Ethnic and cultural diversity in OCs discussion

Posted 4 years, 3 months ago (Edited 4 months, 27 days ago) by Gattoleone

Another thread to keep company to the LGBT+, the mental illness and disability, and language translations ones.

The goal of this thread is letting you discuss, share thoughts and ask for advice about the portrayal of OCs from cultures, races or ethnic groups both real and fictional, so which are either different from your own one or a minority existing in a real world context, or from a fictional setting in which different cultures and races exist and can have similar dynamics.

Since it's also rather common to own OCs from different backgrounds, you can also volunteer to give advice to other users about your own Country and culture (you'll be featured in the list below), debunk the most common misconceptions, stereotypes and tropes you come across, or just share fun facts!


A few rules:

  • No racism and xenophobia allowed, of course! Also, no anti-religious and anti-atheist discourse: religion is a big part of many cultures, so it can belong on the thread too, it's also fine not to want to discuss it since it can be a touchy subject, but openly attack any side and I'll block you with no regret.
  • No LGBT+phobia, ableism, sexism, slurs and all that kind of nasty stuff either. You can write about heavier stuff, but spoiler
    your text
    in code view or with WYSIWYG off, or black it out like this making sure both the text and the background are the same color (or it will peek through in dark themes like this!).
  • No vague-posting! Let's focus on the big issues instead of specific users who did something inappropriate or questionable.
  • Be nice and safe! If something someone said here offends you but you don't reach an agreement in a few posts, please move over to your own DMs if nobody else is being involved. Also, please don't ninja other people's questions: if you're coming across this thread for the first time and someone just asked a question, please wait at least one day before adding another one - you can sub and come back later, while the other person will have a slightly higher chance of getting an answer.
  • Ping or DM me if you need anything you can't ask here! I'm honestly not the most informed person on these topics, so I'll gladly leave the spotlight to someone else for your questions, but I'll try to help as much as I can.
  • Edit (25/3/2020): If any of you is from a region that is contested between different States/Countries/in politically delicate situations and wants to appear on the list, I'll try to keep the region separate in every different existing part and then you can tell me which sides you want or don't want to be featured on, since it's the most neutral way I can think of doing it. If this happens, please don't attack each other over it, things are probably hard enough already.
  • Edit (21/7/2020): Mods are accepted and encouraged! (see point 3 here)

Already touched on topics (suggestions on - feel free to correct anything!): ETHNIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN OCS DISCUSSION - THREAD RESOURCES



Country/culture volunteers list:

Doc format here (suggestions on): ETHNIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN OCS DISCUSSION - THE OFFICIAL LIST

Toyhouse format below:


  • Countries/cultures:

Argentina: mei_the_flower (born and raised in Argentina, Argentinian parents and Italian ancestry)

Bedouin culture: hajjyoda (born and raised in Canada, Bedouin parents + English and Arabic)

Brazil: @B_oloruim (Southern + music, wildlife and regional differences), ChanteRyuutai (Southern + Minas Gerais, do not DM, ping on forum), Dragongirl222 (Brazilian and Polish raised in the USA, familiar with folklore)

Cambodia: chromosome (mixed, situationally white passing, living in America), houndings (mixed, non white passing, living in U.S, 2nd generation immigrant)

Canada: CuckooHoopoe (born in Iraq, raised in Canada + Arabic names with origin, meaning and Arabic spelling) , Goldenqilin ( + native-born black with a St. Lucian background), NinjaNightCrawler (Alberta), @Percycore ( + Halifax region, cadet units and military traditions), Xhat ( + Ontario province, Italian-Canadian background, Indigenous Peoples of Canada, Canadian justice system)

Chile: reinapepiada (Venezuelan living in Chile)

China: Akeya (American-Born Chinese, lived in China), allseeinghelga (Chinese, living in SEA + food from southern China), Allyz (Mainland), @angelfayc (second hand info from a Chinese/Thai friend), @devonlyx (living in Malaysia; use "ethnicity/religion question" title if DM), @friedeggtarts (Chinese American, lived in China), Inspector-Spinda (Chinese American born in China, living in NYC), PenTem (Chinese American, always lived in the USA), @sanduke (Mainland, living in the USA), Siyu (born and raised in the USA), SpiritX (Chinese British, born and raised in UK/Britain), @VictoryVManga (Chinese American, born in the USA)

