Culture Clashes

Soranis Phal

Culture is the custom, belief, knowledge, ideas, and values that are socially passed on from one generation to the next. Different people have different types of cultures. Their beliefs and ideas may not always be the same. The traditions and customs that they follow may be different depending on the country and location they grew up. Today people are still facing with culture clashes. Culture clashes are when people don’t understand the traditions and beliefs of other and know only of their own culture. Its also the conflicted values and traditions of other cultures and your own culture.  

As seen in this picture there are two women staring at a typical White American women. The American woman is seen wearing high heels and a short mini dress. The other two women is Muslim covered up in almost all black except for their hands and face. In the eyes of these two Muslim women, they see the white girl based on their cultural belief. Culture clashes eliminates them from seeing other culture and understanding only their own culture and beliefs. What other cultures see as different and out of their “norm” they consider it to be wrong or in this case inappropriate.

            These two Muslim girls would look at this white girl and say why she would show so much skin? The reason behind it is because Muslims cultures require for women to wear clothes that covers their whole body. However, by seeing this white girl reveal her skin in public shocks them by surprise because it goes against their cultural beliefs. The reason why the Muslims cover themselves is to protect their beauty from other men and to only show it to their husband. If it is vice-versa the white girl might not know anything of the Muslim culture. Therefore, the white girl would see that the two Muslims women cover up on a hot summer day to seem weird. The reason why is both culture are unaware of the other culture and causes a culture clash. 

This brings us back to cultural clashes and people misunderstanding of other culture besides our own would look at other cultures as weird or different. Culture clashes can also happen within Chinese, Mexican, Vietnamese, Japanese and Americans. It can also be disagreements in the traditions and belief that other cultures may have. What people need to understand is different culture has different beliefs even though the beliefs may not be consider the "norm" in your culture.

The different Tradition and Norms Americans Have In their Wedding

 

By Jennifer Velazquez

Culture is very important in today society. Culture is a set of tradition, belief, and value. One of the cultures in America is the tradition of someone wedding. Many individuals in America take their wedding seriously especially if it is their first wedding. Not everyone has the same norm and wedding tradition as people have in America.

The picture above represents Americans wedding and some of their tradition. The picture shows the bride at her bridal shower opening her gifts, an example of a vow, the flower girl, and the exchange of rings this represent some of the tradition that American have in their wedding. This tradition has been around for so many years and it is still very important in today society. In the US people have a choice to choose their mate, and who should be included in the ceremony, and where they want their wedding to be, and depending on their religious belief they may have a different minister performing the ceremony. If it is their first time ever getting married the bride usually wears a beautiful white dress and the groom wear a black suit. In another country for example in India they bride wears a red dress and the grooms wear a cream color long coat. One unique thing that Americans are allow to do is that they choice whom to marry. Americans choose a person that they are in love with, and want to spend the rest of their life together. In other countries the bride is not able to choice whom to marry. The father of the bride chooses the groom for his daughter to marry. In the past when a bride is considering getting married the groom will ask the bride father for their blessing to get married. This is to show respect for the bride and her father. Another tradition Americans have is that the bride choices a flower girl which consist of her walking down the aisle with a small basket of flower throwing it on the ground. Also they have a tradition which consists of having a maid of honor a maid of honor is the person who throws a bridal shower. The bridal shower is a place where friends and family gather around and share this special day with the bride and the groom. They also receive gifts and these gifts help the two individual to settle down in their new home. Another part of a wedding tradition is that the bride and the groom exchange vows. The vows are to express their love to each other and their faithfulness for the rest of their life. These two individual exchange wedding rings to each other, which symbolizes a never ending circle of love.

I consider that the wedding tradition in America is such a beautiful and special day for anyone that is getting married. In the passed the groom will ask the bride father for their blessing, but in today society some people don’t take that too seriously. Some people get married without the blessing of the bride father. Not everyone has the same wedding tradition as American. Not saying that Americans wedding tradition are the right way or the wrong way. For example, In America the women choose who they want to marry in Pakistan and India people have arranged wedding. Arranged wedding is when bride father chooses his daughter groom. In Pakistan and India they view arranged wedding as a norm. The bride does not have the option to marry someone she considers she is in love with and can see herself with for the rest of her life. Another example is that American exchange vow and after they exchange the vow they exchange wedding rings. African Americans have a tradition that after they exchange vow they jump over the handle of a broom. Jumping over the handle of a broom is to represent the beginning of the two individual and their new life. That is a norm that African Americans have, but that’s not a norm that Americans have. Every other country has their norms and traditions. Every culture has their tradition and it varies within the person culture.

