I always have a hard time finding role models, or characters I relate to/ identify with in popular culture. I do not really like the Bollywood idea of what Indian girl's are like: either too princessy, arrogant, nakka (Bengali for - a person displaying the following behaviors whinny, naive or affected, cute but annoying crankiness/ whine/talk), cutesy, yet some how all of them are these skinny sexy beasts, who can sing and dance. Yeah, not true! Most of them can dance, but most can't sing. Kinda like Hollywood actresses!
Anyway back to Mindy!
Mindy, she's Indian, half bong (slang term for Bengali, not the marijuana smoking device), the other half being Tamilian, stars in The Mindy Project. She has been a writer, producer, director and creator of The Mindy project, several episodes of The Office, and other works. In grad school someone told me I was like "Mindy", at the time I had only seen her in one episode of the office. I did not want to be like the character she played!
People here usually want to try to relate to immigrants in someway, usually it's "oh you're Indian? I have an Indian doctor!". Sometimes it becomes "oh you are Indian! I just love Slumdog Millionaire!", or "Oh you are Indian? I watch The Office and you look like Mindy Kaling!" It's ok, passive racism, or whatever, they are trying to make some sort of effort. I guess I think all Asians are geeky and goofy like Misuka in Dexter :-P Or all Americans are like Honey boo boo! I'm just trying to relate back at you! Anyway I began watching Mindy because I wanted to support my fellow Indian - American who supposedly resembles me. I fell in love.
In "The Mindy Project" she acts as Dr. Mindy Lahiri an Ob/Gyn, who works at a private practice, which she run's with two male Ob/Gyns. She's got her career in order, but her love life, she being a Indian, slightly chubby single woman in her 30s, is something I relate to entirely. She makes light of the situation, dealing with being Indian in America, Women's health, being Indian and parents, and what's expected etc. In last night's
episode Mindy wants to randomly hook up with a guy, because she has not been successful in securing a healthy relationship with a guy, the last few guys were douche bags. Now casual hook ups, and sex in general is such a taboo subject in the land of India, which spat out the Kamasutra apparently. However casual hook ups are condoned in a city like New York, amongst women my age. She tries, but it ends up turning into a major mess up, and she ends up saying that although nothing happened, it's totally respectable in other parts of the world that nothing happened. Also in the episode she made a comment that she would love to be played by Frieda Pinto if a movie was made of her life, in the case that she was murdered on her "date".
Mindy really paints out the life of a working woman in her 30s, of any ethnicity, has a curvy body, dark skin, (not the usual skinny/ sexy/ hot girls), but is still considered attractive, and the dating, love, life... All your friends are married but you are still figuring it out. The "nice guys" you date turn out to be cheating jerks. Your co-workers are helpful yet crazy in their own ways. The world has changed, women have changed, and the youth is forever changing, and dealing with it all! I'd say this pretty much sums up life today and now!
There are some holistic/midwife practitioners that pose as competition to Mindy and her colleagues' practice. I think some things said on the show regarding these subjects, may have put off some viewers who practice those holistic forms of medicine/ or the midwives. The fact is that just like religion these forms are still yet to be scientifically proven, and though home delivery with midwives has been done throughout the ages, all across the world, there are complications which modern medicine can handle. I've faced this recently when dealing with issues of my uterus. Over the course of 6 months I have now seen 4 Ob/Gyn's and one general physician. It is so hard to find a good Ob/Gyn that listens to you, takes you seriously and understands that your body is unique. Some of the previous Ob/Gyns advised me not to go to my chiropractor for treatment saying it's all a sham. One of the Ob/Gyns told me "don't have unprotected sex with your boyfriend of two years, you can't trust him until you are married." WHAT! So husbands can be trusted, however an adult, healthy, mature relationship is not trust worthy? I've seen married couples who are swingers, who are unfaithful, who are messes! I just thought this doc was nuts to tell me that. Another doc told me after prescribing me on a very heavy dose of estrogen, that that was the only medication for me, and if I thought the side effects were bad, then there was no hope for me, surgery was the next best thing.
After much searching and suffering, pain, meds, life altering decisions
I found a good doctor, but I told her I would like to seek out natural
options as well. She was open to it, and said she was there for me, and it was my body (only after doing the 5th pelvic exam of the year! Oh my word!). Anyway, my point is that, yes doctors are like football players - overpaid, only know the strategy of their own team, and their only their position - subject/ specialty. So for instance, some of these docs didn't even know the options in their own field. It's not their fault if they do not know the holistic options out there. On the show, they make fun of the Hot Stone therapy, aromatherapy etc. However they show Mindy slowly opening up, trying the Hot Stone Therapy, doing yoga or crunches maybe! I don't even know if women know the different options out there for them, in fact, it is much like how people are ignorant about other religions, cultures, and races. (This rant is due to reading negative reviews regarding how Mindy and her colleagues dissed the male-midwives!). Done with this i promise! Besides it's a comedy!
I am usually very picky about comedy, but Mindy seriously tickles my fancy! She is witty, sharp, and fresh, even my boyfriend enjoys it when he watches it with me. My mom liked it, but could not stand Mindy's voice. I didn't like it either, but she isn't skinny either, and we all like to see skinny, sexy women on television... except now since I gained 40 lbs thanks to the estrogen overload (freaking Ob/Gyns!) I can totally relate to women and our changing bodies!! This comes back to the fact that women judge women harshly... I thought about why this was, and it was because we are so insecure, we feel bringing other women down, lifts us up.So off topic again, but I could be judging Mindy for being an Indian woman in her 30s acting on tv and being so uncouth and chubby, and politically incorrect in whatever way, so liberal! However I find joy that she is like me, representing me somewhat, and I totally support the show! It's like one of the few things Fox has gotten right! I love shows that have women in strong lead roles, and Mindy is definitely a strong, hard working, confident women, who sometimes says or does crazy things!!! (Which woman doesn't or hasn't at least once!).
Breathe
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| Mindy and her two male Ob/Gyns colleagues... they are cute! |
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| She does quirky things for instance when on call during nights at the hospital, she wears a mask in case a serial killer walks in to kill her... he'll realize she's a killer and walk away! Logic! I would kind of employ this same tactic! |
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| This literally is me when the doctor weighs me! |
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| I'd totally go see her if she was a real Ob/Gyn! |
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| As smart as she is as a Ob/Gyn doc, she is as silly and dreamy when it comes to love, relationships and romance! Happens to the best and smartest of us! |
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| I guess she had a rough night. |
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| Ryan! this might explain why I do the vulture neck while talking/ arguing! She's kinda doing it too! Is it an Indian thing? i dunno! But am so glad I'm not the only one! Ryan said sometimes when I drink, and talk at parties, this is what becomes of my posture. :-P |
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| This was me at some aerobic class, zumba? jazzercise? Whatever I think Mindy's at a Bollywood class, and she's as lost as I was! Really women how do you do it? Even after five classes I'm like WHAT! I can do ballroom dancing (standard and Latin) and belly-dancing fine! |
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| Though, sometimes Mindy might bring out her moves, and some wicked tunes |
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| They are all stunned after hearing some news ... Def watch the show! |
