Consider the rules that Amir's discusses (146-148, 150,152)on these pages. What do these rules or standards reveal about Afghani culture? Are there rules like this in American culture?
8 comments:
Anonymous
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Sara Olson
At the bottom of page 146 it shows how sexist Afghans are. As Amir says they have double standards for genders. "Not Did you see him chatting with her? but Wooooy! Did you see how she wouldn't let him go? What a lochak!" This really makes me upset. It's outrageous that someone is a lochak just because she is talking to a guy! Its not like they are kissing or anything. And the fact that the female gets all the ridicule also ticks me off. But if talking to a guy makes you a lochak, then we are all lochaks!
Amir apparently broke a rule by conversing with Soraya and handing her some stories he wrote. When General Taheri found out he made it very clear that he didn't approve of their meeting and talking without going by the Afghani way of courting. Why must talking or showing interest in a girl be that you want to court her with these Afghans!
Bethanie Unfortunately, no, I can't say that there are standards like those in America. There used to be at one point in time, but it is a code that has faded over time. I'm a bit old fashioned so I'd like to see it come back a little, and I'm kind of sad to see it go. These rules are what makes the Afghani culture so honorable and respectable when it comes to traditions, because they stick with them. They take pride in the survival of their culture, through traditions such as courtship, and how it should be persued.
Bethanie to Sara That's just the way their culture is. It keeps their kids in line so they are not running around making babies every night of the week. In some respects I wish our culture was a little more strict on courtship. It might decrease the teen pregnancy rating in Starke County a bit. However, that was a very good quote. I over looked it. They are sexist, which is why I'm glad that I am American and not Afghani. I don't agree with everything they do, just some of it.
Amy The rules of the Afghani culture are simple and somewhat old fashioned. A single man and a single woman can't talk, besides a simply inquiry. Having Khanum Taheri there made Amir and Soyara's visits less gossip worthy, and finally single men must be careful when talking to girl's (as Amir warned was by General Taheri). It's interesting how tight of a leash General Taheri seems to keep Soyara on, reminding Amir that gossip can spread and saying "everyone here is a storyteller". Afghani culture is nothing like American culture. School is a perfect example, we single young ladies and young men converse all the time! Although the second rule with having a family member present isn't too far off from Amerian culture, it is still extreme that the two can't even talk without a parent present. It's interesting to see the parallel of the two.
Kaitlyn Betz: Amir discusses at the bottom of pg 146 that there are, "Afghan double standard[s] tht favored [his] gender," and that if anything happened between Soraya and himself that it would be her that would, "...bear the burunt of tht poinson..." Also, at the top of 147 it says that, "By Afghan standards, my question had been bold," when all Amir did was ask Soraya what she was reading. Afghani culture is definatly very male oriented, and strict when it comes to male-female relationships. America doesn't have rules like this, no one thinks a man asking a woman what she is reading is bold, and no one could care less about what happens in someone elses relationship. I am also very glad that there are no courting standards in America and that no one I date has to have their father ask my father if its okay. That part of the culture seems very outrageous. They are very protective over their women.
Elisabeth, I find these "rules" to be a little bit ridiculous. On pg. 146-147 all Amir asks Soraya is "can I ask what you're reading" and then on the top of the next page he says "by Afghan standards, my questoin had been bold." Asking a person what they are reading is not a bold question. The way the woman are never suppossed to talk to the man alone and how people would talk about Amir because he went up to talk to a woman is really ridiculous. America has no such standards as this, but I think there is an inbetween with Afghani and American culture. Sometimes we as Americans are too bold and outspoken and need to be taken down a notch. It would be nice to have a nice middle for both of the cultures.
Afghani culture is very strict when it comes to choosing who the newly weds are going to be. I agree with the family approving who the new husband or wife will be bringing into the family. In American culture there aren't really rules, only that you have to legally be an adult, age 18. You are free to do marry who ever you choose and no one can stop you because you have become of age. I think the family should accept the person who is entering the family because they will help you make the right decision about if he or she is right for you. That part is smart, the rest I'm not so sure about.
