Abstract This paper discusses cultural diversity and misunderstandings, as well as the police misconduct that might be seen when cultures collide. It begins by discussing the importance of cultural diversity in society and then goes on to describe some of the clashes that can occur due to this diversity. The paper also discusses racial discrimination and how it can be seen in law enforcement, as well as society in general.
From the Paper "At the same time, black judges were more likely to incarcerate white offenders than black offenders (Coker, 2003). All of this information suggests that, while not all studies agree, overall it appears that blacks are incarcerated more often than whites, given harsher sentences, and are generally discriminated against in various facets of life. While the justice system is certainly one of those areas, it is not the only area where blacks are discriminated against, and many of the prejudices that were shown toward blacks and other minorities in the past still remain today, which is a cause for action in the criminal justice system and in other facets of life as well. The color of one's skin should have nothing to do with the quality of the person and therefore all people should be judged for who they are and what they have or have not done, regardless of what color skin they have or where they come from."
Abstract The paper looks at Anne Fadiman's book "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" that relates the tragedy of three-month-old Lia Lee that was due to culturalmisunderstandings. The paper examines the situation today, a decade after the book was written, and reveals that since the U.S.' demographics are changing so quickly, it does not appear that enough is being done to promote change. The paper discusses how to solve the communication and cultural understanding issues of diverse groups and stresses the need for collaboration.
From the Paper "Bringing a family member to the emergency ward is difficult enough, even when speaking the same language as the staff. As soon as someone walks into the ER, he/she is bombarded with questions regarding insurance, injury/illness history, and medication contradictions. In the meantime, the intended patient is waiting in pain. Even in this scenario, communication often breaks down because of stress and concern. This process becomes much more complicated when someone comes to the ER who speaks an unknown language and has a different cultural perspective. Miscommunication can endanger the person requiring care."
Abstract This paper shows how culturalmisunderstandings are often as a result of incorrect or incomplete translations. The writer explains that people are influenced by the culture in which they live and this helps form their impressions and the ways in which they communicate. Consequently, a metalanguage is required to enable people to discuss a specific language without their culture impacting upon it.
From the Paper "Cultural differences, which upon careful analysis may not be very great, are often exaggerated by the language barrier thus making it hard to conduct a comprehensive cultural analysis. If a person were to attempt to analyse another culture purely in terms of their own culture, this would clearly lead to misunderstanding and a breakdown in communication. This cultural divide is reinforced by the differing languages spoken in the varying cultures being compared. Whilst in a cultural analysis cultures may not be directly compared, the person conducting the analysis is still influenced by the culture to which they belong. As language forms a part of the activities which people undertake in their cultures, language is obviously going to have a large impact upon the cultural analysis being undertaken. By this, I am referring to the fact that if the person conducting the analysis merely translates lexemes from another language into his/her own language, the analysis will be incorrect as the cultural concepts underpinning the languages will be different. Thus it becomes necessary to be able to give definitions in a consistent fashion which does not rely upon any particular cultural concepts."
Abstract This paper discusses Norine Dresser's book, "Multicultural Manners". It explores how the subject of cheating is subjected to a variety of cultural analyses, whose implications are found to be relevant to other contemporary culturalmisunderstandings.
From the Paper "Norine Dresser's, "Multicultural Manners" is a kind of popularized anthropological factoid in the current shallow and breezy style of best-selling books. Long on variety and short on depth and personal authenticity Dresser's book purports to be a ..."
This paper analyzes the problems and misunderstandings that arise due to ethnocentric views of other cultures while also examining cultural relativity, a theoretical stance which opposes that of ethnocentrism.
Abstract The writer of this paper defines the term ethnocentrism as a means to make assumptions or judgments about other cultures from one's own point of view. This paper details the various problems that an ethnocentric view presents when dealing with different cultures. The writer describes one particular example relating to the Hopi Indians. The ethnocentric view was prevalent that the language of the Hopi Indians was inferior to English as it did not have any words for time. This led to the assumption that the Hopi Indians were primitive and less advanced as a civilization, which resulted in the treatment of the Indians on the basis of an assumed inferiority. This paper also examines more serious examples of ethnocentrism, which can be seen in Africa, in which ethnic assumptions of inferiority or superiority led to the horrific genocide in Rwanda. The writer of this paper discusses the ethnocentric views that were prevalent in Nazi Germany. This paper also examines cultural relativity, which is a theoretical stance in direct opposition to that of ethnocentrism. This view emphasizes that cultures are a product of different historical experiences and that these differences should be respected.
