There was a thread talking about American women around here somewhere... I am American myself, but of Serbian heritage. Serbians families are very close, so I decide to ask some family in Serbia what they thought of the American woman. I think that this conversation may be interesting so I will post it. I had to rapidly write down what he was saying and even had him repeat. His English is not good but not as fluent as a person who speaks it everyday so I had to translate some things when he could not find the right words. Serbia is very traditional conservative. This just lends a perspective from the outside in I think...
“American women are pretty*, educated, but they have different values and are too materialistic.”
*(a good amount of their exposure to America is through Hollywood and media so I kind of debate this having been in Serbia and seen their stunning women.)
I inquired further about the values and he said
“Materialism is an American value, America is known as a consumer country. I do not think that is a good thing. When one values one’s own greed over the values of ones culture, in fact when greed is a cultural value then I think that is pathologic. But that is just my opinion… America is also a country that values independence. Independence is a gift and curse it can impair the cohesion of families and groups. In Serbia we value our families, we value our culture, we value our shared cultural identity, Serbians are all just one big extended family.”
But some women, would argue that your culture is too patriarchal. We can both agree that compared to America Serbia is a far more traditional conservative. Some argue that women should be given more independence, that that it is a good thing to have more freedom.
“I understand that notion, but I do not think that independence is any better a value than the values we have here. What we have works.”
Explain...
“Women in Serbia value having a family, they value their position in society. Women aspire to be good wives, to be a caregiver, and they take pride in that. The men praise women for this, and we value them. In turn they value and they admire us for providing for them, for playing a different role. We play or roles and are happy with our roles. This creates cohesion. Cohesion of families, cohesion of groups. I understand it with talking to you that the American family is something in decline, maybe America lacks that same cohesion.”
So you would prefer a Serbian girl over an American girl?
“I am already married...”
Hypothetically, if you were single…
“Serbian… American girls are fascinating in their own way. I however would prefer a woman who shares my beliefs.”
“American women are pretty*, educated, but they have different values and are too materialistic.”
*(a good amount of their exposure to America is through Hollywood and media so I kind of debate this having been in Serbia and seen their stunning women.)
I inquired further about the values and he said
“Materialism is an American value, America is known as a consumer country. I do not think that is a good thing. When one values one’s own greed over the values of ones culture, in fact when greed is a cultural value then I think that is pathologic. But that is just my opinion… America is also a country that values independence. Independence is a gift and curse it can impair the cohesion of families and groups. In Serbia we value our families, we value our culture, we value our shared cultural identity, Serbians are all just one big extended family.”
But some women, would argue that your culture is too patriarchal. We can both agree that compared to America Serbia is a far more traditional conservative. Some argue that women should be given more independence, that that it is a good thing to have more freedom.
“I understand that notion, but I do not think that independence is any better a value than the values we have here. What we have works.”
Explain...
“Women in Serbia value having a family, they value their position in society. Women aspire to be good wives, to be a caregiver, and they take pride in that. The men praise women for this, and we value them. In turn they value and they admire us for providing for them, for playing a different role. We play or roles and are happy with our roles. This creates cohesion. Cohesion of families, cohesion of groups. I understand it with talking to you that the American family is something in decline, maybe America lacks that same cohesion.”
So you would prefer a Serbian girl over an American girl?
“I am already married...”
Hypothetically, if you were single…
“Serbian… American girls are fascinating in their own way. I however would prefer a woman who shares my beliefs.”