Cornish culture: triggerbolt (+ language)

Cuba: Xen (Cuban American, born in the USA and living in Georgia)

Finland: bassokissa (born in Moskow area, living in Finland), Half-Life (North Karelian born in Central Region)

France: fuelli ( + Alsace region, language, names, history)

Germany: AyomaHideki (born in Russia - Siberia - and living in Northern Germany), Jules

Ghana: AlienIsInternet (born and raised in Southern USA, one side of the family from Ghana)

Haiti: JamieMations (only questions, born and raised in the USA, stereotypes about Haitians, rules and superstitions)

Hong Kong: Allyz, CYGNET (half Indonesian living in Hong Kong)

India: @devonlyx (Chinese living in Malaysia; use "ethnicity/religion question" title if DM)

Indonesia: marquise (half Indonesian living in Hong Kong, semi-fluent in Bahasa Indonesia), PainterFight, @rizza_macka (native Indonesian), @SpacePuffer

Iran: PaperTsubaki (half Iranian, raised in Canada)

Iraq: CuckooHoopoe (born in Iraq, raised in Canada + Arabic names with origin, meaning and Arabic spelling)

Italy: Banya ( + Campania region, mostly Naples, and Puglia region), Gattoleone ( + Emilia Romagna region, mostly Bologna)

Japan: @devonlyx (Chinese living in Malaysia; use "ethnicity/religion question" title if DM), @Kasedori (Asian Studies Major with Japanese Studies focus, esp. Medieval culture, samurai culture, and influence of the supernatural and Buddhism), PaperTsubaki (some language and culture)

Jewish culture: @beetlejews, Bloof (atheist), @jukeb0xes (casual Reform Judaism upbringing in the USA), merf (Ashkenazi, observant jew + biracial as black/white, LGBT+ topics and religion; mention you're from this thread)

Jordan: hajjyoda (born and raised in Canada, Bedouin parents + English and Arabic)

Korea: Enelnimn

Latinx culture (general): @angelfayc (mostly Puerto Rican one), sixofswords (mainly Puerto Rican)

Malaysia: @devonlyx (Chinese living in Malaysia + Sabahians or Sarawakian natives; use "ethnicity/religion question" title if DM)

Malta: PaperTsubaki (second hand info from a 2nd gen Canadian)

Mexico: ChaosControl (Jalisco + brown middle class with lower class experience, food, architecture - Spanish Colonial -, traditional clothing, ancient civilizations, religion, local witchcraft - La Santa Muerte -, geography and translations), good (mixed not white passing Mexican born in the USA and visited Mexico often), roseeater (born in the USA and visited Mexico often, Jalisco specifically)

Morocco: Virgichuu (+ official and used languages)

Native American culture (general): ananas (Nanticoke, general east coast native knowledge, relatives in Roanoake), @angelfayc (relatives involved in the Trail of Tears)

Pacific Island culture (Polynesian, Melanesian and Micronesian): moungazz (Tongan and Māori, born and raised in Aotearoa - New Zealand - and in a predominantly Pacific Island community)

Pakistan: sleepyamaurotine (Pakistani raised in Canada - but can ask parents/relatives -, please title DMs as "ethnicity/religion question")

Philippines: Aquacanis (+ capital city), Dann (born in the USA raised in the Philippines + Modern Manilleño -City Dweller-, politics, myths, legends, history, nationalism, not Indigenous People)

Poland: @apxlonia, Dragongirl222 (Brazilian and Polish raised in the USA, familiar with folklore), Hannibalus, lordsatin (living in the USA), Mudzi (living in Sweden), @Ske1th (living in the Netherlands)

Puerto Rico: @angelfayc (born and raised in Florida, parent born and raised in New York by Puerto Rican grandparents), sixofswords (born & raised in PR)

Russia: AyomaHideki (born in Russia - Siberia - and living in Northern Germany), bassokissa (born in Moskow area, living in Finland), @ScaledSeraph (Russian-Slovenian), Wenldy

Scotland: Spacebounce_Toons (from the Southern parts)