From the Paper "Examples of the problems and misunderstandings that ethnocentric attitudes can engender are numerous in recent history. For example, the view was prevalent that the language of the Hopi Indians was inferior to English as it did not have any tenses or words for time. This led to the assumption that the Hopi Indians were somewhat primitive and less advanced as a civilization. Subsequently, this led to the treatment of the Indians on the basis of an assumed inferiority. Later the cultural assumption that the Hopi did not have words for time was proven to be incorrect. Another example refers to the differences in perception, which are seen from an ethnocentric point of view as a sign of inferiority. An example is the different perceptions of color by the Intuit Indians."
Tags:culture, conflict, war, nazi, rwanda, africa, perception, theory
Abstract This paper discusses how to manage cross-cultural differences in the workplace so that the rights and sensibilities of each person are respected. It shows by example how a good manager can use determination and creativity to solve cross-culturalmisunderstandings, but how it also requires a corporate culture that supports such managerial tasks. It considers how human nature makes us categorize automatically and how most workers and indeed most managers are unaware of the ways in which they may either discriminate against or try to suppress differences in today's multi-cultural workforce.
From the Paper "Although it is a clich? of the business world, it is nonetheless also true that no business that neglects ? or abuses ? its workers can prosper for long. Badly trained, badly prepared, or badly treated workers do not do their best ? and indeed, why should they? The best way to get the most out of a worker is to ensure that that worker feels appreciated and respected, and it is the job of those in supervisorial and managerial positions who must ensure that an environment of mutual respect in instigated and maintained."
Tags: business, world, worker, manager, employees, supervisors, communication
A review of the book "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" by Anne Fadiman on the lack of cultural understanding in healthcare institutions today.
Abstract The paper outlines how the book "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" recounts the tragedy of three-month-old Lia Lee, from Laos, who suffered from present-day culturalmisunderstandings in hospitals. The paper looks at the programs instituted as a result of this book but maintains that not enough is not being done to prepare for the changing demographics. The paper argues that culturally effective healthcare must be integrated into all levels of education and training to provide effective healthcare for people who have cultural beliefs different from that of the majority American society.
From the Paper "The world including the United States is becoming increasingly culturally diverse. Over the next couple of decades, the demographics in the U.S. will be changing significantly, with a major increase in the population numbers of Hispanic and Asians in relationship to the amount of black and white citizens. The white population accounted for only 18.5 percent of the country's population increase between 2000 and 2004. The U.S. Hispanic population accounted for 14 percent of the population, but 49 percent of the four-year population increase. Looking at the age gap, one can see this difference even more: Among whites, 15 percent are age 65 and over, for Hispanics, it is 5 percent. Between 2000 and 2004 both African Americans and Asian Americans contributed about 29 percent of U.S. population growth. For Asians, however, immigration made up a much larger proportion of their share of population growth. In short, America is experiencing significant demographic change, growing more and more "minority" and less "majority." Considering that the U.S. is supposedly a "melting pot," and has always been culturally diverse, it should have the services in place to handle multiculturalism."
Abstract Culturalmisunderstandings have doubtless occurred since the beginning of nationhood. Perhaps when communications were primitive and the world was a very large place, they were relatively unimportant. However, today, when communication is instant, the opportunities for misapprehension to cause global disaster are unprecedented. This paper shows that in terms of business, understanding other cultures may mean the difference between economic well-being and disaster. With Turkey's projected full integration into the European Union and its status as contributor of a great many of Germany's foreign workers, Turkey and Germany are two nations that have a pressing need to be certain each understands the other, politically and economically. The paper shows that it is therefore essential that each nation's business community take measures to understand the other. Little specific research vis-a-vis Germany and Turkey is available; however, vast stores of information are available regarding the communication types to which each nations belongs. In this paper, these have been winnowed to find the most appropriate rubrics under which to propose Germany and Turkey should could find common ground via their methods of communication.
From the Paper "Another very common verbal experience for Arabic speakers-and almost unheard of for Christians, particularly in a business setting-is the expression of God's will and protection to begin or end a message. "In many cultures, such as the Arab, African, and Anglophone Caribbean countries, it is usually common to start a statement by thanking God, expecting God's blessing, or God's will" (Ihator, 2000). Westerners would ordinarily find this to be distasteful, an unwarranted expression of religiosity in a business setting, while to the Arabic speaker, it is simply an attempt to establish common ground by affirming the universal and the omnipotence of a shared belief in God. In fact, in "Muslim countries, the opening paragraph of a business letter may invoke Allah's blessing on the reader and the reader's family members- particularly when the business is family-operated" (Ihator, 2000)."