In America people have several values. For instances, American value freedom of religion freedom of religion allows an individual to choose which god they prefer to believe in. Also, they value their privacy for instance the privacy of their home. Many Americans do not like neighbors or stranger to interfere with their privacy. American also values their family and their wealth. In America people have their own values and beliefs, but in other countries they might have similar values as American, but sometimes they do not value the same things. In India they value respect. Indians show respect to everyone even the kids are also taught to show every individual respect. Indians value patience they consider if an individual have patient a person can get things done correctly.

I'm Going to Jump and Nothing will Stop Me!!!

     "Submitted by Jamiylah M."

I recently watched a film called Jumping the Broom. It is about two individuals getting married that come from two different backgrounds. The bride, played by Paula Patton, was raised in a more wealthy and suburban upbringing. The groom, played by Laz Alonso, was raised in a single parent home closer toward the city. Both individuals are African American as well as their parents, but when it came time for the two families to meet, there were a lot of clashing moments because of different viewpoints on certain wedding traditions. In the movie there is a disagreement between the bride’s mother and the groom’s mother about whether or not the couple should “jump the broom” after exchanging vows at the altar. The tradition of “jumping the broom” is a social norm among African American culture.  I could not understand why the bride’s mother would not want to include a tradition that age back to the days of slavery.  So, I decided to go into further research about what “jumping the broom” symbolizes and how and why it is an important tradition. 

Jumping the broom was a tradition that began back in the 1600s during slavery. Slaves were not allowed to legally marry and have lavishing weddings in a church. Most of their ceremonies took place within their living quarters on the plantation. A huge part of the ceremony was the tradition of “jumping the broom.” A broom would be placed on the floor and the couple would jump over the broom as a symbol of stepping into a new world as husband and wife. The broom was a household item that the couple would have for years to come. The hairs of the broom represented the members of the family. Where the handle was represented the family as a unit and the ribbon tied around the handle would signify the marriage that will bind the family of the groom and the bride as one.

   Culture is defined as the beliefs, values and norms that are passed on through generations. The broom in the tradition would be considered material culture because it is a physical object that passes on the heritage of the African culture. For the slaves to not be able to publicly express the union and love of two individuals was tragic but they were able to find an alternative way of expression. The nonmaterial culture within “jumping the broom” is the belief that once the couple steps over the broom they are unified and officially husband and wife. Nonmaterial culture is defined as a belief or value that is shared among everyone pertaining to the culture. Although union through jumping a broom is not through legal documents or anything it is accepted among the people because the belief is part of the culture.

In the world today, African Americans continue with the tradition of “jumping the broom” for many reasons. Some do so because it is tradition that they have seen their parents and grandparents do. Some exercise the custom as a norm which is something worldly accepted within the culture. And majority of African Americans do so to keep the beliefs and values of their ancestors, slaves who were not allowed to have wed, alive and continuous throughout generations to come.

All in all, I think that the bride's mother's refusal of letting the couple jump the broom is not a good idea. She felt as though it would be tacky and did not want to do something that would remind her of slavery. I think she is completely wrong and that having the couple jump the broom would be a positive contribution to the wedding. It would be a good tradition of the African culture for her to pass down to the newlyweds as well as pay homage to their ancestors by keeping the belief and values that "jumping the broom" brings to a marriage in their culture.

(click link to see the trailer) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D90GKozn-Xg

  

Accept or Reject

By: Kirstin Carlson



Assimilation is most often described as when immigrants from different cultural backgrounds, adapt to the dominant culture. They fall into a pattern of the behavior, attitudes and customs of the new surroundings. The idea of assimilation to us may seem easy, because we’ve grown up accustomed to our social norms. Where as, people coming from their own social norms are almost expected to adapt. Imagine traveling to a different country, where they way you talk seems rude to the natives, or the food you eat is considered unappetizing. Maybe even your religious beliefs are not accepted. Living on this new land, you have to assimilate to the new culture, without losing sight of your own background. Many people may find this is too hard a challenge and instead of assimilation, they choose the path of cultural pluralism.

Cultural pluralism is when a minority group, although participating in society, continues their cultural traditions and ways of doing things. It seems this would be the more comfortable path for people to take. For example, I’d picture myself in the streets of a foreign country. Before me is a restaurant with a name written in a language I don’t understand, and foods I’ve never tried. Next to this restaurant is a McDonalds. The obvious choice if I wanted to stick to the comfortable and familiarity of my home would be McDonalds. Performing and act that could be considered cultural pluralism. But what if I chose to adapt to new culture, such as new foods, and give the other options a try? That would be an example of assimilation. Whether its assimilation or cultural pluralism, everyone finds their own way to adapt to new surroundings. And I believe it is important to not only adapt to new culture, but not to forget your own; incorporating both in everyday life.

Sites: www.dictionary.com

Social Location: Santa in Sandals!

