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Review of related literature about cultural diversity
The importance of cultural diversity research paper
Review of related literature about cultural diversity
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The Key of Reflexivity
What gives me the right to judge? As a studying anthropologist, what constitutes me the right to study “Others” and proclaim my perception of the “studied” is correct? Since the development of writing, authors have fell victim to their own misconceptions of a studied group or culture. Even I, right now as I type away at this keyboard am judging and studying the works of other authors. Whether I take a critical or a supportive view of the writings is obsolete, what matters is how my personal life experiences as a studying anthropologist can lead to legitimate findings. Is this possible? Authors may take their own personal hang-ups of society and implement them into their writings. An example would be an angry painter asked to sketch a picture of a happy family seated in front of him. Is the picture accurate if the final creation portrays the family hugging each other but not smiling? Without reflexivity the author/painter will not know why his creation turned out the way it did. Anthropologists are similar to painters. Mainly because their pictures are text drawn with pens, pencils, or keyboards. However, self- reflexivity provides an awareness that allows for personal reflection, aiding in the process of the understanding. It also emphasizes the point of theoretical and practical questioning changing the ethnographer’s view of themselves and their work.
To understand how anthropologists can study a group of people successfully, we must first understand their rationale. Kondo states “ I felt every effort necessary in order to blend in and avoid being unmasked as a foreigner.” (Pg., 76) As a foreigner she is admitting to being different than the people she is studying. However, by doing so she is conveying that psyche and thoughts are what separate people, not just their physical traits. I believe this will benefit Kondo in her studies. Realizing that her linguistic and cultural skills will help her to assimilate into the culture and study truly as a participant observer. A misconception may present itself while analyzing a case as diverse as Kondo’s. To conclude that a Japanese woman with American culture, can add perspective for both instances, would be immature. Rather, a Japanese woman with American culture can only provide a legitimate stance for a Japanese woman, raised in a American culture.
Malinowski on the other hand feels as though studying every little detail will provide you with the necessary components for a good anthropologist to construct a sound and rational ethnography.
After living in Japan for seventeen years, David Aldwinkle decided to become a Japanese citizen (Weiner & Aldwinkle, 2003). He has immersed himself in the culture, changing his name to Arudou Debito. He has written a book in Japanese about racial discrimination in Japan entitled Japanese Only, teaches at a local university and he even has relinquished his American citizenship. Throughout that time, he has experienced examples of both ethnocentrism and cultural relativism.
She clearly and logically illustrates her point of view. She writes, “cultural differences are assumed and expected. But when the cultures of individuals are under scrutiny, it becomes clear that cultural borders do not hold their dividing power.” (98) Combined with her ability to logically expound on her view of cultural borders, she uses several anecdotes to further her point. She identifies four individuals who exemplify multiculturalism. Each of these examples share a Korean heritage but have adopted many other cultural markers from additional sources including non-Korean parents, U.S. society, immigration, and through adoption. Chang poses the question, “Would it be possible for one to become culturally more Korean in the morning, German for lunch, ‘American’ in the afternoon, and back to Korean in the evening? In her conclusion and in answer to that question she states, “Once different standards are embraced by individuals, the differences are incorporated into their individual cultures…the cultural differences are reframed into multiculturalism.”
They are following the racism. They are practicing “Defense against Difference”, which Milton Bennett says. The people from United States, white people are showing differentiation between them and Japanese people, they are showing difference between two cultures and they are thinking whites are more superior to Japanese culture. I learned a lot about intercultural sensitivity this semester. This assignment gave me the opportunity to not only evaluate intercultural stages, but I got to learn about the other cultures.
Mathews, Gordon. 1996. What Makes Life Worth Living? How Japanese and Americans Make Sense of Their Worlds.Berkeley: University of California Press.
When asked to define ones cultural identity people usually take the path that leads to their country of origin. They describe their beliefs and tradition which mirrors the values of people within that geographic location. But what about the people who are torn between two cultures? How would they define their cultural identity? This is the problem faced by Henry Park, the protagonist of the book Native Speaker by Chang-Rae Lee. Originally from Korea, he immigrated to the United States with his parents when he was little. However, his struggle of trying to find his acceptance into the American culture still continues. The book outlines his endless uncertainty of trying to define his cultural identity and his feelings as an outsider to the American Culture. Not being able to commit to either of the cultures leaves Henry confused regarding his true Cultural identity which Chang very artfully presents as a fuzzy line between the American and Korean Culture.
