). After all, it comes down to stereotyping but that doesn’t mean that each individual should set their differences (ethnicity or race) aside for the greater good in preserving a multiethnic society. Any religion in India makes a difference towards the belief of each individual. Religion regarding the native Indian culture creates a better sense of understanding as opposed to a

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