Sharing with Others
Sharing with Others
Some people feel that discussing culture and beliefs can cause more problems than it solves. If from a different or a minority culture, they might feel that the listeners may respond negatively or may change in attitude towards them. If an individual has an opportunity to discuss someone else’s culture and beliefs, often s/he will choose to avoid that subject because s/he does not want to make the individual from a different culture feel uncomfortable. I have often been in both situations. However, I always feel that it is always better to share and to learn about other cultures. I am very comfortable talking about culture with others at my school. If someone feels uncomfortable discussing cultures, I try to understand the reasons behind their discomfort. This conversation leads to a deeper understanding of their beliefs and we sometimes manage to break down cultural barriers. There are some individuals, though, who are not as open to discussing others cultures or beliefs, but this sometimes happens because they cannot relate or do not understand their own cultures well enough to compare and to care about other cultures. Sometimes, sharing with family and friends can be easier than sharing with colleagues or coworkers. In my case, it depends on the family member or the friend. For some family members, it is easier to share with them because we have explored and discovered cultures together. There are many different ways to encourage safe conversations about culture and beliefs and jumping right into them is not the best way. I think that the best way to approach these conversations is to be cautious and to not stir up any bad memories or stereotypes. One’s culture and beliefs are important aspects their identities and sharing these with others often enriches our own lives.
References
Haviland, W. A., & McBride, B., & Prins, H. E. L., & Walrath, D. (2010). Cultural Anthropology: The Human Challenge (13th ed.). Boston: Cengage Learning.
Hendry, J. (2008). Sharing Our Worlds: An Introduction to Cultural and Social Anthropology (2nd ed.). New York: NYU Press.
Miller, B. D. (2010). Cultural Anthropology (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson.
