Sunday, September 1, 2013

3. Multi-culturalism

3. Portfolio exercise #4  - Everest Team  


Everest climbing team: Cultural Diversity #4

Watch the film and take notes to answer the following questions:
1.    List the team members by name, with their duties and country

Name                         Responsibility                     Country                     Skills
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2.    What were the qualities or skills of each member that supported the team?







  


3.    How was the Team helped by ‘cultural diversity’ to attain their goal (reach the summit of Everest)?  




3. Quiz 2 – Portfolio Exercise #3


What are Multiculturalism, Assimilation and Acculturation?

True or False? If FALSE, write the TRUE answer.

1.       A Multicultural society can be described as a society with a single set of values.

2.       A “salad bowl” represents varied and separate cultures.

3.       One aspect of Multiculturalism is respecting different cultures.

4.       Cultural Diversity can be represented by a “melting pot”

5.       Acculturation means learning the culture of your birth country.




Define in your own words:

1.       “Melting Pot”

2.       “Salad Bowl”

3.       “Assimilation”

4.       “Acculturation”

5.       “Enculturation”

Complete the sentence with words from the text:

Acculturation often results in changes to ____________________, _______________________and ___________________________________, as well as changes in food, ____________________ and __________________________________.

Give a synonym:

varied

respect

dominate

multiple

central

interacting

specific

represents

adopt




Give the opposite:

varied

respect

gradually

multiple

common

dominant group

specific

contrasted with

adopt



Culture and Personality in Anthropology



Read the section about Culture and Personality in Anthropology. Answer these questions about that section:-

1.       Define “Anthropology” in your own words

2.       What do you understand by “socialization of children” Give an example

3.       Read this sentence again and give examples of childrearing in different societies and cultures: “socialization creates personality patterns. It helps shape peoples emotions, thoughts, behaviors, cultural values and norms to fit into and function as productive members in the surrounding human society. The study of culture and personality demonstrates that different socialization practices such as childrearing in different societies (cultures) result in different personality types.”

4.       Read this sentence again and say to what extent you agree: “all humans are the same when born, but childrearing in different societies causes deviations in behavior and personalities from each other.”

5.       Reflect on the reading above. Can you see a link between your culture and your personality? Think about that in relation to your own culture first, and then think about personality and culture in a different society. Reflect. Give examples.


3. Reading 2 - Assimilation & Acculturation


What are: Multiculturalism, Assimilation & Acculturation?                                                        

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJJRLn6CrkG_5iK-VIKLolPCdFVlBRFGnNxY5p9hv239nFQkbQg7acdm4ZpJ6J4tmCjmCLsurYdSpqT89PCtXUTegs-tgpx4rGQE2LI0cfIZzMJGmlVr1M_r8kW1_rYm-ryREynAV3Q/s320/cultural+anthropology.jpg

Multiculturalism is the the institutionalization of communities containing multiple cultures. It is generally applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g. schools, businesses, neighborhoods, cities, or nations.

In a political context the term is used for a wide variety of meanings, ranging from the advocacy of equal respect to the various cultures in a society, to a policy of promoting the maintenance of cultural diversity. A common aspect of many such policies is that they avoid presenting any specific ethnic, religious, or cultural community values as central.[3]

Multiculturalism is often contrasted with the concepts of assimilation and has been described as a "salad bowl" rather than a "melting pot."[4]

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSOZzLzhpQhmPin8WzJRc8jXRoZFQ4ka48-f1ByK3GDOtFyqGi-8SQHN8nJYkcFwELdZX9lgumHLk0b7_mlbppyIird-JpTErLCQjg1jO8ttdzJbzyHqaMOZ1K2JTFE5yPOA3zM_CVg/s1600/melting+bowl.jpg


Look at the two diagrams above. Which one represents “multiculturalism” and which one is “assimilation”?

2) Assimilation (from Latin assimilatio; "to render similar") may refer to:

  • Cultural assimilation, the process whereby a minority group gradually adapts to the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture and customs.

Think of the word “similar” which will help you remember “assimilation”.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmKkxRNVLpWQb993BaZ62ejRPZzaFMrTE4NqSzqImIaEg-1W-ovhQhX8JADF8ypUSMGa3BY00_XEHNqAQ9KteCtYcfcDrVkBU8ZhHjjoiy1pzBBg__qJv-F-SYd95dzACDqyY1vtdVQ/s320/acculturation.jpg


3) Acculturation

Acculturation explains the process of cultural and psychological change that results following meeting between cultures.[1] The effects of acculturation can be seen at multiple levels in both interacting cultures. At the group level, acculturation often results in changes to culture, customs, and social institutions. Noticeable group level effects of acculturation often include changes in food, clothing, and language. At the individual level, differences in the way individuals acculturate have been shown to be associated not just with changes in daily behavior, but with numerous measures of psychological and physical well-being. As enculturation is used to describe the process of first-culture learning, acculturation can be thought of as second-culture learning.

Acculturation is a process in which members of one cultural group adopt the beliefs and behaviors of another group. Although acculturation is usually in the direction of a minority group adopting habits and language patterns of the dominant group, acculturation can be reciprocal--that is, the dominant group also adopts patterns typical of the minority group. Assimilation of one cultural group into another may be evidenced by changes in language preference, adoption of common attitudes and values, member- ship in common social groups and institutions, and loss of separate political or ethnic identification.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuQmd_JGCCU7TK-0JDwaoJNWuxcWnKjmkvMm6erWHo9LNsbUFQHLaagrfS-g_z6JvaLRWfEFHjGfYNJ7zlOJDgSMx5Eskri1gLjb79LJxQ0m7mcSDz0fB0HVOAD-v-c39p3otzXy-Fg/s320/american+maker.jpg


What is the difference between assimilation, and acculturation?

