REFLECTION/REACTION/RESPONSE:
Base the reflection from your own perspectives / views /thoughts on the topic from the discussion questions…For example from the reading, discussion etc what are your thoughts or views on gender and the way culture affects women? What are your thoughts or views on culture? What are your views on socialization especially in regards to verbal and non verbal communication? What are your views on race and ethnicity and how they continue to affect segments of the society? What are your views on social inequality and upward mobility? Share your own views drawing from the info, resources posted on OL.
Guideline questions:
- What are some of your culture shock experiences in cultural variation as part of a dominant culture or subculture?
- What are some norms present in the society that you find it very hard to get accustomed to or one which you are expected to play a role in but wish could change? Why or why not?
Hint: Culture and Society Topic: Experiencing Other Cultures: Do’s and Don’t’s in Course Packet: Pages 20 – 26.
Video 1: Cultures, Subcultures and Counter Cultures
Video 2: Symbols, Values and Norms
Video 3: Norms – folkways, mores, laws, taboo
Video 4: Crazy Laws that Exist Around the World
bassirou
Bassirou Ouedraogo
Culture, Subculture
At first i had a culture shock because me coming from a conservative and reserve country i grow up in a social environment where everybody know everybody and coming in New York i was so sock of how people behave differently and Individual where someone don’t know is neighbor . Also one of the good example is in the Subway the youngster don’t give there seat to the older one have a total different culture then where an from
Where am from , it’s look down upon single parent but in the US, nobody really care about this that .
Also children leave to serve there parent but in there, i can see the total action.
In addition , in this culture, we have some subculture in the same country. For example, if you go to Canal treet and Broadway you feel like you in china with it Chinese store. At china town, you can see lot of Chinese restaurant where you can enjoy suchi, smoke salmon , and try some bubble tea.
At Harlem 116 ST, 125 ST when you get out there you feel like you in Africa with this merchants selling some exotic product.
Ursula
I definitely agree with both statements you stated, growing up I moved a lot so I didn’t really get accustomed to a culture, but what my parents taught me stuck with me, so when we finally settled in New York I seen a lot of kids not respecting their elders or just ruined relationships. Also New York is a melting pot full if different cultures and subcultures its certainly recognizable, you can go to Washington Heights and that’s a predominantly Spanish culture, or Washington Heights a predominantly Irish community.
Kelvin Coker
I agree completely with what you wrote
Ursula
H.W Due 3/24
1) What are some of your culture shock experiences in cultural variation as part of a dominant culture or subculture?
• One of my experiences with cultural shock as cultural variation, and a part of a dominant culture is as simple as going to a grocery store and the cashier greeting the Caucasian customer ahead of you, and telling him about specials and deals, also telling him to have a good day . And your next, but you don’t get a greeting, just an attitude and she/he doesn’t tell you about any specials nor does she tell you to have a good day this happens every day and these injustices aren’t considered taboo nor a law your breaking but its morally wrong.
2)What are some norms present in the society that you find it very hard to get accustomed to or one which you are expected to play a role in, but wish could change? Why or why not?
• One of the norms present in society that I find hard to get accustomed to is homelessness in the city. I wish I can change this daily norm because some people honestly need just a little bit of help and they do get mixed and judged as the same as others that just want to be lazy and do drugs all day.
Taniyah Gray
I agree with your second response. I also wish I could help the homeless people. Even if its just a speech from my heart to them. At least I let them know my feelings. Or even if I’m at work and there are salads that no one came to pick up, I’ll take about 3 salads and just give it to someone who’s homeless. Those 3 salads could’ve actually brightened up 3 human beings. Just buy giving a meal.
Ursula
I definitely agree with both statements you stated, growing up I moved a lot so I didn’t really get accustomed to a culture, but what my parents taught me stuck with me, so when we finally settled in New York I seen a lot of kids not respecting their elders or just ruined relationships. Also New York is a melting pot full if different cultures and subcultures its certainly recognizable, you can go to Washington Heights and that’s a predominantly Spanish culture, or Washington Heights a predominantly Irish community.
Ewri Ventura
What are some of your culture shock experiences in cultural variation as part of a dominant culture or subculture?
-I have little experience with culture shock, but I did experience it when I visited Syracuse New York which is mostly suburban. To see how clam the streets where and how silent things were was a bit hard to adjust to because I am used to seeing traffic and people walking and city noise. Also when I went to Dominican Republic in the country side the norm was to go to sleep earlier than what I am used to because I live in New York so it took some time to go to sleep earlier and wake up earlier.
