Approaches to Cultural Diversity - Case Study Example

Approaches to Cultural Diversity Name: Institution: Abstract As different communities have different cultures, people across the globe are bound to behave differently in terms of lifestyle, clothing, and/or eating habits. This research aims to explore some cultural issues using information from two interviewees (Isir and James) with different cultural backgrounds. In particular, the essay will discuss the interviewee’s background, their cultural perspectives, cultural effects on their belief systems and life experiences, influences of culture on their intercultural interactions, as well as their suggestions on how to reduce the impacts. Approaches to Cultural Diversity Culture – the mutual ideologies, principles, assumptions, expectations, values, and traditions, among others that join a society together – influences the way we interact within and without the community, eat, or cloth. As different communities have different cultures, people across the globe are bound to behave differently in terms of lifestyle, clothing, and/or eating habits. Although some cultures encourage behaviors that foster multiculturalism, others advocate for complete disconnect between different cultural traditions and practices. Charles (2009) argues that while the aspect of interculturalism fosters diversity and inclusion, cultural disconnect brings about racial discrimination, stereotyping, and other social misconceptions that promote animosity and hatred between people of different cultures. This research aims to explore some of this issues using information from two interviewees with different cultural backgrounds. In particular, the research will discuss the interviewee’s background, their cultural perspectives, cultural effects on their belief systems and life experiences, influences of culture on their intercultural interactions, as well as their suggestions on how to reduce the impacts. Background Information on Interviewees Isir’s Background Born in Somali, Isir encountered a myriad of misfortunes, including natural disasters, disease outbreaks, wars, and her mother’s temperament, which made her childhood unpredictable. Besides, she could never understand her cultural practices well because of conflicted perceptions between her parents regarding role of religion, money, sexuality, violence, and sexuality. In addition, movement of her family from one country to another meant a dire need to assimilate into the new cultures every time they moved to a new country in order to be able to interact with her new society. However, her mother and father did not take this well, insisting that Isir to be taken to school where she can learn to become a strong Muslim. From her grandmother, Isir learnt that her culture believes in extended family structure and authority, as well as respect for clan elders. She remembers being forced to marry a relative, but a complete stranger from Egypt. This forced her to flee home and go to Australia; assimilation was not a smooth endeavor, as cultural practices in Australia were complete opposite to those in Somalia. Here, she learnt about freedom to do everything provided it does not infringe to rights of others. Comparing the two cultures, Isir believes that Islam is not a culture, but a barbaric brainwashing program. Despite her difficulties in assimilating to the new culture, she eventually learnt many aspects of the western culture and now lives happily in Melbourne unmarried, highly educated, no children, and practices western cultural practices. James’ Background Unlike Isir, James’ childhood, born in Australia, was full of happiness, but lacked good cultural life. They were forcefully removed from their homeland and sent to a mission, where the management did not encourage them to practice Aboriginal cultural practices, but rather dictated their way of life according to white man’s culture. As a child, James never had the opportunity to learn about his culture, as government authorities kept on monitoring activities of his family. Whenever they escaped, the authorities arrested them and return them back to mission. His childhood was filled with fear of being taken away from their parents, who always instructed them to run and hide every time they spotted a car. However, one day when James was ten only ten years old, three men got into the family’s house and forcefully took away James and all his siblings. This marked separation of James from his parents and siblings, who were taken to different homes and/or dorms housing Aboriginal boys only. Life in the home was a hell for James, as he was abused, bullied, discriminately punished, and deprived of his identity, language, and family attachment. He received news of his release from the home eight years later with mixed reactions – jubilation at being set free, and sadness for being separated from his family. This marked start of his disconcerted life full of crime, unsuccessful marriage relationships, and drug and alcohol abuse. While in prison, he received spiritual salvation that changed his life for good. Now he is pastor in the mission, where he dedicates his life to helping Aboriginals know about their culture. Blaming the white man’s culture for his life tribulations, James believes Aboriginal culture is his bloodline, identity, and dictator of structure that assumes behaviors, which are reflected as cultural values and beliefs. Interviewees’ Perspectives on Culture