Abstract The writer of this paper details the manner in which various values and cultural traditions can impact an individual's or group's beliefs, attitudes and actions with respect to their day-to-day existence. The writer contends and explains how cultural differences affect communication, interaction and actions amongst different people. In an environment where little cultural diversity exists, it is likely that cultural differences will have little or no impact on human relations. This paper also discusses the issue of cultural differences in the workplace. Cultural diversity can lead to conflict as well as collaboration within the workplace, depending on whether or not people are willing to embrace people that are culturally different. This paper examines the impact of cultural diversity in the classroom, where teachers are being asked to become more culturally literate so that they can better address the needs of all their students, rather than the few who fall into one or two categories. This paper also explores the issue of students with varying cultural backgrounds that have different perceptions of learning and communicating and the manner in which their needs are met.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Analysis of Cultural Traditions and Human Relations
Conclusions
References
From the Paper "Cultural differences even impact students in the classroom. More and more teachers are being asked to become more culturally literate so that they can better address the needs of all their students, rather than the few who fall into one or two categories. Students with varying cultural backgrounds have different perceptions of learning and communicating, thus may have a difficult time achieving in a classroom that does not recognize their cultural differences and methods of learning. For students to be successful in a culturally diverse environment, teachers must work to improve communications and the methods they use to teach, to ensure that they are addressing the needs of a diverse population. To understand how cultural differences impact human relations one must also understand what culture is."
A review of the articles "Theories of Culture" by Roger M. Keesing and "Marking Boundaries - Culture as Category Work" - Qualitative Inquiry by Anne Ryen and David Silverman.
Abstract This paper discusses articles by Roger M. Keesing and Anne Ryen and David Silverman on what culture is, and how we study it, and see what is different in one culture, as opposed to a different culture, or in a small aspect of culture. The paper explains that Keesing seems to be more inclined to see culture in dynamic ways, as always changing or developing, or that has to do with thinking processes, where Ryen and Silverman discuss culture in more material terms that can affect how people of different cultures understand each other. The paper also discusses how Keesing looks at cultures as structural systems so that the scholar will look at how a culture or a structure began and how it continues to influence human life. The writer believes that Ryen and Silverman seem more tied up in how an outsider looks at a culture, the dynamics of importance of what go on between human beings, as individuals, as opposed to the cultural system that Keesing tried to understand. The writer concludes that both articles manage to get across the care that must be taken when researching cultures that are not one's own, but the writer feels that Keesing's work is still not out-dated.
Outline:
Introduction
Theories of Culture The Human Factor
Last Remarks
From the Paper "A culture may adapt because new technology or kinds of organization have come along, or it may change so that a people survive, as in cultures that begin to conserve something so that they can survive in their environment. A desert people, for instance, may show a culture that is protective of water, does not waste water, or whose art shows themes of happiness as the coming of the rain, or safely getting to a place where water is available. Keesing then begins to look at ideational theories of culture that have to do with cognitive systems and how people decide what is special, appealing or what must be done, as all can influence culture. (1974:77f)."
Abstract The question, What is popular culture and how does it relate to Eastern and Western societies? is an apparently simple query that conceals a complex range of social cultural and economic aspects. This essay examines this question, beginning with a provisional definition of popular culture and an attempt to distinguish it from other cultural forms such as high culture and mass culture. The thesis is argued that popular culture is, in its fundamental elements, a commercial culture that is dependent to an extraordinary degree upon the mass media as a technological vehicle for its messages and products.
Abstract The paper states that it is not complicated to find some globalized places such as airline terminals, international hotels or CNN business news revealing the effects of globalization and its repercussions on our understanding of culture in the modern world. The paper relates that through the growing of global interconnections and the processes of ideas and global goods crossing national borders, cultures fuse across the globe. The paper also discusses the presence of English as an international language, and a homogenization of culture. The paper confirms that, culture is a set of values and practices characterized by its particularity, which nevertheless needs universal criteria as a reference to justify this particularity. It is also crucial to define culture as an "encompassing" concept and to keep in mind that it is difficult to know what is cultural.