               

By Jennifer Tran

One of the biggest holidays of the year in the United States is Christmas. It’s the time of the year where friends, families, and loved ones gather together to share the holiday spirit. Religiously, it is a Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Traditionally, it is celebrated by standing up a Christmas tree adorned with decorations and lights, fun-filled and interactive activities, and the most favored part: the exchange of gifts. It all happens within the comfort and warmth of households, behind the windows looking out to a snowy, cold night where the true spirit of Christmas seems lively. Especially, when it means no school or work for those snowed-in days.

On the other hand, on the other side of the earth on an island-continent called Australia, it is celebrated quite differently. During the same time of the year, its 90 degree weather with beautiful sunshine on the southeast coast of Sydney. Santa’s in shorts and ready to barbie (BBQ) with the reindeers! In Australia, Christmas is celebrated in thongs (also known as flip flops), going to the beaches with hot Aussie blokes, and “bloody oath, it’s so hot.” No matter if you’re from Parramatta, Cabramatta, or a place that doesn’t really “matta,” this is how it’s done in Australia.

But all religious and traditional values are not lost! Both destinations still carry on the values of the holiday spirits but they are celebrated based on the social location and mainly, due to season changes. From a perspective of a person from Philadelphia, it may seem a little bit odd to be celebrating Christmas not indoors and without snow, especially, if they’ve never been elsewhere out of the country. Many places celebrate certain holiday occasions quite differently.

For example, I, personally have visited Australia quite a bit during my summer vacations from school in the States, and even had the opportunity to live there for over 2 years in many locations such as Pennant Hills, Hornsby, Burwood, Strathfield, and Enfield. But before all of my experience, I assumed many stereotypical things about Australia that I had been taught by the media. It included the popular show of “The Crocodile Hunter”, the assumption that Australia was an uncivilized place that had dirt roads with wild-life everywhere, and that residents of Australia were all natives. These conclusions that were assumed and made were really unjust and put in their place when I finally made my visit. I learned that Australia was one of the most beautiful, inspiring, and diverse places I’ve ever visited and lived in. 

	Strathfield Girls High School, 2006

 

It’s best to leave all the assumptions, judgments, and predicaments that any form of media gives you, and consider being more open to the possibilities and the impossibilities. Lesson learned: Be open-minded!

youth culture (scene kids)

submitted by: michele graham
Scene kids has skyboard in the western culture. Also scene kids are from all social  economcial backgrounds which most of them are causcasian, but there are some scene kids that are african american, asian.   www.youtube.com/watch this is relate to our covered topics that we talk about in class which we talk about basis and these means that some of these scene kids might dont believe in what other believe in and they all prombly dont do what others do. Also it relates because we talk about culture and that music and fashion plays a part in the scene kids cultuer cause they like to listent to alot of music and they dress totally different from other people. And Scene kids may have collected styles from a variety of subculutres which make there own subculture unique, but scene kids are not who want to cry or hurt themselves instead they have a bubbly attitude towards loving life

  

the impact of family to culture

Submitted by: Hoang Yen Nguyen

The Impact Of Family To Culture

How does the importance of family background affect culture? We know that family is a big role in society where the children are taught about the primaries of manner, behavior, in these days, we can say the" peer group “or even " media" really raise the children so family background is very important.

The impact of good family is expressed by the way children act. Back in that day, if you were disrespectful to elders and parents, you will get a smack on her hands or a time out. Everybody had to go to school and did their homework every day. There was no arguing or talking back to the teachers and parents.  Moms always were at home to give their children snacks and tell them do homework when kids came back from school. Every kids were educated carefully the importance of honesty and responsibilities. Besides, they had to earn the things they wanted. The parents did not give a gift for their children with no reasons.

Now, the laws make the immature teens have more power than parents. They say:" if you hit me, I'll call the police" so the parents have to back off in fear of prosecution. The kids have been out of control. They do sex, drugs, drinking and disrespecting elders. We can see that those of bad consequences happen because of parents' neglects. When the kids come home from school, nobody is there to give them snacks or ask about their school days. The kids are growing-up in the street because their parents don't spent time with them. They are making adult decisions with their underdeveloped-minds and ending up to be a 13 or 14 years old singled-mom. Their parents are going to be 26 or 28 years old grandparents. Sometimes some girls don't even know who the father of their child is. The rate of the kids dropping-out of school is higher because their parents either are a single parent or not have a high school diploma.

I am really scared to think that those kids who have no education, ill manners, and bad behaviors will be our future leaders? That is terrifying. There are very few youth today who have been instilled with good moral values from their family. However, more kids are going out partying with their "young parents" and that is really sad. Where are all the "big mommies “and "big pops"? We need them desperately to be more responsibilites to their generations.