Singapore: Jxckalito (Singaporean-Chinese)

Slovenia: @ScaledSeraph (Russian-Slovenian)

Spain: elmellois (white Spaniard; born, raised and living in the south - not Andalusia), kanelita3 (white Spanish, born, raised and living in Andalusia)

Sweden: Mudzi

Thailand: @angelfayc (second hand info from a Chinese/Thai friend), Caesura (Thai-Chinese + assimilation of Chinese ethnic group in Thai majority, translations and accurate Thai names), @devonlyx (Chinese living in Malaysia; use "ethnicity/religion question" title if DM), Ledokol (Native Thai living in rural central Thailand, speaking sort of Suphan dialect with Theravada Buddhist background)

The Netherlands: Donut-Toast (Born and raised, white Dutch person - South Holland), @Ske1th

Trinidad and Tobago: PaperTsubaki (half Trinidadian, raised in Canada)

Uruguay: @B_oloruim (Brazilian, visitor)

USA: AlienIsInternet (born and raised in Southern USA, Virginia, related Black Culture and one side of the family from Ghana), ananas (Delaware, mixed white, black, and native), @angelfayc (Florida, father from New York with Puerto Rican parents, mother from Oklahoma with Native relatives), Crossroads (Texas), Jovian (New England, particularly Massachusetts), fluffypettis (Texas), good (mixed not white passing Mexican born in the USA), @ReesesBitsAndPieces (Texas, Messianic Jewish), ROTTENDECOMP (born in Southern Illinois, often in Central Florida), SnowdropWhiskey (born and raised in south east, especially Alabama Appalachian culture, history and myth debunking), @VictoryVManga (Chinese American, born in the USA), Xen (Cuban American, born in the USA and living in Georgia)

Venezuela: reinapepiada (Venezuelan living in Chile)

Vietnam: OhMyLawdimPM (2nd-Generation American-born Vietnamese, no Civil War topics)

  • Religions:

Agnosticism: Gattoleone

Atheism: ananas (Raised areligiously by athiest/agnostic parents), @angelfayc, boaaekin (Raised areligiously by atheist/agnostic parents), Gattoleone, Goldenqilin

Aztec gods: ChaosControl

Baha'i: PaperTsubaki

Buddhism: Caesura (Thai POV), chromosome (SE Asian Buddhism, mixed Cambodian living in America POV), @devonlyx (use "ethnicity/religion question" title if DM), PaperTsubaki

Christianity: Aquacanis (Catholic Church, upbringing and schooling, Filipino POV), Allyz (Asian Baptist Church), ChaosControl (Catholic Church, Mexican POV), Dann (Catholic Church, Filipino POV), elmellois (Catholic Church, Spanish atheist POV), Gattoleone (Catholic Church, Italian atheist POV), PaperTsubaki (Japanese Christianity), salida (Catholic Church, Mexican-USA POV), SnowdropWhiskey (Anglican Catholic Church, Roman Catholicism, Calvinism - specifically Southern Baptist Church -, has related formation and regular contact with priests who can help answer, south east USA POV), VanillaMouse (Eastern/Russian Orthodox Church, USA POV)

Hellenic polytheism: fluffypettis, jaytxt (primarily Apollo and Dionysus)

Hinduism: @devonlyx (use "ethnicity/religion question" title if DM)

Islam: @devonlyx (use "ethnicity/religion question" title if DM), CuckooHoopoe (familiar with both Shiaa and Sunni, Iraqi-Canadian POV), @rizza_macka (Sunni, Indonesian POV), sleepyamaurotine (Sunni, Pakistani POV), Virgichuu (Sunni, Moroccan POV)

Judaism: @beetlejews, feeblebeeble (semi observant/Latino; mention you’re from this thread), @jukeb0xes (casual Reform Judaism upbringing in the USA), merf (observant Jew, attended to a Jewish day school + experience with relatives of different denomination and religions; mention you're from this thread)

Messianic Judaism: @ReesesBitsAndPieces (Texas POV)

Pagan branches: @CharlieMouse

Pastafarianism: Gattoleone

Polytheism: @Empxleon (Greek and Nordic Pantheons)

