From The Peopling of New York City

Beth,

This is pretty good for a zap interview on the street. If you want to pursue the question, why not try to find a South Asian student with whom you could discuss some of these issues about "family," family closeness and parental control at more length. You have to keep in mind that there is a whole spectrum of belief on this issue. The more upper-class a family was in India (and the more upper-middle their professional status here) the more they tend towards an "American" model of youthful freedom and independence--the less frightened they are of such "American" threats as drugs or unchastity. On the other hand, Indian families tend to be emotionally close and intensely involved with each other which may make separation harder.

You need to pursue this. best, Hanna Lessinger