How do we cope with cultural dilemmas in an increasing globalised world?
The term culture is very often used in our society. So what does it mean?
The term culture is very often used in our society. So what does it mean?
At the beginning of the lesson we made a mind map about culture and we found out that the term includes a lot of different things. Everybody connects other ideas with culture, like: identity, history, religion, rules/laws, traditions and norms, moral, habits, values, language, ...
We also talked about three different concepts of culture:
· The evolutionary concept of culture
· The relavistic concept of culture
· The complex concept of culture
During our discussion the question raised up that why do we need a concept of culture? Why do we have to categorize it? Wouldn´t it be better to unlearn using the concept of culture? I´m of the opinion that especially the western society always have to put everything into categories. We like to stereotype and rank everything because it´s the easiest way for us. Using the concept of culture could be also an excuse for our behavour.
We heard a story about two boys who had both ADHD. One was from Denmark and the other one from Turkey. The boy from Denmark got a medical attention and the boy from Turkey not. The explanation was that each culture brings up their children in a different way and the behavour of the turkish boy is “normal” for their culture. So we use the concept of culture for an excuse to do anything. This story made me really think because it's very hard to unlearn these concepts.
Why it is important to be aware of and have knowledge about the concept of culture when working as a social worker or teacher?
As a professional you have to know that culture is an abstract term to characterise other people. The people who meet each other are important and not the culture. In addition to this, you have to think what you tell your pupils about other cultures.
Moreover, you should know that you can just tell them your point of view. I think it is impossible to understand other cultures because you will never be a part of it. Of course you can inform yourself about a nation and talk to inhabitants but it will be always your point of view.
Furthermore, a teacher have to be careful not to sterotype people from one nation. For example two Italian girls do not have the same properties, just because they come from the same country. The nation and the culture is not the same. Maybe you have more common with a woman from Colombia than with a woman from your country.
What challenge do you see in the concept of culture?
The concept of culture can help you as a professional to find out how pupils from a certain country behave in that way they behave. You need their cultural background to understand the unfamiliar habits from the children. This knowledge can help to integrate the pupils into the whole class. I´m of the opinion that it is very important to teach the children to be tolerant and without prejudice toward each other. They should learn to look at other cultures without sterotyping. I believe it´s a great challenge for a teacher to educate the pupils to be open minded people because they are our future.
At the end we had to discuss different cultural dilemmas in a group work. It was really interesting to hear the different views. The examples showed us the big cultural differences in our group and made us aware of the dilemmas.
