Cultural Norms
Cultural Norms
Aspects of Culture
Aspects of Culture 1.
Senses of Self and Space
2.
Communication
3.
Dress and Appearance
4.
Food and Eating Habits
5.
Time and Time Consciousness
6.
Relationships
7.
Values and Norms
8.
Beliefs and Attitudes
9.
Mental Processing and Learning
10.
Work Habits and Practices
Source: The Managing Diversity Survival Guide: A Complete Collection of Checklists, Activities, and Tips/Books and Disks, by Lee Gardenswart
Sense of Self and Space
Sense of Self and Space •
•
Space ‒ 1-1/2 to 3’ ‒ Arms Length Greeting ‒ Hand Shake ‒ Let’s not stand on ceremony – use of first names may be offensive or a sign of disrespect
Middle East
Japan
American •
•
Space ‒ Further away than U.S. Greeting ‒ Bow ‒ Prefer formality as a sign of respect (Mr. Mrs. Titles) ‒Trying to be buddy with staff makes them uncomfortable
•
•
Space ‒ Close enough to feel your breath and catch your scent Greeting ‒ Hug and a ritualistic kiss on the cheek ‒ More formal approach is preferred
Communications/Language
Communication American • • •
• •
•
Explicit, direct Emphasis on content – meaning found in words Eye contact ‒ Break when bored or want to end conversation ‒ Used to catch one’s attention ‒ Not making eye contact is a sign of deceitfulness, non-assertion, disinterest Smiling ‒ Welcoming, friendly gesture Nod ‒ Yes, I understand ‒ Yes, I agree Okay sign – obscene gesture in Greece and parts of Latin American
Asian and Latin • • •
•
•
Implicit indirect Emphasis on context – meaning found around words Averting eye contact ‒ Respect and proper behavior when in presence of older person or authority figure Smiling ‒ Embarrassment, confusion, discomfort Nod ‒ Yes, I heard you. Because no is considered rude, it upsets the harmony of relationships
Communications/Language
Communication/Language Hispanic
Latino
•
A term selected by the government
•
A term originated within the community
•
Direct reference to Spain
•
Direct reference to Latin countries
•
Means “Spanish like” or
•
Broad reference to Latin languages or people
•
Used by grass-root organizations, heritage groups, and other community-based organizations
affected by Spanish – “Spanish speaking” •
Used by formal institutions
Source: http://www.lasculturas.com/aa/aa070501a.htm
Communications/Language
Communication/Language Not Okay to Use
Okay to Use •
Native American/Indigenous
•
American Indian
American
•
Oriental
•
Asian
•
Colored
•
African American/Black
•
Queer
•
LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual,
•
Shiite/Sunni Muslim
•
Hindu
Transgender)/Homosexual •
Middle Eastern/Arab
•
Indian
Source: http://www.lasculturas.com/aa/aa070501a.htm
Dress and Appearance
Dress and Appearance American •
•
•
Clothing ‒Dress for success Hair – hot spot eyebrow raisers ‒ Dreadlocks, Afros, ponytails, braids, Mohawks, shaved heads, etc. Body Odor ‒ Fetish on topic ‒ Deodorant for almost every part of the body
Asian •
•
Clothing ‒ Sign of social class Body Odor ‒ Diet – garlicladen kimchi eaten by Koreans
Middle East •
• •
Clothing ‒ Neither a status symbol or statement Hair ‒ Turbans Body Odor ‒ To feel and smell person’s breath when talking ‒ Marriage go-between smells girl before they recommend her as bride ‒ Iranians bathe after sex to be clean/pure for prayer
Food and Eating Habits
Food and Eating Habits Jews/Asians
American •
Eating as a necessity –
•
Religious Rules
fast food
•
Restrictions/taboo
•
Restrictions/taboo •
•
‒ Cat, dog, horse ‒ Knife, fork
•
•
Utensils
‒ Burping
‒ Picking one’s teeth at the table
• •
beverages •
for eating from a
most in Asia
communal bowl
Etiquette ‒ Belching is seen as
compliment to the cook in Asian
Utensils ‒ Right hand used
‒Chop sticks choice of •
Restrictions/taboo ‒ Pork and alcoholic
Hindu’s prohibited from Utensils
Dining as a social experience
eating meat of any kind
Etiquette
‒ Smacking one’s lips
‒ Pork and shellfish
Middle East
•
Etiquette – Europeans eat with both hands on table
Time and Time Consciousness
Time and Time Consciousness American •
Linear and finite
•
Value on promptnesstimes is money ‒ Early bird gets the worm
‒ Commodity to be
Latin American •
Middle East
Manama – sometime
•
Elastic and relative
in the future
•
Inshallah – whenever
‒ Develop
relationships ‒ Enjoy oneself
it comes to pass ‒ Develop
relationships
used, divided, spent,
‒ Enjoy oneself
saved
happen depends on
‒ When things the will of God
Relationships
