Via the Piled Higher and Deeper blog:

Some theories of mine:

1. The PhD blog questions whether immigration from Mexico explains the patterns in the southwest. I know that all the data says most immigrants are young, single males (it’s one reason that the population isn’t growing as quickly), so I’m inclined to believe this. I’m less inclined to believe the explanation about the east coast: that women, who attend college in higher proportions, stay on the east coast. They have to be migrating from somewhere and my guess is that it isn’t the west coast.
2. The disparities for men over women are actually pretty small, when you look at it. There are 40,000 more single men than women in LA, the largest difference, but that’s in a city of almost 10 million people. The disparity in the New York area, where women outnumber men, is four and a half times that size - 180,000. There, the city alone has over 8 million people, and my guess is the surrounding area probably brings it close to twice that.
3. What are the marriage patterns like in these areas? Thats one thing I always wonder about singles data (if the best cities for singles are so good, why do people stay single?) There’s some interesting sociology (or even better, matching mechanisms!) research for somebody who wants to do it. I’ve always said that just because there are a lot more people, doesn’t mean it’s easier to find one, or even easier to get married.
4. Aren’t there more women than men? If so, these numbers make a lot less sense - by definition women will outnumber men in most places.

Categories: America, Community, Dating, Immigration, Matching Mechanisms
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And I want to see Indians on the big screen portraying stories that aren’t centered around “being Indian” or being “Indian plus something else” you know? There’s Harold and Kumar which is like “hey we’re Asian and also we get high and eat burgers.” Then there’s Bend it like Bekham, which is like “I’m Indian and I want to fall in love, help!” Then there’s Monsoon Wedding, the Namesake is coming out soon, American Desi, and one more that I can’t remember the title to right now, about a college-aged Indian musician whose parents don’t understand him.

Sonia wants Indian movies to come to America.

Take the above paragraph, and replace “Indian” with “Jewish” and change the examples around, and you see another example of why I think second generation Indian Americans and Jewish Americans are dealing with nearly identical identity issues.

While I’m on the subject, Sonia’s blog is awesome.  Hidden in almost every post is a gem, in one or two sentences, about cultural identity that she doesn’t even realize she wrote.  The rest of it is fun stories about her goofy family that are entertaining even if you’ve never met them.

Categories: America, Entertainment Media, Immigration, Movies
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