According to Wehbe-Alamah (2008), culture involves pervasive and deeply held implicit beliefs, which vary across different societies. This implies that people’s behave differently from one culture to another, as to a larger extent, culture influences behavior of individuals. As demonstrated on the perspectives of the interviewees, intercultural interactions expose individuals to new practices, norms, and behaviors, with the extent to which an individual assimilates into the new culture determining his or her ability to survive successfully. Isir perceives culture as the principal factor influencing a person’s way of life. For the interview, she was able to adjust to different cultures in countries in which her family went because of its willingness to assimilate with natives and learn new languages and customs. She also perceives culture as sometimes discriminative. She argues that Islam culture discriminates against girls, giving boys all opportunities that they need to succeed in life. She categorically says, “Girls can dream, but only dream of boys come to pass.” In addition, Isir perceives culture as a hindrance towards achievement of one’s goals. This is evident when she confesses that if she stayed with her father, she could have been forced to marry at an early age, which could have denied her an opportunity for a better life, which she enjoys now. James perception about culture is different from Isir’s view that culture is discriminative and a hindrance to one’s goals in life. He perceives culture as a source of identity, which determines who we are in the society. This is evident when he claims that living in the assimilated world deprived him his family attachment, language, and identity. James also perceives lack of culture as the source of immorality and dysfunction in the society. As demonstrated by his arguments, lack of cultural background predisposes one to criminal acts and other immoral behaviors, as well as it brings about dysfunctional families. Moreover, James perceives culture as a determinant of social structure that influences behaviors, which in turn reflects believes and values in the society. Impacts of Culture on the Interviewees’ Life Experiences and Belief Systems Markus and Kitayama (1991) believe that culture can have negative impacts on individual’s life experiences, particularly social interactions. It also affects how individuals interact with family members and individuals from other cultures. For example, Isir’s culture had negative influences on her social interactions with her family members. She never appreciated the different roles that boys and girls have in Islam, role of extended family and clan elders, and the practice that girls should marry a man chosen by her family. For James, his cultural background brought him into odds with the mainstream culture in his country. He could not only enjoy good social interactions with his family, but also with individuals from other cultural backgrounds. In addition, deprivation of culture denied James his identity, which caused him to encounter many negative life tribulations (for example, low self-esteem, internal guilt, difficulties in marriages, and others). Despite such negative consequences, culture can also have positive effects on life encounters. According to Henry et al. (2009), culture influences life experiences, which in turn play an important role in shaping who we are and how we express ourselves. This is evident from arguments of the two interviewees considered in this discussion. First, exposure to more than one culture has had various effects on Isir’s life. She has come to appreciate different practices and values, intermingling successfully with people from other cultures. In fact, her ability to interact with members from other cultures has made her become highly educated and adjust her lifestyle to that of the Australians. In contrast, forceful introduction of James to white man’s culture has made him develop hatred towards individuals from other culture. In addition, it gave him increased desire to learn his hereditary culture, which led him to become a worker in the government-controlled homes for aboriginals in order to teach them about their cultural values. Besides, culture molds belief systems of individuals in a different manner. As Swaidan, Rawwas, and Vitell (2008) observe cultural exposure dictates ideologies that we believe in (p.129). This may mean that the level of exposure may compel an individual to develop pro- or anti-culture belief systems. For instance, increased exposure to Islam culture made Isir build her belief system in absolute contradiction to teachings of Islam, believing that cultural norms should dictate our lives. Limited exposure to Aboriginal culture made James create pro-culture ideologies, believing that culture, through values and beliefs, should dictate our behaviors. Influences of Culture on Interviewees’ Interactions with Others Culture influences on the nature and level of interactions between individuals from different cultures (Charles, 2009). From the interview, Isir interacts frequently with people from other cultures because the movement of her family from one country to another exposes her to different cultures. Moreover, she believes that culture should not limit her intercultural interactions, even choosing to ditch her Islamic culture to embrace western cultural practices. In contrast, James’s situation does not encourage him to interact freely