• ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    52
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    edit-2
    1 day ago

    But cultural differences do exist too. When I visited Mumbai, I fairly frequently saw pairs of adult men walking around holding hands. It looked really gay to my American eyes, gayer than anything that my gay friends do in public. However, apparently in India it is normal for heterosexual men to hold each other’s hands.

    • theblips@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      4 hours ago

      There’s stuff considered “gay” that differ between western countries, too, or between generations.
      There’s a famous clip of Kobe slapping Steph Curry’s ass as a “nice shot” kind of gesture… That wouldn’t fly in Brazil where I live. Older guys famously walked around naked in locker rooms, too, and as far as I can tell that is mega weird nowadays.
      Can’t forget naked sauna with the boys in northern Europe too

    • TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      4 hours ago

      There is a Saudi tribe that celebrate a flower festival with men wearing chained flowers over their heads.

      High heel shoes originated in India as worn by horsemen to hold themselves during horse rides. The shoes then became fashionable amongst European nobility including men. Eventually, high heels became almost exclusively a feminine fashion for some reason.

      A lot of gender stereotypes are really social constructs. As a multicultural man, if I am asked what does it mean to be a man, I don’t really have an answer. If one travels the globe with an open mind, they will find that a lot of their preconceptions growing up will be challenged.

      • ayyy@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        4 hours ago

        It’s only weird Puritans and places colonized by Puritans that are anti-human about touching and intimacy. Remember where the Kama Sutra is from, for example.

      • steeznson@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        4 hours ago

        It’s common in a number of different countries, not just India. Typically in the Middle East region.

        I believe the logic would be something in between an extended handshake and the Western reasoning for holding hands. Like, “I am giving my attention this person”.

      • pipes@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        7
        ·
        9 hours ago

        Maybe not losing their friend in the crowd every two minutes? That’s my guess since they said Mumbai

      • ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        edit-2
        8 hours ago

        I wish I knew. The other thing that stuck out to me was that no one wore shorts. I did at first just because it was hot but I stopped after I noticed that I was the only man not wearing long pants

    • Stamets@lemmy.worldOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      9
      arrow-down
      20
      ·
      edit-2
      1 day ago

      Yes. Because holding hands is equivalent to having a tomb built for you and the person you shared a literal bed with while having no relationships with anyone else.

      Cultural differences do indeed exist but something’s are universal. Like being gay and living together but not making a big deal about it and announcing it because if we did we’d be crucified by heterosexuals

      • shalafi@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        18
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        23 hours ago

        cultural differences do exist

        And a great many cultures didn’t give a shit about homosexuals. The meme is about our modern culture’s misinterpretation of older cultures. And speaking of history and culture, if you think you’re being persecuted now, oh boy, you should have been gay in 80s. We’ve come a long way in a few short decades.