What are some norms present in the society that you find it very hard to get accustomed to or one which you are expected to play a role in but wish could change? Why or why not?
-A norm presented in the society that I find hard to get accustomed to is moving out and starting a family because I am not sure yet how I will do that.
Taniyah Gray
I personally agree with your response to the second question. I believe it is hard to get accustomed to moving out and starting a family. Although I did start a family before moving out, it only pushes me more to MOVE OUT. I thought to myself I wouldn’t be able to do it but as days go by I ask myself ” What did I do today that will work towards getting my own place?”
Madeline Rosario
1. What are some of your culture shock experiences in cultural variation as part of a dominant culture or subculture?
When I went to visit the Dominican Republic for the first time I was 16. I did experience some culture shock due to the cultural variation like how kids will play barefooted in the streets, how much more friendly people were, and how people owed animals and had fruits they would grow on their own. I remember seeing a poor family in the countryside for the first time and I just questioned why they are in the streets and not getting government help, but the systems work differently everywhere and that’s what I needed to understand. Everything was different for me since I was born and raised in America but I did understand that I am coming to visit a poor country and not to feel so guilty about certain situations because people there are used to living like that. These features are often a norm for an entire society. In America there are alot of subcultures, for example, we have people here that are hippies, goths, fans of rap and more. There are also different parts of New York where it’s mainly people of one culture. For example in Chinatown, a lot of chinese people live there and they also have chinese markets, restaurants, clothes, signs and more things related to the culture.
2. What are some norms present in the society that you find it very hard to get accustomed to or one which you are expected to play a role in but wish could change? Why or why not?
I live in a neighborhood where it is mostly hispanics, specifically Dominicans and one thing that can be hard to be accustomed to is the way people would look at you. Sometimes I dress up with a different sense of style and walk around my neighborhood which can be somewhat different in the sense that not alot of people would dress up the way I would. People would stare and sometimes I can’t tell if they are looking at me in a good way or a bad one. It is all about not caring and doing you because you like it and I try to not let it get to you but I do feel uncomfortable sometimes. No matter where you go, you will get stares but I feel like where I live I get even more attention and it bothers me. There is nothing I can do to change it except to have confidence in myself and not pay mind to it.
Taniyah Gray
1.) What are some of your culture shock experiences in cultural variation as part of a dominant culture or subculture?
One cultural shock I experienced was in Pennsylvania. There were much more Caucasians than African Americans. During the summer time, amusement parks weren’t that crowded, so the workers actually payed a little bit more attention to visitors/customers. I am a New Yorker. So the way I dress is totally different compared to the way people dress in Pennsylvania. During my time at the amusement park, the ride operators actually complimented me about 6 or 7 times that day on my basic outfit. This shocked me because I had on a regular outfit that I would wear in New York, which is common. But since Pennsylvania isn’t used to seeing that type of fashion or outwear, they decided to give me a compliment. If I was to wear that same outfit in New York, people would look at me as a regular human being that knows how to put an outfit together, and wouldn’t compliment me because its normal to dress that way.
2.)What are some norms present in the society that you find it very hard to get accustomed to or one which you are expected to play a role in but wish could change? Why or why not?
One norm in the society I find very hard to get accustomed to is interrupting someone while they are talking. Wait for them to finish and then take your turn. I say this because I personally get upset when I’m in the middle of explaining myself and someone interrupt me. Not only do I get upset, but it makes me lose my train of thought. As we get older in school teachers often uses the term “ONE MIC” meaning if someone is speaking let him/her speak ONLY. Even in College some students tend to get overly excited and decide to comment on someone response while they’re not finish explaining themselves.
Jessica Perez
What are some of your culture shock experiences in cultural variations part of a dominant culture or subculture?
A Culture Shock I experience was when I went to Florida I remember I was in the pool with different people from the hotel and I remember saying ” it MAD hot” which is slang from New York when we say “mad ” instead of ” it is hot” and so right away the People from Italy pointed out that I was from NY because of my slang and how my tone of voice had a bit of Ghetto to it.They told me how they never use “mad” to be dramatic but how they just speak formal.I also see like the reaction to popular things in Ny are not as Popular in other states.For Example when I went into the Nike store in Florida I explained tot the manager how certain Sneakers they had many in NY would paid double the amount to have them.He explain how he was well aware of how Ny goes crazy over some sneakers but how Teens in Florida didn’t care for it much.
