Allyz oh ok, I'll specify mainland instead then!
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 spoileryour textin 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
I think most Russians would rather appreciate a regular character who's Russian nationality was just one tiny insignificant detail, than one that was a stereotype, so don't think about it too much. Don't feel as if you have to make their Russian-ness central to their character or anything.
There are some parts of Russian culture you could incorporate, such as more subtle things. For example, people make jokes about Russians having "resting bitch faces" or always looking grumpy, but there's actually a cultural reason for that. Basically, in Russia, people don't fake smile, or smile out of politeness/obligation. And I think that generally translates to the general attitude too, people are less likely to beat around the bush or fake emotions casually. It's definitely something I've struggled with while visiting other places that go the opposite way, and avoid directness altogether.
Even inclusion of something like Russian cuisine or seemingly trivial things would be nice to see in my opinion. People don't really know much beyond vodka and borscht but there's a lot of food out there (well, there is in any culture.)
Yo, I'm mainland Chinese, moved to the US when I was 10, so it shaped me enough where I don't feel American (I'm like the in-between of kids born in US, whose parents are immigrants, and people who moved ad adults. I hear a lot about 2nd gens who struggle to connect with their culture; for me, I feel like I should be a part of it as that's how I grew up, but I'm usually not seen as full Chinese by relatives whether I like it or not), but neither do I have the experience of someone who lived in China their whole life. Either way, I can answer some questions, if needed, to the best of my abilities.
sanduke added!
Luzgear this thread is about cultural and racial diversity, so the first bit is fitting, while there is a LGBT+ thread like this one here: https://toyhou.se/~forums/10502.creator-s-corner/84418.-lgbt-ocs-discussion-thread! Some of the topics have already been discussed in the past if you have time to browse between the post, or you can express your concerns, worries or ask questions both about LGBT+ topics there and fitting ones here. Always thinking about the character first is a good first strategy in any case!
If you want some ideas on what being jewish is like I got some tips. I've noticed every person under the sun i've met has no clue how being jewish makes you a racial/ethnic minority group which is sad or understand that characters who are jewish are minority groups just like any other.
Jews are a racial minority group as well as a religious group aka you can be an atheist jew and still be jewish because you still have the inherited genes passed down to you. People don't understand that there are many, many white jews out there and can still suffer discrimination and persecution (fyi i'm pale as hell but have experience persecution on the basis of my ethnicity in the past. Doesn't matter what you look like in the end because someone whose bigoted doesn't care).
Some tips: Understand jews can look extremely varied, not all jews look the same, not all jews need to be religious or connected strongly with the culture and sometimes jews aren't the type to be afraid of more darker humor...our comedy very dark and self deprecating, we joke about our persecution to get through it.
ScaledSeraph I'll keep that in mind! Honestly, I just have him as a somewhat serious, young dude who ended up being a great international businessman since he doesn't beat around the bush.
Hi! :D I'm surprised there are no latin americans on the list! I'm Venezuelan living in Chile and I can give info about either, the former because I was born there and the latter only from an immigrant's point of view! We in latin america share a lot of things but are different in lots of things too! I can do my best to speak about the latin american experience and such!
reinapepiada added!
Bloof I've actually noticed this a lot, especially visiting an exposition about the evolution of historical racism against Jews: one could not know anything about the culture, be atheist or even Christian, but have one ancestor (belonging to the race, culture and/or religion) at some point in time and then they'd be in danger. Not sure you want to be also added under either culture, religion or in the other section maybe (tell me so if you wish), but thanks for bringing that up!
probs country/culture cause i'm an atheist jew as well and grew up mostly just with the culture/history rather than traditions :o