...Home Page » Historical Events Worldwide Non Western Cultures Faced Fundamental Challenges to Their Cultural Identities Not so Much a Recentering of Culture but a Decentering of Culture In: Historical Events Worldwide Non Western Cultures Faced Fundamental Challenges to Their Cultural Identities Not so Much a Recentering of Culture but a Decentering of Culture Individual Project # 4 David Henderson American Intercontinental University Abstract The Chinese have been in America since the early 1600’s and have contributed to the growth of this country in many ways. When leaving your home land and coming to a new one, there are many new and different ways of doing things that may be contrary to what is normal or acceptable in you culture. The decentering of a culture is examined, as well as the impact on a culture when this happens. China’s Decentering Process “Worldwide, non-Western cultures faced fundamental challenges to their cultural identities-not do much a recentering of culture but a decentering” (Sayre, 2010). What can we gather from this statement. Sayer is stating that Western cultures have begun to loose their original identities that they brought over from their native countries. Every culture that immigrated to the U.S. brought with them some of their own culture. Most brought just the clothes on their back along with hopes and dreams of a better life and ideals from the homeland. Cultures that were ‘non-western’ were caught between two...
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...examined, as well as the impact on a culture when this happens. China’s Decentering Process “Worldwide, non-Western cultures faced fundamental challenges to their cultural identities-not do much a recentering of culture but a decentering” (Sayre, 2010). What can we gather from this statement. Sayer is stating that Western cultures have begun to loose their original identities that they brought over from their native countries. Every culture that immigrated to the U.S. brought with them some of their own culture. Most brought just the clothes on their back along with hopes and dreams of a better life and ideals from the homeland. Cultures that were ‘non-western’ were caught between two continents, on the one hand, they had the values and views that they grew accustomed to, and on the other hand they were being introduced to a totally new and different way of life and a new set of standards, and as a result they started to adapt to a newer way of life, and in doing so their old way of life began to be replaced by a newer culture which caused their native lands culture to become decentered, and as a result the older culture started to rescind . What is really happening here is not really the decentering of cultures or even the recentering of cultures, but rather a melding of many different cultures in to one. Cultural identities are the faces societies wear to present themselves to the world. These faces represent the recentering of many different...
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...Otherness: Essays and Studies 1.1 October 2010 Haunting Poetry: Trauma, Otherness and Textuality in Michael Cunningham’s Specimen Days Olu Jenzen Early conceptions of trauma are intimately linked not only with modernity but specifically with the height of industrialisation (Micale and Lerner 2001). This is converged in the opening of Specimen Days particularly in the image of an industrial accident at the ironworks where a young man is killed by the stamping machine. His young brother, replacing him at the machine after the funeral, then experiences an apparition of the dead brother still trapped inside the machine, which leads him to believe that all machines house entrapped ghosts of the dead. Writing on the Victorians’ anxieties about internal disruption caused by the advent of the railway, Jill Matus (2001, 415) has pointed out that, Freud himself remarked in Beyond the Pleasure Principle (1920), [that] there is ‘a condition [which] has long been known and described [and] which occurs after severe mechanical concussions, railway disasters and other accidents involving a risk to life; it has been given the name of traumatic neurosis’ (12). Freud’s remark brings to the fore the traumas of the industrial age as both individually and publicly experienced and negotiated. This condition of trauma as private and public, individual yet also societal is held in tension throughout Cunningham’s novel. Reflecting on the otherness of trauma and its vexed relationship to representation...
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...Preservation of Cultural Identity. The connections to the traditions and territories of their ancestors are often fundamental to the identity and prosperity of many Indigenous Peoples and communities. The “Borders” by Thomas King and “A Mountain Legend” by Jordan Wheeler are two works that reflect both authors’ emphasis on conserving cultural heritage and resiliency when overcoming adversities affecting Indigenous identities. Specifically, Thomas King paints an upsetting portrait projecting the ongoing struggle for Indigenous acceptance and influence. The story follows an Indigenous boy and his mother on their expedition to cross the Canadian-American border to visit family while facing opposition from political...
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...Importance of Cultural Identity Student’s name Institutional Affiliation Importance of cultural identity Cultural identity is the sense of belonging to a particular group which has been (delete) formed on the basis of religious beliefs, customs, values, norms, traditions, ancestry etc. People tend to associate themselves with groups, communities and cultures that they were (Passive voice) raised in or those groups they chose during their adulthood. Cultural identity plays a significant role in the lives of individuals and communities. Cultural identity is an important basis for self-identity as it helps people know who they are and what they are. People’s values, principles, priorities, limits and sense of morality stem from their cultural groups .In defining ourselves, we first define where we come from then define our personal aspects. Others also define us by where we have come from. Therefore, by understanding our cultural groups, we understand ourselves and make it easier for others to understand us. Cultural identity contributes to a feeling of belonging and a sense of security. People who identify with particular groups feel that they belong to a community held together by values, beliefs, challenges or ancestry. They feel that they are not alone as there are other people in their cultural groupings (They feel they are not left alone considering their cultural groupings). The sense...
