搜索
Unit3CulturalPerspectivesIln’estpasproper?MyFrenchsister-in-law'squestionfloatedintheair.Ipretendednottohear,waitingformywifetoanswer.Shewasaskingaboutourtwo-and-a-half-year-oldson,whohadjustscamperedbyher,chasingaballonthebeachinNormandy.Iwasn'texactlysurewhatshewasasking.Heisn'tclean?Whatcouldshemeanbythat?Whenmywifeanswered,itbecameclear.Itwasaboutthediaperhewaswearing,andthefactthathewasnotyettoilettrained.wasn'thegettingalittleoldfordiapers?Thisconversation,andtheimplicationthatourAmericantoilettrainingpracticesweresomehowinadequate,botheredme.Iknewtherewereculturaldifferencesinplay,buttheonlyexplanationIcouldcomeupwithinthemomentwasasimplisticnotionaboutinformality,ordifferenttraditions.Truthfully,IwasstruckmorebyhowbotheredIwas.Myemotionsweretriggered,andIcouldn'tfigureoutwhy.Later,IcameacrossacomparisonofthedifferencesbetweenFrenchandAmericanchild-rearingpractices.TheFrenchperceivethathumankind-allpeople-containsbothgoodandevil,andthatchildrenthereforeneedtheguidinghandofrationaladultsinordertopreparethemtoparticipateproperlyinsociety,tobringoutthepositiveinthemandtocontroltheirinnatenegativetendencies.Childrenmustfollowtherules,sotospeak.Americans,incontrast,tendtoviewhumankindasbasicallygood,andareconsequentlymoretolerantofchildrenfindingtheirownway,learningfrommistakes,trustingthemtodowhatisright.Whathelpedmemostinthiscomparisonwastherealizationthatthefundamentaldifferencesinviewsbetweenmysister-in-lawandmecouldbeexplainedintermsofculturalperspectives,thattheseweresubmergeddeepwithin,andthatitwasnotreallyamatterofrightandwrongbetweenthetwoofus.IquestionwhetherIcouldhavecometothisunderstandingbyrelyingonmyownexperience.Ineededothers’views.Perspectivescanbepresentedasacombinationofperceptions,values,beliefs,andattitudes.Theyaretheexplicitandimplicitmeaningssharedbymembersoftheculture,manifestedinproductsandpractices.Thesemeaningsreflectmembers'perceptionsoftheworld,thebeliefsandvaluesthattheyhold,andthenorms,expectations,andattitudesthattheybringtopractices.Tonametheperspectivesthatunderliepracticesistoanswerquestion,whydothepeopleofthisculturedothingsinthewaythey.Perspectivescanbetangible.Perceptions,beliefs,values,andattitudescanbeexplicitlystatedinoralorwrittenform.Theseexplicitperspectivesareexpressedthroughsayings,proverbs,creeds,proclamations,myths,mottos,principles,guidelines,missionstatements,scholarlystudies,culturalstudies,orotherexplicitformsofexpression.Theseovertperspectives,thesharedpublicoutlooks,guideourpractices.Asanexample,considertheperspectiveof“theAmericanDream”-aculturalperspectivethatreflectsabeliefthatanyonecanachievefameandfortuneintheUnitedStatesthroughhardwork,self-reliance,andsacrifice.Thisbeliefisbaseduponvaluesofequality,individualismachievement,competition,andmaterialism.Thesevalues.inturn.Derivefromaculturalperceptionthatpeoplepossessfreewillandcancontroltheirdestiniesandtheenvironment,andthatthefutureismoreimportantthanthepast.Attitudesofcompetitiveness,ambition,determination,self-centeredness,andresiliencefollow.Accordingly,U.S.culturehasmanypracticesthatreflectthepursuitoftheAmericanDream,includingestablishingcertainrelationships,developingacareer,andacquiringwealth,status,orrespect.Productsaccumulatewithsuchpractices:possessions,goods,capital,status,andrecognition.Manyexplicitperspectivesarefoundinthehistoryofacultureandinsocialandculturalstudiesandcommentaries.Thehistoriesofpoliticaleconomic,religious,educationalandotherformalinstitutionsbothreflectandpropagateculturalperspectives.Forexample,thebeliefthateverymanispresumedinnocentuntilprovenguiltypervadesthejudicialsystemintheUnitedStates,andhasitsoriginsintheAmericanRevolutionasaconsciousresponsetothepoliticalinstitutionsinEurope.Likewise,U.Shistorybooksarefilledwithstoriesofself-mademen,ruggedindividualists”who“pulledthemselvesupbytheirownbootstraps”,“lefttheirpastsbehind,andwentfromragstorichestoattaintheAmericanDream,proving,ineffect,thatGodhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves.”(DependingontheAmericansyoutalkto,thisperspectivemaybeseenasmythorreality.)Perspectivesarethusexplicit,butatthesametimetheycanbetacitoroutsideawareness,Membersofaculturecarryoutpractices,butwhenaskedtoexplainthem,theyoftencannotspecifywhytheyengageinthesepractices;theyfrequentlyreply,that'sjustthewayitisorwe'realwaysdoingitthisway.Thisisnottosaythatpeopleareunabletospecifyperspectives,butratherthatpeopletendnottobeawareofthem.Theytakethemforgranted.ThemaximIfyouwanttoknowaboutwater,don'taskafish.oftenusedininterculturalcircles.makesthispoint.Eventhoughmostculturalperspectivesaretacit,theycanbebroughttothesurfaceandmadeexplicit,asanthropologists,amongothers,havedemonstrated.Itcandemandasignificantefforttouncoverthetacitperspectivesthatgovernpractices.Whilethisdiscoveryispossible,itisquestionablewhetheralltacitperspectivescaninfactbesurfaced.Some(ormany,whoknows)remainimprintedinthedepthsofourreptilianandmammalianbrains,beyondthereachoflanguage.Atthemostexplicitlevel,perspectivesareexpressedmostoftenasfeelingsthatareassociatedwithattitudes,revea