Lifestyle, Education, and Socio-Economic Trends in India and Australia - Research Paper Example

The paper “Lifestyle, Education, and Socio-Economic Trends in India and Australia” is a  potent variant of a research paper on social science. The term “lifestyle” is commonly used to describe the way of life of an individual, group, culture society or a nation in general. According to Elliot (1993), lifestyle is a distinctive mode of living that is characterised by a set of consistent and patterned behaviours that occur over a period of time. Similarly, Mooij (2010) observes that lifestyle entails a set people’s values, opinion interests and behaviour. Basically, lifestyle reflects the consistent values, opinion, interests and behaviours of people in a particular society. Over time, a number of studies have shown that the increasing trends of globalisation have brought about a significant impact on people lifestyles. In essence, globalisation has impacted the social, economic, cultural and political aspects of people’s lives worldwide (Razak, 2011; Vaish 2010; Ganguly-Scrase & Scrase, 2008). As a result of cross-cultural communication, interactions and exposure to people from different nationalities, a number of researchers and theorists believe that gradually people’s way of life or lifestyle is becoming homogenised. This implies that, due to the increasing trends of globalisation, societies are increasingly borrowing and adapting to different lifestyle elements thus losing their distinctive lifestyle (Razak, 2011; Vaish 2010; Ganguly-Scrase & Scrase, 2008).

This report presents the findings of a comparative study on the Indian and Australian lifestyle. The study was conducted so as to critically compare India’s and Australia’s lifestyle with regards to socio-cultural and economic lifestyle elements. By comparing the Indian and Australian lifestyle, this study attempts to examine whether globalisation has gradually made people’s lifestyle homogenised. Foremost, this report will highlight the key objectives or aims of the study. Secondly, it will present a brief background of the study based on a critical review of various relevant literature. Moreover, this report will examine the methodologies that were used in the study. Subsequently, it will present the findings of the study and provide a critical discussion of the findings established in the study.

Objectives of the study
The main purpose of the study conducted was to critically compare India’s and Australia’s lifestyle with regards to socio-cultural lifestyle elements such as religion, food, dressing, festivals, beliefs and sports and among other aspects. The study also aimed at comparing India’s and Australia’s economic lifestyle elements such as education and literacy levels, economic activities, work patterns, consumer behaviour and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The study aimed at showing that, in as much as the increasing trends of globalisation might have caused people from India and Australia to borrow and adapt to different economic, social, political and cultural elements, still each nation has its own unique or distinctive lifestyle elements (Abou, 2003; Anheier & Isar, 2007).

The study specifically focused on the following objectives;

• Examining India’s lifestyle in relations to socio-cultural elements such as festivals, dressing, cuisine, religion, beliefs and sports.
• Examining Australia’s lifestyle in relations to elements such as festivals, dressing, cuisine, religions, beliefs and rituals.
• Examining India’s lifestyle in relations to socio-economic aspects such as education and literacy levels, economic activities, work patterns, consumer behaviour and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• Examining Australia’s lifestyle in relations to socio-economic aspects such as education and literacy levels, economic activities, work patterns, consumer behaviour and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• Identifying similarities and differences in India’s and Australia’s lifestyle in relations to socio-cultural elements such as festivals, dressing, cuisine, religion, beliefs and sports.
• Identifying similarities and differences in India’s and Australia’s lifestyle in relations to socio-economic aspects such as education and literacy levels, economic activities, work patterns, consumer behaviour and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The study aimed at showing that, in as much as the increasing trends of globalisation might have caused people from India and Australia to borrow and adapt to different economic, social, political and cultural elements, still each nation has its own unique or distinctive lifestyle elements (Abou, 2003; Anheier & Isar, 2007). The study specifically focused on the following objectives; Examining India’s lifestyle in relations to socio-cultural elements such as festivals, dressing, cuisine, religion, beliefs and sports.

Examining Australia’s lifestyle in relations to elements such as festivals, dressing, cuisine, religions, beliefs and rituals. Examining India’s lifestyle in relations to socio-economic aspects such as education and literacy levels, economic activities, work patterns, consumer behaviour and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Examining Australia’s lifestyle in relations to socio-economic aspects such as education and literacy levels, economic activities, work patterns, consumer behaviour and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Identifying similarities and differences in India’s and Australia’s lifestyle in relations to socio-cultural elements such as festivals, dressing, cuisine, religion, beliefs and sports. Identifying similarities and differences in India’s and Australia’s lifestyle in relations to socio-economic aspects such as education and literacy levels, economic activities, work patterns, consumer behaviour and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Background/ Literature Review Socio-cultural trends in Australia and India Australia Based on the findings of studies conducted by Pickering (2001) and Bhela (2010), it is evident that both Australia and India have been significantly affected by the increasing trends of globalisation.

Nevertheless, these countries have distinctive and unique lifestyle elements (Ganguly-Scrase & Scrase, 2008; Turner, 2007). Generally, Australia can be considered as a product of unique blend between new influences and established traditions. The country’s original inhabitants comprised of indigenous communities such as the Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal peoples. With time, migrants mainly from Europe, Asia and North America settled in Australia and formed what is today referred to as the Australian nation.

Currently, Australia is a nation characterised by a rich and diverse cultural and lifestyles elements. Some of the key factors that distinguish Australia from other countries include the country’s festivities, celebrations, holidays, cuisines, sporting culture and wildlife (DFAT, 2012). According to the Australian census conducted in 2006, it was established that at least 65% of Australians are Christians, 2% Muslims, 0.7% Hindus and 0.5% Jewish. 18.7%, of Australians defined themselves as ‘irreligious whereas 11% choose to keep their religion anonymous (ABS, 2007).

On the other hand, people from Indigenous communities have their unique spiritual values and religious practices. Generally, Australia has no official state religion thus people are free to refrain from religion or practice any religion that they prefer. In relations to Australian cuisine, Saunders (1999) and Pike (2004) suggest that most Australian cuisine comprise of Mediterranean, Asian, European and Indigenous foods. Due to the country’s abundant natural resources, there is a large supply of plant and animal food varieties.

Furthermore, given that Australia is encompassed by sea, seafood is a major delicacy in Australia. Some of the commonly consumed delicacies in Australia include; prawns, salmon, lamb, beef, sandwiches, meat pie and poultry among others (Saunders, 1999; Pike, 2004). Moreover, Nolan (1996) notes that, due to the increasing rate of immigrants in the Country, Australian have also adapted to foreign delicacies such as Chinese food, Japanese food and Indian food among many others. .brisbanetimes.com.au cairnsunlimited.

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