I asked 3 of my friends/family, who prefer to remain unnamed, their definition of culture and diversity. Here, I want to give you a sense of their answers and the impression I got while they answered. One of my interviewees was fairly stumped and said that it was hard to put into words. Another said they had never been asked that question before. I purposely chose people who do not work in any kind of social service or humanity fields. I guess I expected a lot of answers about race, religion, or ethnicity. However, I was pleasantly surprised when each of them gave me an answer that was far from what I expected.
Here are some of the key words they used to explain culture:
- background, upbringing, surroundings, family, extended family, community, the things that influence you
And diversity:
- wide range of differences, many variables, not the same pattern
As I said, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the friends and family I spoke to included many of the aspects of culture that go beyond what we see on the surface. In this course, we have discussed deep vs. surface culture and the aspects of deep culture that were mentioned during my conversations with my friends and family impressed me. Particularly when I heard "the things that influence you" it made a connection to what I have studied throughout my formal and informal educational journey.
Strangely to answer the portion of this assignment that asks about what has been omitted from the definitions it brings me back to the surface culture aspects. No one mentioned race, or dress, or holidays/traditions. I was truly shocked by this! I wonder if they have been listening in on my own thoughts.
As I reflected on what each of the interviewees shared with me it caused me to reaffirm what my own beliefs are about culture. However, it also helped me realize that the surface culture is important too. Those surface aspects of culture are important because they symbolize the outward representation of what is lurking below the surface. The below graphic is one of many that I have found and used this week but this one does not point to the exact things that fit into each level. I found that important because what is surface and what is deep could vary from person to person. I also really like how it shows 3 layers of culture, not just 2. It shows that the deeper you go the more ingrained and instinctual the cultural aspects of a person become.
Wendy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. It is true that many see just the top of the iceberg and not what is underneath which is what makes us who we are. I also found that what others shared where things that I believed to be part of culture and diversity.
Yolanda Arellano
Wendy,
ReplyDeleteGenerally, when we ask people about culture the common answer the things that has been pass down from generation to generation such as tradition. I can understand why they had never been asked that question before. My previous vocation made me aware of my culture and other culture. Of course, when I interview my husband who is working as Instructional designer in one of the Universities here, his definition is more detailed and it touches what we have been learning.
I enjoy reading your Blog!
Hello Wendy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing and you are the people I also interviewed didn't mention: race, holiday, traditions or dress. I think as a society we are learning about diversity and culture and diversity go deeper then what is seen on the surface.
Anna Macias
After asking these questions to family and friends it would be interesting to ask how they celebrate their culture and diversity or if they even do. Comparing how people define culture and diversity with how they express it would be interesting to observe. I have definitions for both but I don't always practice what I preach.
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