Assimilation means to become the same as the main mass (you cannot be distinguished from anyone or anything else).

Acculturation is getting used to the way people are, but not become just like everyone else. You keep some of your original uniqueness yet (ideally) fit in as part of the total mix.

4) Culture and Personality in Anthropology

(By Petrina Kelly,  Xia Chao, Andrew Scruggs, Lucy Lawrence, Katherine Mcghee-Snow)


The culture and personality movement was a core of anthropology in the first half of the 20th century. It attempts to find general traits repeating in a specific culture to lead to a discovery of a national character, model personality types and configurations of personality by seeking the individual characteristics and personalities. The field of personality and culture gives special attention to socialization of children and enculturation. Theorists of culture and personality school argue that socialization creates personality patterns. It helps shape peoples emotions, thoughts, behaviors, cultural values and norms to fit into and function as productive members in the surrounding human society. The study of culture and personality demonstrates that different socialization practices such as childrearing in different societies (cultures) result in different personality types.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pFhZ8CN3e4uQM73GS6IYfUo21iMqT91-TjkTmoE3l0gJ-TnBR6_hTXHI0biN_UjkVDDyf1FMwPG0zLxMIS3KgtpBrqXA5s57RuYZmHXRfRf_kN_XsAZ5zm9PGjGkQAE70uWiphSRaQ/s320/babycrying.jpg


The study of culture and personality draws many of its constructs from psychoanalysis and social development as applied for social and cultural phenomena. Freuds psychoanalysis states that all humans are the same when born, but childrearing in different societies causes deviations in behavior and personalities from each other. According to this perspective, the scholars of culture and personality school study distinctive personality types in particular societies and attribute the traits to different child-rearing practices such as feeding, talking and toilet training. This concept is demonstrated in the work of anthropologists, such as Margaret Mead and Ruth Benedict, Barbara Rogoff and Shirley Brice Heath.

an·thro·pol·o·gy ( n thr -p l -j )

n.  The scientific study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural development of humans.



3. The cultural divide, and how the UAE might bridge it


ABU DHABI // Marie Claire's three children sometimes come home from their multicultural-private school in Abu Dhabi complaining that Emirati children do not interact with them
The Dutch-British mother is trying to find an explanation. "Why are Emirati children not mixing?" she asks. "What kind of programmes or integration can we introduce to help schools bridge the gap?"

Shamsa Al Muhairi, an Emirati mother of four with two daughters who go to school with expatriates, says: "My children do not like mixing with non-Emirati children. I do not know the reason."

The self-segregation that begins in school extends into stereotypes and misunderstandings in adulthood. One Emirati woman finds that expatriates believe all UAE nationals have oil wells behind their homes, and some Emiratis believe expatriates are immodest people who want to invade their country.

Habib Khondker, professor of humanities and social sciences at Zayed University, says "the construction of other" – a belief that you know about another culture when in fact you do not – comes into play, creating a barrier to interaction between people from different upbringings.

"Stereotypes will not disappear in a day but they can be broken easily," Dr Khondker says. "Ignorance is the mother of stereotypes. One needs to prove oneself to overcome these misconceptions."

Fawzya Al Muhairi, Shamsa's sister, sends her children to private school specifically so they can interact with expatriate children, and because "private schools have better discipline than the public".

"As a mother, I taught my children right from wrong," she says. "I mix with westerners and my children like mixing with English children because I believe they are more transparent and disciplined compared with some Arab children who are raised by their maids."

At times, it seems as if there is a cultural impasse. Some expatriates have the misconception that Emiratis are self-important and prefer mixing only with their compatriots.

Zainab Al Junaibi, a Zayed University student, says some families do not like their daughters mixing with non-Emiratis because "our norms and tradition differ from theirs".

She, however, has no problem interacting with people from different cultures, and has many non-Emirati friends.

The workplace also makes it tricky for people to interact. Many Emiratis work in the public sector where expatriates are a minority, Dr Khondker says. Therefore, interaction must take place in public.

"If I was one of the policymakers, I would say to organise more public events such as festivals."

He said Emiratis should get more involved in the private sector so expatriates can get a better sense of the diversity of Emiratis.

Faizan Qureshi, from Pakistan, has lived in the UAE for two years and has never had an Emirati friend. "There is this feeling that Emiratis only befriend Emiratis or other Arabs. I would love to have Emirati friends," he says.

Mr Qureshi believes social media can bridge the gap, as he has got to know a few Emiratis via Twitter. He echoed the idea of organising public events.

"There is a need for more cultural events being conducted by the Government and expatriates being a part of it."

Arab media can be a helpful channel to create more cultural understanding. But unfortunately, says Saeed Al Mehairi, an Emirati who works at Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority: "Arab media does not display our culture.

"People think it is a 40-year-old culture because of the union, but in reality it goes back 500 years. Many Emiratis do not know about their own culture and heritage. We should be representatives of our country so that there is mutual understanding between us and expatriates."

He likes mixing with expatriates and even practises English with an American colleague.

"It is not true Emiratis do not befriend non-Emiratis. I have friends from all nationalities, and we visit each other every now and then."

He suggested one of the ways to improve relations between the nationalities is through cultural festivals at which people can learn more about locals.

AbulRahman Arif, an Emirati who obtained his master's degree in London, had no trouble with different nationalities during his stay abroad.

The National Newspaper

 

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