What are some Norms Present in the society that you find it very hard to get accustomed to or one which you are expected to play a role in but wish could change?Why or why not
I believe social norms are a perfect example of something to get custom too because everywhere you expectations are different where in a Fast-food restaurant you aren’t judge or the expectations aren’t highly that you stay mannered.While in In A Fancy restaurant maybe out of your normal you are expected to sit a certain way or not use your fingers with food.As well if you surrounded around people out of you normal you become pressure because they’ll look at you a certain way.As well as maybe you don’t agree with certain expectations they expect from you.
Cristal Garcia
1. What are some of your culture shock experiences in cultural variation as part of a dominant culture or subculture?
As a Dominican Republic immigrant a have faced a lot of cultural shocks. One has been when I started going to a public school in upstate New York. Everything was a new experience for me from getting into a yellow bus, walking into the school, the lunch, security and the behavior of the students. What shocked me the most was when you first walk into school there was a security check, just like the ones you see at the airports. I was surprised when I saw because back at home I never experienced that. I was really scared about the situation but then I notice that it was something normal for most of the city school here in the United States
2. What are some norms present in the society that you find it very hard to get accustomed to or one which you are expected to play a role in but wish could change? Why or why not?
There is a list of norms in the United States society that I find hard to get accustomed to. One of the biggest for me is when you greet a person. For example, back in my home country the Dominican Republic, we kissed on the cheek when we meet someone. This scenario can occur when you know someone for a long time and also when you are introducing to a person for the first time. However, here in the United States is completely different. People try to keep their distance even with a simple handshake.
Yeuris Pimentel
What are some of your culture shock experiences in cultural variation as part of a dominant culture or subculture?
A culture shock experience I’ve dealt with was during a trip to a summer camp with a close friend of mine. We went traveled a few hours on a bus to a campsite with a bunch of random people neither of us didn’t know. The other kids there were completely different from us two as none of them were Hispanic at all. The way we both spoke didn’t sit well with the others.
What are some norms present in the society that you find it very hard to get accustomed to or one which you are expected to play a role in but wish could change? Why or why not?
A norm present that I have trouble following is not interrupting others when talking. This is quite hard to get into only because I tend to talk a lot more than others. In other places I’ve been too talking like this is mostly normal.
jennifer sosa
1. what are some of your cultural shock experiences in cultural variation as part of a dominant culture or subculture?
A cultural shock that I experienced was when I first visited Mexico. It was completely different then what I had expected because when I got to my grandfathers vacation house it was still not done yet. That meant there was no running water and the bathrooms weren’t finished yet either so in order to shower we had to boil water and then shower using buckets of water located in a specific room for showering it was by far the coldest and uncomfortable shower I have ever taken. Then later to figure out no running water that means no sinks so in order to wash dishes or clothes we had to do it outside the house by a stone well this was the biggest culture shock I had ever experienced in my life cause I was so not used to that and me being privileged enough to be born and raised New York. And when I visited family members in Mexico that lived in a more property side of grandfathers area most didn’t actually have full homes they had a few cement rooms and the rest was tine and open land. Most also didn’t have fully functional bathrooms or bathrooms at all or stoves either they used fire to make meals and had barrels or water if anyone needed to use the bathroom. And another cultural shock I had experienced in Mexico was that they are very big on respect and when I would visit family members homes I would have to ask them for a blessing while crossing my arms and bending my head and that to me is very unusual and uncomfortable because I never done that in my life. And if you didn’t do this they would see you as disrespectful and mannerless and that would reflect bad on your parents. But not only was I cultural shocked by them but they were also by me because I am tall and don’t fit into how a real Mexican looks like and I would be starred at everywhere I would go, as I walked through the markets everyone would stare and refer to me as ” guerita” meaning light skinned, white girl. These are few of many cultural shock I experienced in Mexico.
2. What are some norms present in the society that you find it very hard to get accustomed to or one which you are expected to play a role in but wish could change? why or why not?
A present norm in society that I find very hard to get accustomed to is that people are so rude here in New York. And men are longer gentlemen and what I mean is that they no longer walk on the traffic side when walking with a female and they no longer open door for a female. chivalry is dead. Another norm in society that I find hard to get accustomed to is I could be on the train and see an elder person standing and no one would ask or even try to give up their seats. there is no more respect for elders. I feel like everyone just has to be nicer to one another.