Satanism: @angelfayc

Shinto: PaperTsubaki

Slavic Native Faith / Rodnovery: Hannibalus

Witchcraft: ChaosControl (specifically La Santa Muerte)

  • Subcultures / Transcultural phenomena / Specific historical moments / Other resources:

Asian Studies: @Kasedori (Major with focus on Japanese Studies, with medieval and samurai culture, and some Han Chinese culture in its approach to the supernatural)

Canada, Halifax explosion: @Percycore

Cuba, rule of Fidel Castro: Xen

Disconnect both from your relatives' original culture and the one you live in: CuckooHoopoe, Dann, @sanduke

European children of Chinese parents: SpiritX

German Subcultures: AyomaHideki (Russian/German; living in Northern Germany and living the classical Heidjer German with partial knowing of Plattdeutsch)

Iraqi wars, both rich and poor, civilian and mechanic/engineer POV: CuckooHoopoe

Mixed race and white passing, or mostly white passing: Inkibea (fluctuating, Mexican-Puerto Rican and white with Celtic background)

Mixed race and not white passing: Arlatius, good (born in the USA from Mexican parents)

Mixed race POC of ambiguous race: Arlatius, Crossroads (+ not looking like your single mom, and growing up poor), merf (black/white; mention you're from this thread)

USA, 1st or 2nd Generation Asian-Americans: Akeya (American-Born Chinese, has lived in China), Dann (born in the USA, living in the Philippines since 9 yo), PenTem (American-Born Chinese, always lived in the USA), @exmoray (born in China, living in the USA since 10 yo)

USA, German-Jewish immigration in 1900s New York: @jukeb0xes

USA, street life/homelessness/hustlers/drugs/sex work + poor Black and Mexican communities: Boyfriend

White (Italian) immigrant to the UK, lived in the north of England as a child, now living in Scotland: boaaekin



Stelio

Hey, Russian/Slovenian half-and-half here. In the event that people have concerns or questions about characters from said backgrounds, feel free to ask me.
One biggest pet peeve of mine is inaccurate, questionable, or downright xenophobic Russian characters, or Slavic characters in general. I've noticed it especially in comic books and movies, that evil/criminal characters are frequently Slavic or Russian, or coded as such. Even Russian characters who aren't evil usually fall into the category of "morally gray" and stick to the same archetypes, The Russian tough guy, the sexy female Russian spy... that kind of thing.

While I think in most cases, when people make characters like this, they're not doing it out of malice or hatred, I still find it kind of annoying. I honestly can't recall the last time I saw a Russian character in American/mainstream media that was portrayed in a positive light and/or something other than a spy or rugged criminal. 

4 years, 1 month ago
Gattoleone

ScaledSeraph added! I noticed that too, it's so cold war era. Hope anyone here has better examples!

4 years, 1 month ago
triggerbolt

i can talk about cornish stuff if anybody needs that (though, uh, most people havent even heard of it, let alone even seem to know that we're a different ethnicity to most of the rest of england, oopsie) i know a bit of the language, which is probs the only useful thing i can do since there's no good online translator available for said language afaik

4 years, 1 month ago
FreeFallingUp13

ScaledSeraph What would be a positive/neutral Russian character depiction? Being an American myself, I actually can't say I've ever seen anything besides the two stereotypes you've mentioned (the tough guy and the sexy spy). What parts of your culture would you prefer to be depicted in a character from Russia? I have one character I want to make a Russian, but I haven't been able to start research on that front yet.

For anybody else, on the subject of the America/Russia thing (at least on the former's side),
I don't know a whole lot of Russian culture; it's still pretty taboo here in the USA to talk about Russia at all because a lot of adults grew up during the Cold War era, and have kept the sentiment that Russia = tough baddie.
In school, my generation (in our twenties now) were shown propaganda that kids grew up with in the 50's and 60's; Duck and Cover. It's a video on what to do if you see the flash of a nuclear bomb. Everybody was afraid of that happening back then, especially with the Cuban Missile Crisis. The kids who saw that are our grandparents now.
The kids in Gen X (in their 30's to maybe 50's now) who were kids in the 80's were also raised with the idea of nuclear war, most specifically with Russia, which is seen here as the other biggest superpower country of the world besides the US. It was in movies, tv shows... a whole bunch of things. Germans and Russians (or people with similar weird accents) are usually the evil scientists, bad guys and what have you in American shows if they aren't an American character, or vaguely foreign.
It seems to be that countries we've had big wars with tend to be used as bad guys even today - maybe because it's because that's the environment that tv show/movie writers grew up with. Maybe it's to make it relatable to adults watching stuff with their kids so the voice makes them think "bad guy", too. I'unno. It's an odd bit of wartime xenophobia that still affects American culture for some reason.
This isn't even talking about real political views on Russia... It's rather negative all-around, unless one simply doesn't care about foreign affairs with Russia. It's rather unfortunate.

