Free Research Paper On Cultural Differences Between The United States And Saudi Arabia

Cultural differences play a vital role in shaping lives of people and influence their opinions, ways of thinking and living. In this paper, I have discussed my personal experience about the differences in culture of between two countries i.e., America and my country, which is Saudi Arabia and. I have visited and spent some time in the United States and noted that its culture differs from Saudi Arabia’s culture in a several ways. The most obvious difference that I have realized between both countries is of religion, family, social life, political system, personal appearance, education and statues. I have noted that, Americans give importance to independence and freedom and both genders are allowed to lead the life according to their own will and wish. Both men and women are free to decide on their own without any external influence. Women is permitted to drive a car, travel, marry and can do whatever she wants but in Saudi Arabia, the freedom is cruelly curtailed for females. Moreover, honor killings are allowed in my country i.e., Saudi Arabia, but it is considered as the first or the second degree murder in the Unites States, which I observed during my visit.
Saudis’ give much importance to the family. They look after their parents when they grow old and children live with their parents in their house till they get married. Children are also dependent on their parents for financial support. But, in Unites States I have observed that family is not given that much importance, they give much preference to work and family is their second priority. In most of the cases, in the United States, children live in separate home and parents live in separate home. During my visit I found that Children are not dependent on family and they start start working and leave their parents and house at the age of 18. They prefer to spend independent life; they do part time jobs and take loans in order to pay for the school. They even do not bother about their parents when they become old. Contrary to it, in Saudi Arabia even two generations are living in the same house and they are quite satisfied with their living standard and they live with harmony and mutual cooperation with one another. This builds relationship strength among the members of family. They feel as different parts of one body, but Americans feel alienated from the family because they live far away from them and I have personally realized this fact as have stayed with such people for a period of approximately one month.
As far as religion is concerned, the people in my country are not given freedom for choosing their religion. Everyone has to be a good Muslim. Whenever an infant is born, the very first thing that he/she hears is Adaan which a call for the pray and this thing makes the new born a Muslim. Additionally, the parents teach their children how to eat, pray, drink, fast; recite Holy Quran and other Islamic ways of worships. To follow Shariah and Islamic law is compulsory for all the Muslim people living there. Religion is the most important thing that drives every aspect of life in Saudi Arabia. But in the U.S., my visit allowed me to observe that people have full freedom of choosing their religion. I have observed that in America parents are Christian and children do not follow any religion. They even don’t bother about their and their parent’s religion. In United States, people generally do not care about the religion and give secondary importance to it. Further, the Muslim women in Saudi Arabia do not shake their hands with males, but in United States hand shaking of females with males is very common.
In Saudi Arabia, personal appearance also matters a lot and dress and personality grooming are considered as the status symbols in the country. People like to spend a lot of money in order to enhance appearance. Moreover, the title i.e., their belonging to a particular tribe and their position are given much more importance than the money. Money holds less importance than the title in eyes of residents of Saudi Arabia. But, I have viewed that in United States, the appearance does not matter. Performance is given priority over appearance in America and money is considered as the main element for status and is also the reward for any achievement. Americans do not care about these matters such as which family and tribe the individual belongs to etc, money is the sole measurement there. The Saudi Arabia’s culture is influenced heavily by Islam, but the culture of United States is influenced by Christianity. This is due to the fact that the government in United States is secular but the government in United States is not secular. In Saudi Arabia justice system is based on the religious law but in United States I have noted that it is based on the rule of law.
Considering the educational system of both countries, in Saudi Arabia, education is based on the memorization concept. Our teachers just deliver lecture and say that memorize it. Theory is given importance and practical aspect is not considered, I am saying this because of my own personal experience of studying in Saudi institutions. The curriculum of the country is broad and rigid. The participation of students in the class is very limited. The professors and teachers talk and the students listen to them and take the notes. They teach the students about Shariah and Islam and some languages for example English and Arabic. But the education system in Saudi Arabia emphasize on the analytical approach. They focus on practical rather than theoretical approach. But, I became very surprised and happy with the educational institutions of the United States. I have observed that the U.S. educational curriculum is specified and narrow. Class participation of students is common. Students usually discuss, talk and ask questions from their teachers or instructors, that was quite astonishing aspect for me. There are lot of differences between the Saudi student and the U.S. student. Furthermore, In Saudi Arabia cannot argue with the professors/instructors and they have to agree on what the teachers teach no matter it is right or wrong. But, I saw that in America the scenario is quite opposite, the U.S. students argue with instructor and discuss the point on which they disagree. This helps the students to clarify their concepts. The students in Saudi Arabia do not behave well, while the students in United States behave well with their colleagues, speak in a polite way and respect each other. This is all due to the teaching influence, the way they were taught about the culture.
Furthermore, the social lives of both the countries differ in Saudi Arabia, people do not separate their personal connections/relations and work. They consider their colleagues as their friends. But, in United States individuals separate their work from the personal and emotional relationships. Moreover, collectivist culture is prevailing in Saudi Arabia, where people are expected to sympathize with, perform and work well in the groups that give them protection in exchange for compliance and loyalty. The identity of Saudi people is engrossed in their groups so they favor harmony for supporting the group instead of expressing their conflicting opinions. They consider that different groups have dissimilar and varying values. For example the people belonging to particular tribe remain sincere and connected to that tribe. I consider this aspect as loyalty and collectivism. In Unites States individualist culture is popular. The people in United States are encouraged to express and explain their personal opinion and speak up for what they want, even if their demand is contrary the others in the group. When I stayed in the United States, people with whom I interacted gave me full freedom to express my personal views. But, people of my country avoid arguments and confrontations because they are considered as sensitive issue as differences in opinion arises.
My visit also allowed me to compare the element of mobility in both countries. For example I have noted that the percentage of rich Americans is low in United States but majority of the Americans are themselves in the workforce and not imported ones. Class mobility is quite low in America. Political protest is allowed in United States but not in Saudi Arabia. Class mobility is more pronounced in Saudi Arabia, where the Royal families are owner of majority of wealth and land. Slaves are imported from poor countries such as Africa and these slaves form majority of workforce there
In nut shell, the inference of my visit to the United States is that culture exerts its influence on the way of thinking, living, understanding and behaving. It also plays a significant role in controlling our relationship and connection with God, friends, family and the entire society. United States and Saudi Arabia have quite different cultures having entirely different cultural and societal aspects. These differences however sometimes pave the way to misunderstandings, conflicts and misinterpretations. I personally think that people have to be responsive to the cultural differences and should try to open mind for accepting the people as they are. In order to know further about the culture of others, the local residents should be consulted for help and proper guidance.