From the Paper "In addition, a shared global culture is also relevant as a global dissemination of an American or Western culture. Indeed the processes of globalization are providing fuel for a cultural imperialism, that is to say a global culture liable to be a hegemonic culture. Thus the assertion of a shared global culture seems to be linked to what Friedman describes as "the increasing hegemony of particular central cultures, the diffusion of American values, consumers goods and lifestyles" (Friedman, 1994: 195). The diffusion of dominant standard icons and references such as MacDonald's, Coca-Cola leads to think about an obvious Americanization. In a word, cultures are both confronted by a global dominance of the western culture and by the practices of global capitalism. The result is probably a decrease of cultural differences: a process which undeniably worked to the advantage of the USA and others Western nations. A striking example of this tendency of cultural imperialism is the United Nations Educations Scientific and Cultural Organization's call for a "new world information and communication order" and its politics on global culture."
Abstract This paper presents a study to identify pertinent traits that characterize effective leaders in various societal settings. The paper relates that the mixed methodology used in this study is (1) a qualitative analysis of the relevant peer-reviewed and scholarly literature concerning the specific relationship between leadership styles, organizational culture and the larger society and (2) a review and synthesis of various case studies concerning the impact of leadership on cross-cultural organizational performance. The paper includes a summary of the major aims and objectives of the study and an analysis of implications for leaders and recommendations for organizations such as "treat all people fairly".
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Aims and Objectives
Significance of the Study
Rationale of the Study
Literature Review
Background and Overview
Definitions of Culture Table: Bureaucratic, Innovative and Supportive Organizational Cultures Table: Family-Owned and Operated Organizational Cultures Table: Masculine and Collectivist Organizational Cultures Cultural Aspects of Organizational Leadership
Relationship between Organizational Leadership and Society
Table: Types of Organizational Citizenship Behaviors
Table: Potential Reasons Why Organizational Citizenship Behaviors (OCBs) Influence Work Group And/Or Organizational Performance
Discussion
Chapter Summary
Methodology
Description of the Study Approach
Data-Collection
Sample
Setting
Ethical Considerations
Evaluative Action Plan
Instruments/Measurements
Chapter Summary
Results and Presentation of Findings
Discussion, Implications and Recommendations
Results and Presentation of Findings
Introduction
Sample
Studies
Table: Recapitulation and Summary of Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles Consulted
Setting
Ethical Considerations
Evaluative Action Plan
Table: Noblit and Hare's Meta-Ethnographic Comparative Method
Instruments/Measurements
Chapter Summary
Discussion, Implications and Recommendations
Introduction
Summary of Major Aims and Objectives
Implications
Recommendations
Limitations
From the Paper "These responsibilities frequently involve decision processes that are unstructured, complex, and ambiguous; the studies to date indicate that the outcomes of such decision processes can be affected greatly by the characteristics of the team and its members.
"Taken together, the foregoing suggests that an organization's culture is highly influenced by its top leadership, but workers play a reciprocal role by helping them achieve the organization's goals and keeping it competitive."
Abstract The writer of this paper critically analyzes the ways in which De Munch and Korotayev start out by explaining that it is difficult to research across cultures because of "cross-cultural pollenization" that is, one culture tends to absorb some traits of the other. They point out that without adequate controls, the research can give both false confirmations of the hypothesis as well as false negatives. This paper is a negative critique of Cultural Units in Cross-Cultural Research.
From the Paper "The first group might look culturally diverse at first: 4 Spanish; 4 Iraqi; 1 Russian; 1 Estonian; 1 Javanese; 1 Ganda; one Greek; one Maronite-Lebanese. However, this group had significant cultural similarities, which the authors of course knew because they contrived the group. Some of the clerics were Catholic and therefore celibate. Others were Moslem and allowed more than one wife. It is hard to imagine how this example sheds any light on either cross-cultural studies or statistical and research methods."
Abstract This paper is an in-depth discussion of multiculturalism, it defines it and states that an entirely different view of culture is needed in the intellectual discourse of society. Elst analyzes culture using the example of analyzing sex. Elst makes it clear in his analysis that pluralities of identity are the norm, that everyone is multi-ethnic and multi-racial in some fashion. Finally, the paper concludes that each individual should study and redefine his own culture.
From the Paper "Even in the current, mainstream political debate over what constitutes ?multiculturalism,? it is common cultural parlance to view culture as a static entity. Multiculturalism is defined as the manner in which more cultures are integrated into the fabric of the dominant discourse, rather than as a way of deconstructing notions of how culture itself is perceived and misperceived. As the title of Dirk Van Der Elst's book Culture as Given, Culture as Choice, suggests, however, framing the debate in such a fashion is not necessarily the most radical choice. Elst suggests that nothing really exists as ?culture,? rather culture itself is a constructed, socially produced norm."
Tags:cultural, multiculturalism, Dirk, Van, Der, Elst, social, norm
