Addressing Cultural Encounters
- How would you define societal culture in your own words?
Societal culture, also known as national culture, is that culture which is shared by the members of a society, or a group of individuals, often within national borders. A culture is often defined as a collection of values, assumptions and traditions that are shared by the members of that society. It follows, thus, that some cultures exceed the national borders, which, particularly for African countries, do not reflect cultural societies, much like the linguistic boundaries. A societal culture, then, is that culture which is shared and transmitted by members of a society.
- Since we are often unaware of the assumptions we make, how can you develop a greater awareness of the shared expectations you have within your culture?
Open discussions about what we take for granted in our culture can lead to understanding assumptions that we make. We can develop great awareness of shared expectations by listing the values that are important to each individual, for instance in a group project. These lists will expose the assumptions that we make to better connect with members of other cultures. The discussion and list are only two examples of exposing assumptions, but this step is important to get along with other cultures, particularly in a business situation.
- Why is showing respect particularly important when dealing with people from different cultures?
Respect is something that can be felt, just as much as disrespect can be easily deduced. Exhibiting respect for other cultures shows that we do not consider our culture to be superior. It minimalizes the conflicts and makes interaction more enjoyable between cultures. One way to show respect is to sincerely inquire and attempt to get to know the other cultures and individuals.
- It is common to develop expectations of how others will act based on what we observe or on stereotypes we may have of a group, especially when someone is very different from us. How can you cultivate your ability to interact with others as individuals rather than as members of a category or group?
The first problem when meeting someone from a different culture is to overcome stereotypes, for ourselves and for others. Stereotypes will continue to crop up throughout the relationship, but the key to overcoming them is sincerity. Usually, people are pleased when someone tries to move pas the stereotypical conversation. One way to interact with an individual rather than a group of stereotypes is to get to know the individual. Discover the ways in which the individual is different from the stereotyped group. Spending time with the individual strengthens the bond that we have with him or her.
- Reflect back on a moment in the past when you have interacted with someone from a different culture.
- How did you feel and what were you thinking about during the interaction?
Being raised in multi-cultural family, I thought I was comfortable with different cultures, but I was only comfortable with European cultures. I still had stereotypes about other cultures. The first interaction I can remember outside of my comfort zone, I was uncomfortable, I didn’t know what to say. But, I enjoy getting to learn about different cultures and about different countries, and this was evident in my conversation with individuals from other cultures, as was my respect for them. The world is so rich in different cultures that it is difficult to stay in my own bubble. I was thinking about the individual and becoming friends with them. I was thinking about focusing on what they were saying instead of how they were saying it.
- How can you improve your ability to navigate cultural differences in the future?
In the future, I can be more sincere in wanting to get to know individuals. Cultural differences are not meant to divide us, but to make us more rich and complex. I can go beyond my comfort zones and reach out more to individuals from cultures that are very different from my own, which is very complex.
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