with others. Instead, the move by the white man to dictate the western culture has made him hate intercultural interactions, blaming them for his life shortcomings. As such, he loses interest in such interactions, and instead, chooses to interact only with individuals from his culture, educating them about their cultural practices. Interviewees’ Suggestions on how to Lessen Cultural Impacts Racher and Annis (2007) argue we must compel ourselves to think and act in ways that will inherently feel foreign to our traditional ways of thinking and acting. In addition, expectations placed upon us by the family and the community should shape not only our work, but also our intentions and roles we assume in the mixed communities. Some of these elements are present in the interviewee’s arguments. For instance, Isir suggests that people should seek knowledge rather than believe in superstition and dogma, in order to change their attitude about freedom of expression. She also suggests people to change their perspective about religion and to be responsible for their own actions, which are the foundations of good and evil in the society. She further suggests people to express openness and hospitality in interacting with members from diverse cultures. However, James suggests working together in assisting people suffering from cultural conflicts. This suggestion is evident in his work as pastor in the homes where he assists Aboriginal people and other members of stolen generation. Similarities and Differences between Interviewees’ Cultural Experiences Some similarities between the two interviewee’s cultural experiences emerge from the arguments. Both were victims of cultural discrimination, with Isir being discriminated because of her gender in the society and James, discriminated because of her race (Howard, 2006, p.183). Secondly, both of them suffered from cultural conflict in their new environments. Isir encountered clashing cultural values and practices in the Islamic and Western communities. James had difficulties in adopting the new culture in the mission, which was completely different from his. Moreover, Isir and James changed their believe system and way of life out of cultural experience. Isir changed his believe system from Islam to atheist after settling in Melbourne. She also, changed her way of dressing from Muslim to that of western. James after experiencing a brutal life in the mission changed his way of life to drugs and criminal activity and later to a pastor. However, there are also differences evident in their cultural perceptions. Isir’s cultural background favored male child as compared to girl child, while James’s culture gave both boys and girls equal treatment (Costa, Terracciano, & McCrae, 2001). Secondly, Isir’s new cultural experience in Australia was a good one, as it had a positive impact on her life. In contrast, James had a bad experience in the mission, which was full of mistreatment and exploitation by the white people. From the interview, Isir indicates that she would not have achieved her dreams of freedom if Australia did not give her the opportunity, while James criticizes assimilation policy for depriving him liberty and freedom of expression. Conclusion Culture involves pervasive and deeply held implicit beliefs, which vary across different societies. For instance, Isir (a Somali woman) perceives culture as the principal factor influencing a person’s way of life, while James (an Aboriginal Australian) perceives culture as a source of identity, which determines who we are in the society. Culture not only affects how individuals interact with family members and individuals from other cultures, but also life experiences, which in turn play an important role in shaping who we are and how we express ourselves. As such, to lessen such influences (as demonstrated by the interviewees), we need to compel ourselves to think and act in ways that will inherently feel foreign to our traditional ways of thinking and acting References Charles, M. (2009). Culture and inequality: Identify, ideology, and difference in “postascriptive society.” The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 619 (1), 41-58. Costa, P., Terracciano, A., & McCrae, R.R. (2001). Gender differences in personality traits across cultures: Robust and surprising findings. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81 (2), 322-331. Henry, H.M., Stiles, W.B., Biran, M.W., Mosher, J.K., Brinegar, M.G., & Banerjee, P. (2009). Immigrants’ continued bonds with their native culture: Assimilation analysis of three interviews. Transcultural Psychiatry, 46 (2), 257-284. Howard, J.L. (2006). The role of culture in shaping perceptions of discrimination among active duty and reserve forces in the US military. Employee Responsibilities & Rights Journal, 18 (3), 171-187. Markus, H.R., & Kitayama, S. (1991). Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation. Psychological Review, 98 (2), 224-253. Racher, F.E., & Annis, R.C. (2007). Respecting culture and honoring diversity in community practice. Research & Theory of Nursing Practice, 21 (4), 255-270. Swaidan, Z., Rawwas, M.Y., & Vitell, S.J. (2008). Culture and moral ideologies of African Americans. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 16 (2), 127-137. Wehbe-Alamah, H. (2008). Bridging generic and professional care practices for Muslim patients through use of Leininger’s culture care models. Contemporary Nurse, 28 (1-2), 83-97. Read More