Leading Bi-Cultural Lives | Asian American Poll

LEADING BI-CULTURAL LIVES
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:24:36 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

Is it possible to embrace both American and Asian cultures and find social acceptance with both Americanized and non-Americanized groups of friends?
Yes | 77%
No | 23%

Which of the following factors is most important in facilitating a successful bi-cultural life?
Familitarity with both cultures | 32%
Family upbringing | 28%
Fluency in both languages | 16%
Security in one's identity | 24%

Which of the following factors most discourages bi-cultural lives for U.S.-raised Asian Americans?
Inability to speak Asian languages | 28%
Outmarriage to non-Asians | 14%
Fear of seeming too Asian | 30%
Concern for kids' image with peers | 28%

Which segment of the Asian American population currently has the greatest positive impact on American society?
American-Born | 56%
Foreign-born, American-educated | 44%

This poll is closed to new input.
Comments posted during the past year remain available for browsing.

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WHAT YOU SAY

[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]

"...We refer to things of Western Europe and America as "Occidental","

Maybe what we mean is "accidental". After all, America was discovered by accident, right?

"...White females are regarded as exotic in South Asia."

maybe we should call them Occidentals instead of White. After all, they call us Orientals and not Yellows.

MLK Wednesday, March 27, 2002 at 12:46:46 (PST)

"However, the West is also "Oriental" to the East."

True. White females are regarded as exotic in South Asia.

Asian American Male Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 07:32:29 (PST)

My input on Oriental:

I'm Corean born and raised in South America. Spanish being my first language I can tell you that Oriental is a word that refers to "east", as well as "occidental" refers to "west". Maybe its meaning suffered a slight change over translation or through the course to time the word might have gained a different meaning. Now you migh wonder what Spanish has to do with it. Well remember your history... Marco Polo being one of the first ones to go to the far east could have been the origin of such world hence making oriental a spanish word.
anyways.... i might be wrong ... i just thought that would be a good explanation.

Raf Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 01:14:02 (PST)

Dictionary,
No, the primary meaning of Oriental is 'eastern' not exotic. The word for western is 'occidental' Theoughout most of history "The Orient" refered to what is now Turkey and the middle east (as did the term 'asia') If you do not believe me, take a look at a map of Mexico showing the locations and names of its principle mountain ranges. (Hint the eastern mountain range is the Sierra Madre Oriental and the western is the Sierra Madre Occidental).

YS
YS Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 22:46:43 (PST)

Dictionary,

You are absolutely wrong in what you say about the word "Oriental". The word Oriental does have a meaning. Its etymology comes from the Latin, "oriente" or "orientalis" meaning "East". It is the direct Latin translation of the English word "east". The Latin word for "West" is "occidente" or "occidentalis". Thus, a Westerner can be called an "Occidental". (For those who don't know, that's pronounced, Ox-i-dental. Maybe if "oriental" connotes "exotic" or "inscrutable", "occidental" connotes "ox" as in "stubborn as an"!)

What you are referring to with the idiomatic meaning of the word equating to "exotic" is only a secondary connotation that "oriental" picked up much later on, in American and British common usage. Not everything "exotic" is "oriental" or stems from the Orient, mind you. The peculiar singing style of Laplanders in northern Findland may be considered exotic by Americans, but it's not "oriental". The dances of African tribesmen in Botswana may be considered exotic, but neither are they "oriental".

The word "oriental" has a real etymological meaning which comes directly from Latin. In the original Latin, it had nothing to do with exoticism, and just referred to one of the four points of the compass.
Annoying Dude Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 20:03:16 (PST)

I've been coming to this site for some time and have read the posts. I think it is time I give my two cents on one of these topics.

First of all, "Orient" comes from a Latin word "oriens" that means "the East." Now over time, the word probably became associated with the people in that region (Far East) and lent itself to "exotic."

Anyway, for the west, the word "Occident" would be used. Occident comes from the Latin "occidens" meaning "the West."
Latin Man Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 16:03:48 (PST)

Dictionary,

Just been looking at the Oxford dictionary and the word "Oriental" means of the East esp. E.Asian. The word is derived from the latin "oriens -entis" meaning rising sunrise east. I guess overtime the word became associated with things exotic from a western point of view.

We refer to things of Western Europe and America as "Occidental", again the word is derived from the latin "occidens -entis" meaning setting, sunset, west.
Orient vs Occident Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 15:31:07 (PST)

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