Gender Identity
Gender identity starts its formation at home, and in Saudi Arabia it is not different. Home life greatly influences a person’s growth and is the root of cultural understanding (Mahler, 2012). In Saudi, home is usually seen as a work place for women, hence men form the majority of shopkeepers in the region. Women are also restricted to live in their parent’s house until they get married where they move to their husbands home. In America, however, women are perceived as independent human beings who can work anywhere they choose. Additionally, they are free to move out of their parent’s house and live whenever they want. In terms of social statuses, Saudi Arabia links the stratification to population diversity. The top tribal status was the qabila whose families claimed a purity descent from one of the eponymous Arab ancestors. Tribal status is also correlated to occupation where manual labor is considered demeaning. There are also the khadira families who are perceived inferior to qabila men and marriage between qabila and khadira are deemed improper. The khadira comprise of merchants, artisans and trades. Meanwhile, the American social statuses comprise of the three tier structure of lower, middle and upper classes. High income earners are more educated, with powerful social networks and high status occupations. Lower income earners are less educated and have low status occupations. As for the middle class earners, they can afford a good lifestyle but not an extravagant one.
Culture Around children
Culture is learned early in life as children are brought up in a specific society that has a specific way of living hence come to deem it natural and comfortable to possess a culture. Therefore, it is important for one to be mindful of the culture practiced around children. This is achievable by setting an example for instance, that of apologizing when a mistake is made. This will restore household harmony and doing it helps the children get to learn. This sets a culture where children learn from their parents as they are around them. Another way of mindful culturing is living by routine (Mahler, 2012). An example of this is that of setting meal times, so that no guesswork is involved in whether to take a meal or not. This provides a flow of a healthy life.
Cultural discomfort
A non-Muslim may find it nervous to enter a mosque in the U.S for the first time. So when my next door neighbor, a religious study student requested for my company to visit a mosque, I accepted. She was interested in understanding major religious traditions theologically hence had started by visiting the mosque. So we went on a Friday afternoon where we entered through the women’s door and took in the cleansing room. While there I explained the washing of forearms, wrists, elbows, hairlines, faces, ankles and feet. We then left the room to the main mosque where we sat on the side of women since the men and women sit on two different sides. As the prayers began I told my neighbor to just follow my lead and actions. After the service we left as we discussed the various activities that had taken place. My neighbor found it discomforting to have to look at my every move just to make sure she did not mess up in the prayer patterns or the washing process.
It was, therefore, my duty to ensure my neighbors visit was as comfortable as possible and this was achieved through explaining to her what to expect when getting to the mosque. This is partly to familiarize her with the local culture of the people she was to interact with so as not to fill out of place or be caught unawares (Mahler, 2012). Additionally, I had to ensure that she was in the right dressing code of long tops, pants, covered arms and a hajib snug the face. This was to ensure she had the mode of dressing expected in the place, hence be assimilated as part of those worshipping.
References
Mahler, S. J. (2012). Culture as comfort. New York: Pearson Publishing.