4 years, 1 month ago
Boyfriend

I’m throwing this out there because I’ve noticed quite a few street kids and ghetto characters here and there, but if anyone wants some insight on street life/homelessness/growing up with hustler parents etc. that’s a very natural convo for me to have.

I’ve lived in projects on the west coast and east coast United States. I’m familiar with primarily poor Mexican and Black communities. The area I live in now is 50/50 white-etc. and black.

I have a crew, some of my friends are hustlers. I’m completely desensitized to drugs and sex work. I’m a recovering addict. I’m completely open about this to anyone wanting to do research for a character living with these cultural differences.

4 years, 1 month ago
Gattoleone

575pfe added! I put a new section for subcultures / transcultural phenomena / other, in case anyone has specific experiences they can talk about involving more than one culture and phenomena; are you ok being listed under this section or would you prefer appearing in more/different ones?

4 years, 1 month ago Edited 12:50 am
Boyfriend

Omg! Yeah that’s perfect! I had no clue where I was going to fit. I really appreciate u including me ty 💕

4 years, 1 month ago
Dann

I saw there's no volunteer yet to represent the Philippines. I'm American born but I have lived in the Philippines since I was 9 (I'm 21 now so I've been here 12 years). I cannot, however, represent Indigenous People of the Philippines. I can give advice more on the Modern Manilleño (City Dweller). Which I think is a major point of the Filipino culture, given highest population density being in Manila (Philippine Capital). I am very in touch with the Filipino Politics. I also know some common Filipino myths and legends if that is of interest! I can probably direct more to how to research on it. I am also VERY PASSIONATE about Filipino history and nationalism!!!

I also think an important subculture you may consider is Asian-American (1st generation). I can also volunteer for that? I've seen some media about the cultural dysphoria as an Asian American. I think Diane in Bojack Horseman shows this well too. The thing about being too American to be Asian and too Asian to be American? It's a common topic among Asian Americans but I always see Asians in more common media to be completely in touch with our roots, when in reality, being born and raised in America makes you very westernized compared to your "real Asian" relatives. Also being embarrassed by our Asian Culture from home as a child only to find it trendy in the future (like when Non-Asians "discover a trendy new" Asian food) but I'm not America-based so maybe find a better volunteer for that ^^

OH FOLLOW UP, can give insight on Filipino Catholics, which is Catholics that are Filipino LOL. I find it may differ depending on the ethnicity when it comes to Catholicism given so many countries inherited Catholicism from colonizers

4 years, 1 month ago Edited 10:14 am
Gattoleone

Dann added!

Since there's this new section, requests to add other groups from already listed, subscribed or new people will be really appreciated!

4 years, 1 month ago
Allyz

If you like, I haven't seen any Asian Baptist Christians so I can volunteer as tribute. :P

I also have ties to China if anyone has questions!

4 years, 1 month ago Edited 1:36 pm
Gattoleone

Allyz added! Tell me if you're ok with how I've written it and want me to edit something out.


In the meanwhile, if any of you is from a region that is contested/in politically delicate situations, I'll try to keep the region separate in every different existing part and then you can tell me which parts you want or don't want to be featured on, since it's the most neutral way I can think of doing it (ex. if anyone lives in Catalonia, Cyprus, Crimea, Jerusalem etc. and is fine talking for all sides or only one, specify so). If this happens, don't attack each other over it, things probably are hard enough already.

4 years, 1 month ago
Allyz

That's perfect, thanks so much! I don't have many ties to Canton in particular, but I can help answer for all of the mainland hopefully :)

4 years, 1 month ago
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