My Cultural Identity I was born and raised in the Cayman Islands. Although my home is located in the Caribbean, which in itself has a specific culture, I more closely identify with the unique aspects of the Caymanian culture. Culture is defined by Juang and Matsumoto (2011) as, “a unique meaning and information system, shared by a group and transmitted across generations, that allows the group to meet basic needs of survival, pursue happiness and well-being, and derive meaning from life” (p. 15). My family and community have taught me the traditional values and beliefs of the Caymanian culture. At home, all of the facets of my culture merge together and are expressed openly, but when I am in another country, I find myself changing this expression. Different aspects of my culture have had lasting effects on my self- concept and behavior. Juang and Matsumoto (2011) have described a value dimension of culture emphasized by Geert Hofstede known as individualism versus collectivism as, “the degree to which cultures will encourage… the tendency for people to look after themselves and their immediate family only, or… for people to belong to ingroups that are supposed to look after its members in exchange for loyalty” (p. 23). The Caymanian culture is quite collectivistic as it emphasizes looking out for one another and encourages group effort. It values having strong relationships with family members, which includes maintaining a large extended family network. This cultural
Some may ask what it means to be a part of a specific culture. It may be believed that it merely means to share the same qualities of race, language, and social beliefs. What is not really known are the rise of expectations to fill, repressed wants and needs, or even the binding religious beliefs. A person must begin to recognize the holdings a culture may have on them and how it affects their free will as an individual.
Although one’s culture is based on their experiences they have had, it is also based on values of family and education that help shape one’s opinion and view.
Individuals coming in the U.S. have experienced a graduate deculturalization process as the country's majority assimilated them. Even with the fact that many communities struggle in order to preserve their cultural values, it is extremely difficult for them to do so in environments where they are being bombarded with cultural values belonging to other groups. While the U.S. has recently appeared to have adopted a more positive attitude with regard to other cultures, the matter is still problematic. The fact that many cultures have been gradually assimilated by the majority practically means that many traditions have been abandoned in order for people to develop interest in other concepts.
Growing up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, I was unaware of other cultures. My parents were white middle-class, Anglo-Saxon, American’s. The world I was brought up in
Culture plays a unique role in an individual’s development. Culture is the combination of values, beliefs, and practices of a particular group. Culture gives us some of the most important factors necessary in life such as our morals, values, and more importantly the way we view the world around us. Culturally, I view myself as a 20 year old Hispanic male, of middle socio-economic status, who has heterosexual preferences, with a strong background in the Catholic religion. Some of my first lessons as a child were all cultural, from getting dressed, how and what I ate, how I address my parents and family members, and so on. Although all of these features
recognizing someone else’s culture and valuing it this allows for that person to feel integrated
Essentially, every culture has a specific basis, native language, religion and custom that reflects its history, values and beliefs. These conceptual constructs represents the total reality of life within the community of which is commonly known as “Culture”. Culture is not only a race, but is a way of life. In the United States, there are many different races that integrate with the American race and culture. However, these individuals often times may have difficulties adjusting, adapting or maintaining their heritage. How well they acculturate and adapt to the process can have an impact on how well the individual is able to integrate or engage to one or another culture.
Culture plays a paramount role in our lives. “It is what shapes who we are and how we view the world” (Thorp & Sanchez, 1998,
In understanding body politics and spatial struggles, one cannot neglect the concept of identity and what it means. The history of modern Canada has its history deep in migration and settlement; from the aboriginal peoples, to the French and later British. Over the years, discussions have entered academia with the aim of defining an understanding Canadian culture and identity. This project was aimed at finding artists who has work that deals with this and established themselves in this field.
From childhood up until now, I have had a global mindset causing me to want to know more about the people who are different from me. My own cultural experiences, my love for multiculturalism, and also my passion for politics have combined and created the compassionate person who I am becoming. One’s past contributes greatly to the type of person they will be, and I can say that this is very true with me. Looking back on the cultural differences that I have seen within the two cultures that I have, Jamaican and American, has allowed me to consider how aspects of culture are not as polar as many view them. The overlapping of cultural practices and beliefs humanizes each individual, no matter which nation or culture with which they are associated. My aspiration in life is to embrace every person in the human race as a member of my family, no matter what race, religion, culture, or nationality, because I am a citizen of the
In this paper I will begin by defining personal culture and national culture. After, I will then elaborate my own personal and national culture. I will continue to talk about the subject with the person that I have chosen for my cultural group, my mother, and I will identify her personal and national culture. Lastly, I will talk about my own personality and how it has a connection with my own natural culture; knowing this is important, it lets us know who we are, and how we act with people who are from different cultures.
Through learning, families values, community relationships, and the willingness to achieve. Culture can be easily seen - the behavior of people – is the smallest part of culture. The greatest part, internal culture is inside people’s heads. It is our way of thinking and perceiving. Most importantly, it includes the values and beliefs unconsciously learned while growing up. The collision of two cultures as people come together causes us to become more aware of the differences and similarities between cultural values. By understanding the internal culture and significant values, we have a system to analyze and interpret behavior. People from around the globe bring their cultures here to American and institute them into society. Although, the United States is a culturally diverse society, there is a dominant culture and others give up their culture (depending upon where they may live) so they can fit into mainstream society. My family as other African American families changed their ways to fit into society hoping to become socially accepted because of not being members of the dominant culture. As with most societal trends, family values in all cultures are in constant motion; the list of American family values is always evolving. African
Culture has many definitions and interpretations. According to Clifford Geertz (as cited in, Liu, Gallois, & Volčič, 2015), it is an interpretation of what people learn from their surroundings. Culture shapes a person’s action as well as how they view the world. Dodd’s Model of culture clearly explains the identity of an individual through three different components – the inner core, cultural activities and institutions within a culture (Liu, Gallois, & Volčič, 2015). Humans learn about other culture from what they see and eventually classify them through the perceived image of the group. They constantly form ideas of other culture groups through three stages – selection, categorisation and interpretation (Liu, Gallois, & Volčič, 2015). Individuals associate particular characteristics to cultures and categorise them according to how they perceive the culture group to be. Being in a world with various cultures, the communication accommodation theory, then allows us to understand how multiculturalism plays out in the world today (Liu, Gallois, & Volčič, 2015). In this essay I will be using Dodd’s model of culture to reflect on which culture group that I identify myself with. Being in a multicultural city, I will be sharing the perceptions that I face from people who are not part of culture group. Lastly, incorporating how the communication accommodation theory enables me to interact with other culture groups in my country.
When I think of the word “cultural identity”, I think of myself, and what makes up who I am as a person. My cultural identity influences everything about me, from the moment I wake up, to the minute I rest my head on my pillow at night. My culture influences the way I eat, speak, worship, and interact with people. However, I am not only affected by my own culture, but others’ culture as well. I am fortunate to have an extremely rich heritage, and I couldn’t be prouder of my cultural identity.
This essay will outline how in today’s society, culture influences our personal identity, our actions, and media. Culture is a primary factor in our lives but it is also how we respond to the culture and identity we are exposed too.