8 comments:
Sara Olson
At the bottom of page 146 it shows how sexist Afghans are. As Amir says they have double standards for genders. "Not Did you see him chatting with her? but Wooooy! Did you see how she wouldn't let him go? What a lochak!" This really makes me upset. It's outrageous that someone is a lochak just because she is talking to a guy! Its not like they are kissing or anything. And the fact that the female gets all the ridicule also ticks me off. But if talking to a guy makes you a lochak, then we are all lochaks!
Amir apparently broke a rule by conversing with Soraya and handing her some stories he wrote. When General Taheri found out he made it very clear that he didn't approve of their meeting and talking without going by the Afghani way of courting. Why must talking or showing interest in a girl be that you want to court her with these Afghans!
Bethanie
Unfortunately, no, I can't say that there are standards like those in America. There used to be at one point in time, but it is a code that has faded over time. I'm a bit old fashioned so I'd like to see it come back a little, and I'm kind of sad to see it go. These rules are what makes the Afghani culture so honorable and respectable when it comes to traditions, because they stick with them. They take pride in the survival of their culture, through traditions such as courtship, and how it should be persued.
Bethanie
to Sara
That's just the way their culture is. It keeps their kids in line so they are not running around making babies every night of the week. In some respects I wish our culture was a little more strict on courtship. It might decrease the teen pregnancy rating in Starke County a bit.
However, that was a very good quote. I over looked it. They are sexist, which is why I'm glad that I am American and not Afghani. I don't agree with everything they do, just some of it.
Amy
The rules of the Afghani culture are simple and somewhat old fashioned. A single man and a single woman can't talk, besides a simply inquiry. Having Khanum Taheri there made Amir and Soyara's visits less gossip worthy, and finally single men must be careful when talking to girl's (as Amir warned was by General Taheri). It's interesting how tight of a leash General Taheri seems to keep Soyara on, reminding Amir that gossip can spread and saying "everyone here is a storyteller". Afghani culture is nothing like American culture. School is a perfect example, we single young ladies and young men converse all the time! Although the second rule with having a family member present isn't too far off from Amerian culture, it is still extreme that the two can't even talk without a parent present. It's interesting to see the parallel of the two.
Kaitlyn Betz:
Amir discusses at the bottom of pg 146 that there are, "Afghan double standard[s] tht favored [his] gender," and that if anything happened between Soraya and himself that it would be her that would, "...bear the burunt of tht poinson..." Also, at the top of 147 it says that, "By Afghan standards, my question had been bold," when all Amir did was ask Soraya what she was reading. Afghani culture is definatly very male oriented, and strict when it comes to male-female relationships. America doesn't have rules like this, no one thinks a man asking a woman what she is reading is bold, and no one could care less about what happens in someone elses relationship. I am also very glad that there are no courting standards in America and that no one I date has to have their father ask my father if its okay. That part of the culture seems very outrageous. They are very protective over their women.
Okay, do you think that the General's leash is so tight because of Soraya's past actions? Is this a typical parent move?
Elisabeth,
I find these "rules" to be a little bit ridiculous. On pg. 146-147 all Amir asks Soraya is "can I ask what you're reading" and then on the top of the next page he says "by Afghan standards, my questoin had been bold." Asking a person what they are reading is not a bold question. The way the woman are never suppossed to talk to the man alone and how people would talk about Amir because he went up to talk to a woman is really ridiculous. America has no such standards as this, but I think there is an inbetween with Afghani and American culture. Sometimes we as Americans are too bold and outspoken and need to be taken down a notch. It would be nice to have a nice middle for both of the cultures.
Brittany Shannon
Afghani culture is very strict when it comes to choosing who the newly weds are going to be. I agree with the family approving who the new husband or wife will be bringing into the family. In American culture there aren't really rules, only that you have to legally be an adult, age 18. You are free to do marry who ever you choose and no one can stop you because you have become of age. I think the family should accept the person who is entering the family because they will help you make the right decision about if he or she is right for you. That part is smart, the rest I'm not so sure about.
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