With the globalization and modernization, there is a social tendency to melt different individuals into an integral and international community. In America, individuals from different culture struggle with assimilation to the white mainstream. They find it painful but worth to mute racial identity for future success. Assimilation to an advanced culture is a somewhat progress and broaden the space for self-growth. But sometimes individuals feels pressure to force them blend in the surroundings. On the contrary, some individuals use the advantages of racial differences to exceed others in the mainstream. Amy Chua, in her essay “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior”, takes advantage of the fact that American parents underrate rote repetition and insists
...the anthropological and other social sciences the basis for forming non-biased studies results that can be respectfully referenced and relied upon for their integrity.
First some technicalities: Most of my research focused on the Japanese Americans and Japanese culture. There will be examples that are specific to this particular ethnic group and race. However, due to the lack of articles specifically on Japanese American students and the tendency to study Asian Americans as a group, I ...
Ruth Benedict’s anthropological book, Patterns of Culture explores the dualism of culture and personality. Benedict studies different cultures such as the Zuni tribe and the Dobu Indians. Each culture she finds is so different and distinctive in relation to the norm of our society. Each difference is what makes it unique. Benedict compares the likenesses of culture and individuality, “A culture, like an individual, is a more or less consistent pattern of thought or action” (46), but note, they are not the same by use of the word, “like.” Benedict is saying that figuratively, cultures are like personalities. Culture and individuality are intertwined and dependent upon each other for survival.
In the book titled Around the World in 30 Years, Barbara Gallatin Anderson’s makes a precise and convincing argument regarding the acts of being a cultural anthropologist. Her humor, attention to detail, and familiar analogies really allow for a wholesome and educating experience for the reader. Her credible sources and uniform writing structure benefits the information. Simply, the book represents an insider’s look into the life of a cultural anthropologist who is getting the insider’s look to the lives of everybody
Experiencing a society of multi-cultures is beneficial through a variety of concepts to epitomize each individual identity. A person may vary in the degree to which he or she identifies with, morals, or...
It analyzes similarities and differences in various cultures and societies. Culture is learned and affects our perception of the world throughout our life. Overtime, a sense of cultural superiority is formed amongst individuals who are constantly exposed to their own culture. Anthropology can help eliminate culturally based biases, also known as ethnocentrism. It is a common practice we all in engage in when evaluating other cultures, however, by practicing anthropology this allows us to learn about other cultures by placing themselves into the cultural environment allows us to learn the traditions and customs by experience. Marjorie Shostak`s study of the !Kung people revealed that they organized themselves differently than Western cultures, which included solving conflicts with discussion, communal behavior, and basic living traditions. Moreover, by interviewing and living in this cultural environment, Shostak was able to empathize with the !Kung people and she also considered that all humans share an emotional life, which is important when studying the history of our human
Standing out of the crowd is a great way to get attention for a good job or acceptance into a university. Taking a gap year to study abroad can open many doors and help teens become better equipped to identify and interact with people from other cultures. “With so many international experiences available, more than 80% of gap year students say their experiences make them more globally aware” (Salisbury). In an expanding business world, increased cultural awareness and even language skills will help future teens of the workforce be more successful in their careers.
Cell phones were created with the idea of keeping people in touch and 20 years later that is still the main reason for owning one, In a school setting cell phones provide a link between and students and their parents, according to Balaro, B and Ginsburg, J(2016)In the article Cell Phones in School:An Overview. Points Of View:Cell Phones In School(P.2). “Nearly 60 percent of teenagers said they communicated more often with their parents since they began text messaging, and more than half of teenagers who text their parents said their relationships with them had improved” Cell phones helps parents be involved in their students school life than ever before and it even helps keep educators
Understanding other people is necessary in functioning and interacting with others. This is where anthropology comes in and helps us to learn about them. Anthropology looks at numerous different groups of humans and finds common grounds between them. In the world today, numerous of people change because of the influences of other cultures and changes in they’re environment. For example, I was born in Guyana, which in in South America and I moved to the United States when I was 12. My culture back home was very much different than the western culture of the US. After moving here, I felt out of place and a sense of not belonging. But I became observant of my surroundings and easily started to learn and become a part of what is now my own culture. This is o...