Western v.s Eastern Mentality
One thing that I have suffered from living in the Western world is those older generations who refuse to accept the fact that we have changed. That our mentality and life in the western world have changed. We are different now. Why can’t people mesh in with the society that they live in and accept it? Why us Arab girls and guys who live in the Western world have to always live on the edge? Why is it that the older generation of Middle Easterns and others who live in the Eastern world have a very negative view point of us Middle Easterns that live here?
What do you think? I am curious to see both mentalities point of view of how they perceive one another. I can never understand the Eastern mentality anymore. I lived far too long and completely forgot how it is to remember or understand it. So why is it that the Eastern classify us as too liberal and slutty with no morals? I don’t get it? I had this site for two years, and I seldom get any negative comments from people living in my region. USA, Canada, and South America. Yet, all the negative comments are from one source, the middle east. Why is that? Am I too outspoken for you? Am I totally different that it shocks you to the point of directly insulting me and calling me horrible names? It is not my fault that I live here, and frankly, I am glad I live here and not have to be classified with such mentality. The world is such a global village right now that it mystifies me how the mentalities of some people are so backwards till now. It has nothing to do with morals or ethics. It has to do with acceptance and slowly changing one’s mentality in order to survive and become like the rest of the world.
Honestly, I thought I suffer from severe depression and very sick all the time and I only resort to anger and writing it out only in my blog, but no. I was wrong. I am too normal and too nice. I really have been living in denial and not accepting others. My problem is that I am way too nice and I accept people and not care what they do. It is everyone else that seems to be messed up and I am the normal one.
Yes, I am normal! I am rebelling against you! That’s exactly what I have been suffering with all these years. YOU!
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SOOOO TRUE!!!
But here’s the thing, Middle Eastern’s are all about images and first impressions. I have a wester way of life, I’ve had it and liked it since I was a kid, and was brought up in a house where I could be free enough to choose the way I live, but the judgement I get from people around me, with no clear reason to say anything about me, USED TO drive me crazy… But a while ago, I was like just F**k it, i won’t give a damn anymore.
Thants how it is, if you’re Arab, and you decide to live a better life, and not have a mentality so backward that it classified us as people from the past, and “Hobos into the modern world”, I say we break off them, and live our lives the way we want, and screw anyone who doesn’t like it.
I think older generations have never been very approving of the generation that came after them. I’ll use my parents as an example..they know that my generation think and live much differently than their generation, and they think its a bad thing because they don’t like change they love to stick to their tradtions. I .thing change is a great thing (well most of the time). People and society in general change and progress over time, thats just how things work and older generations need to realize that.
“So why is it that the Eastern classify us as too liberal and slutty with no morals?”
They don’t realize that just because we are more open and excepting of western ideas doesn’t mean we go along and follow that lifestyle completely, we just don’t criticize and judge people for it.
And I agree with Sam, Arabs are all about images and first impressions. My parents are always telling to act or dress a certain way or refrain from saying certain things infront of other Arabs and my response is ” I don’t care” and that always pisses them off. They are so obsessed with what other people think because they are afraid of what others are going to say and I think its a stupid way to live.
personally i think there is space for both western and eastern mentalities and our own mentality should be a mix of the two. You are western and you are eastern also, so you just got to find the balance that is right for you.
Even to take your contrasting pictures. Both can choose to wear make up, or not and to wear hijab, or not,while having the exact same mentality. There can be a blending of both their images and minds, so concentrate on your perception of yourself rather then worrying about others perceptions of you.
Thanks guys for your input so far.. I really hate it when older people say, “don’t do this and that… what will other Arabs say!”
Radical Muslim.. the top image is me by the way. I am the western girl
your really pretty. im definatly telling my mom to telephone you now!! lol. just kidding :mrgreen:
Your mom? No please!!! loool
yes shes trying to arrange marriage for me !!!
Hey Mona, just checking in to say hi.
this sight “the black iris” (on your link section) has a very insightful article something titled like Jordan’s middle children… anyways kick ass article some of the differences i think you Arabs perceive are more universal then you may realize. It’s just that western culture has developed a “I don’t care cavalier attitude” that is probably mentally healthier, but sometimes I feel this could also be detrimental to ones general well being
sigh…
Western and Eastern tell me about it. I had enough of these problems, I took all these seriousely and has gone thru a major depression .Now for the sake of my health i do not please anybody or anyone.I rejected both cultures and took values which is suitable to my life only.
I turned to my Creator,complained and I was very angry. Guess what!!! God finally set me free.
Hello dear,
I am an American (U.S.) woman engaged to an Egyptian. We have been together for 3 1/2 years and are completely in love. I am in some ways in a similar position to yours in that I have to reconcile Eastern and Western ways. On the plus side, I love how Middle Eastern people don’t just abandon people when they are sick or old or alienated from God. I love how they take the time to ask about you and your family and they actually listen to the answer. They put a lot of effort into raising their kids rather than just letting them raise themselves as many people here seem to do.
On the other hand, my fiance sometimes feels invaded by the gossipy, judgmental behaviors of his culture. I can understand because I grew up in a small town and was bothered by the same things. Perhaps because Eastern people are so novel to me and so attractive, I don’t see it as much in our immigrant friends.
I think we each have to find our own way through this. I suspect you and I will end up somewhere in the middle.
P.S. You are beautiful…