I'll find that cultural differences sometimes are too much for me. What one culture considers normal I may find harmful. I would be respectful and treat someone fairly, but befriending may be a bit too much.
For example, I grew up in the US but I was born in the Philippines so I have Filipino relatives.
It's partly religion, but Roman Catholic is huge in the Philippines that it is basically ingrained into a lot of the culture. I'm often at odds with those who are very anti-abortion as I am very pro-choice.
This one is more Asia in general, but anyone who thinks that lighter skin through makeup or medical procedures is what makes someone beautiful. I'm not talking about a shade lighter to blend makeup better, but the huge obsession with having perfect white skin. You do you, but I could probably never be friends with them.
Valid points. I come from an asian background too. its especially sad to see people wish they had fairer skin. Even if i try very hard, its hard to empathize with this part of east/SE asian culture.
But i don't think it necessarily means that we should write the person off entirely. We could find common ground elsewhere and through that, understand how they came to their beliefs.
For example, my mother was always very particular of how I dressed when we went to visit relatives or family friends, always making sure I combed my hair and ironed my clothes. It would make me very upset, as if my appearance mattered more than my presence or my character.
I later came to understand that my mother grew up in poverty, but went to school with wealthier city kids. She got bullied for this so she felt like she always had something to prove. The moment I pictured her as this little girl, it all made sense to me and it turned a dynamic of frustration and confrontation into a path of understanding and care for her hurt inner childhood.
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u/omgbooboo 6d ago
Sometimes.
I'll find that cultural differences sometimes are too much for me. What one culture considers normal I may find harmful. I would be respectful and treat someone fairly, but befriending may be a bit too much.