Relationships American •
Focus on nuclear
•
Focus on extended
Middle East •
Focus on extended
family – parents and
family-loyalty and
family – loyalty and
siblings
responsibility to family
responsibility to family
•
Responsibility for self
•
Value on youth, age seen as handicap
•
Japan
Hiring relatives ‒ Nepotism
‒ Prohibited in many organizations
•
respect •
(cousins, aunts,
Age given status and
uncles, etc.) •
Hiring relatives ‒ Hiring kin is expected
‒ Pecking order, age determining factor
Age given status and respect
•
Hiring relatives ‒ Loyalty expected towards one’s kin ‒ Obedience and
respect paid to older family members
Values and Norms
Values and Norms American •
• •
•
•
Competition ‒ Underpinning of American life and economic system Privacy – naively open Privacy in space ‒ Fenced off areas ‒ Children have their own room ‒ Offices partitioned Loyalty ‒ Truth, justice, American way ‒ No one above the law Respect ‒ Face preserved at all cost ‒ Publicly criticized, snubbed, or fired is hard to swallow in any culture
Japan/Middle East • •
•
•
•
Competition ‒ Upsets balance and harmony Privacy ‒ Seen as embarrassing if discussed outside of family ‒ Feelings, thoughts, problems kept to oneself Privacy in space ‒ Families sleep in same room ‒ Work spaces communal Loyalty ‒ Break a rule to help friend or cover relative’s infraction Respect ‒ Face is preserved at all cost ‒ Death preferred in ritualistic suicide ‒ (Hara-kiri)final way to restore honor
Beliefs and Attitudes
Beliefs and Attitudes American
Asian
•
Egalitarian
•
Challenging of authority •
•
Individuals control their destiny
•
Gender equity
•
Religion
•
‒Strong JudeoChristian foundation
Social order and authority
‒Women work outside the home
•
Muslims
Hierarchical
•
Hierarchical
Respect for authority and social order
•
Respect for authority and social order
•
Individuals accept destiny
•
•
Different roles for men and women
Individuals accept destiny
•
Different roles for men and women
•
Religion
•
Social order ‒ Women can’t have authority over men ‒ Students don’t question teachers
‒ Employees don’t confront bosses
‒ Children don’t talk back
‒ Ramadan – can’t eat or drink from sunup to sundown ‒ Sabbath – cannot work sundown Friday thru sundown Saturday
Mental Processing & Learning
Mental Processing and Learning American • •
•
Linear, logical sequential Problem-solving focus ‒ Fix it approach ‒ We have the power to control our world ‒ Problems are obstacles to overcome and success in doing so depends on our actions ‒ Logical analysis Learning style ‒ Experiential activities and role playing – requires learner to draw own conclusions
USSR • • •
•
Lateral, holistic, simultaneous Accepting of life’s difficulties Problem solving ‒ Problems viewed as situations to which one must adapt and the changes required by problem solving are seen as a threat to order and harmony ‒ Fate and luck play great part in outcome of ventures ‒ Intuition and holistic thinking Learning style ‒ Teacher to student with dependence on written information
Work Habits and Practices
Work Habits and Practices American • • • • • • • • •
• • •
Emphasis on task Reward based on individual achievement Work has intrinsic value More than a means to survival A divine calling, a “vocation” Job satisfaction Finding a magnificent obsession Crating careers that bring joy, esteem, achievement Signs of Status ‒ Blue v. white collar ‒ Manual labor v. professional work ‒ Exempt v. non-exempt Promotions – reward Bonus – pat on the back Taking initiative – self-directed
Arab/India • • • •
• • •
Emphasis on relationships Rewards based on seniority, relationships Work is a necessity of life Signs of Status ‒Working with one’s hands has lower status than doing professional work Promotions – punishment Bonus – insult Taking initiative – not expected to exercise independent judgment, make decisions, initiate task without being directed to do so
Aspects of Cultural
Aspects of Cultural 1. Sense of Self and Space 2. Communication and Language 3. Dress and Appearance 4. Food and Eating Habits 5. Time and Time Consciousness 6. Relationships 7. Values and Norms 8. Beliefs and Attitudes 9. Mental Processing and Learning 10. Work Habits and Practices
Rubs Have Roots in Cultural Norms Source: The Managing Diversity Survival Guide: A Complete Collection of Checklists, Activities, and Tips/Books and Disks, Lee Gardenswart
Verification of Compliance
