Q: i am asking this question because most people think indian women wear a bindhi and sit at home and make curry and it is a wrong assumption A: It depends on the part of the world you are referring to. Different areas have different standards of beauty, and even those standards change from era to era. You might be reading too much western/european influence into your standards. Brazil is a latin/spanish-ized country, and therefore the influence of europe (and its readily identifiable culture) is strongly inherent within its 'standards'. Also, the tropical local (as opposed to colder weather systems in Europe and US) lends an aura of mystique and exotique to the personification. What is further away from ourselves seems more beautiful (the grass is always greener....) But I think it might be the perception of vast cultural and spiritual differences that prevent people from thinking of Indian women as being 'beautiful'. Also, Indian women might be perceived to be of a 'darker' skin tone, which has european connotations of 'evil' or 'bad'. But all generalizations are just that; generalizations. Anyone who places undue importance (whether as a positive or negative) only helps perpetuate them.