Culture and Diversity
Heather Sanderson
Eastern Connecticut State University
Dr. David Stoloff
February 24, 2018
We all approach daily situations and interactions with our own cultural biases. It is helpful to take a step back and assess where we are coming from compared to others with whom we are interacting. When living abroad, understanding cultural differences is essential to having a positive experience. Chapters one and two of the Peace Corps Workbook are about understanding culture and diversity.
I have always thought I take the time to understand others’ backgrounds and to restrain from being judgmental. But after reading “Jan’s” account about her witnessing someone kick a dog, I questioned whether I am judgmental (Peace Corps, August 2012, p7). In this scenario, I wondered whether I should try to understand another culture that finds it acceptable to kick a dog, but it just seemed so cruel to me. Then I read the analysis, which included the revelation that the person could have kicked the dog for “self protection, not wanting to be infected by the bite of a diseased animal” (Peace Corps, August 2012, p.27). After the revelation, I realized I was coming from the American viewpoint that dogs are domesticated pets that should be treated with care. Here in the United States, we set mouse traps in our homes to protect ourselves from rodents that can spread disease. What we do to protect ourselves from pests, big and small, is no different from the man defending himself against a threatening dog. My bias was surprising to me.
Whether a culture is individualistic or collectivist explains many behaviors of the people within that culture. The individualist “identifies primarily with self, with the needs of the individual being satisfied before those of the group,” and the collectivist’s identity “is in large part a function of one’s membership and role in a group” (Peace Corps, August 2017, p.31). I completed the activity in the Peace Corps workbook to see if I was more individualistic or collectivist, and as I suspected, I was more individualistic, as most people are the United States, especially in metropolitan areas. Yet, it was interesting to read about the electrician in Honduras who worked on the Peace Corps volunteer’s house and would not accept anything in return even though he was a newlywed with a new baby and could have used some extra money (Peace Corps, August 2012, p.33). He is a collectivist, and “it’s their sense of community, the great importance they attach to looking after each other” that guides their helpful behavior (Peace Corps, August 2012, p.33). Here in Connecticut, it would be nice to find a local electrician who would work on my house for free, but I know I can expect an expensive bill any time I use such a service.
As an American, I would like to better understand my perception of our culture versus those perceptions people of other countries have about Americans. I completed the activity on how non-Americans see Americans in the Peace Corps workbook and was surprised about the positive qualities non-Americans associated with Americans. I expected terms like rude, decisive, inventive, and honest to be the words non-Americans would choose to describe Americans, but they chose energetic, industrious, inventive, and friendly (Peace Corps, August 2012, p.56). I was especially surprised by the “friendly” description. Perhaps because I live the Northeast, I always think of Americans as rude. I am glad those surveyed do not see us in such a negative way.
When reading through American’s view on the thirteen cultural categories, I am reminded about Americans’ negative attitudes about aging. Most Americans stress out about looking old and do not show respect towards the elderly. I do not agree with this view and have always respected and enjoyed the elderly, finding conversations with older folks insightful. Our views usually originate from our childhood and how we are raised. I was brought up by my grandmother because my single mother worked long hours, trying to support two children. As a child, I would spend time at the senior center, having lunch with my grandmother’s friends, and this experience shaped my positive cultural views on the elderly.
References
Peace Corps (August 2012). Cultural Matters: The Peace Corps Cross-Cultural Workbook. Retrieved from http://files.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/library/t0087CultureMatters.pdf