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...However, there are very few studies concerning the challenges and learning needs of immigrant students during their postsecondary education in Canada. Interviews with immigrant students show that even though they met the language proficiency requirement for admission, they did not perceive their own language capabilities to be sufficient to succeed in their courses (Quinn, 2013). Moreover, immigrant students tend to have low...
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...Cultural Influences on Personality and Bicultural Identity by Veronica Benet-Martínez Name Institution Date Abstract There has been increasing numbers of bicultural individuals in many nations, among them the United States showing that bicultural identity is extremely an important aspect for research. This paper recognizes and summarizes the literature on bicultural identity of different individuals. Second, the paper analyses how the Cultural influences on personality and bicultural identity theory addresses real-world problems and the solutions it suggests for such problems. The essential characteristics of the theory as well as the continued relevance are also evaluated for the purpose of analyzing the validity of the theory as well as its accuracy. Bicultural identity integration is determined by such factors like personality, social environment, political, economic and historical context. The current status of an individual’s cultural group may influence the range of that individual’s bicultural identity integration. Keywords: Bicultural identity, biculturalism, culture, personality, psychology. Cultural Influences on Personality and Bicultural Identity by Veronica Benet-Martínez Personality psychology is generally a branch of psychology which is involved with the student of personality and how it varies among different individuals. Personality is a set of characteristics that a person possesses and that have the ability to uniquely influence the person’senvironment...
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...Background Research Worksheet Book selection: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Author: John Boyne Using support from your research materials, identify and explain any political, social, economic, or cultural issues that may shape the story. In the story there were both social and cultural issues. The social issues are that, well basically they discriminated those who did not look like them, so they would not speak to them. You were considered outsiders and were not welcomed in society if you did not have blonde hair and blue eyes. The cultural issues were that many of the Jews were executed by the Germans because they had different beliefs, looked, and acted different than them. Source: Indoctrinating German Youthhttp://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007820 Imagine what it would be like to live in this situation. Using supporting details from your research, discuss the greatest challenges people might face under these circumstances. Discrimination would have to be the greatest challenge in my opinion. Because the Nazi's were for antisemitism and racism, and the Jews were not of the same type of people that the Germans were, the Nazi's would kill them. Another challenge would be the way you were treated, if you were a Jew or a different race, many children, adults also, were: Killed in killing centers; killed immediately after birth or in institutions; children born in ghettos and camps who survived because prisoners hid them, were used as laborers and for medical...
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...the diversity of multicultural families in regards to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic, gender and sexual orientation. This paper will also highlight same or different minority or cultural backgrounds, identity and biases involving multicultural families. How multicultural families incorporate their beliefs, cultures and values into a family unit as well as the transformation of acculturation. Challenges involving racial identity, ethnicity; where do people with different cultures fit in and make it work; the population of multicultural families has risen and continue to do so. Socioeconomic status in multicultural families varies from household income, occupation, education level, and upper, and middle or lower class standard of living. Certain barriers may contribute to multicultural families such as language, behavioral, health and mental stress, depression, roles of husbands and wives, gender, sexual orientation; family values are very important in interracial families, are the collaborations among families discussed to blend values from each culture. This paper will portray the dynamics of multicultural families. Keywords: multicultural, families, race, ethnicity, acculturation, mental stress, and values. Multicultural Families Multicultural is an integration of different cultures identities belonging to vary subgroups from diverse countries and or cultures, which stem from race, ethnicity, socioeconomic, gender language and sexual orientation. The United States has...
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...they way they were brought up * Familial relationships significantly influence an individual’s sense of belonging * Belonging to a family does not necessarily always have positive impacts / provide a sense of belonging * Belonging is enriched by a positive interaction with others and the surrounding world but can also be limited in the sense that the wider community/world can provide barriers to limit the connection individuals need to develop their sense of belonging | | * Doug subjugated and represses his own sense of individuality in order to keep his and Shirley’s marriage steady despite the fact that he always feels isolate and alone * Due to Scott’s lack of inclusion and self-expression within his family, he yearns for cultural group that will accept him. His personal context restricted his feeling of acceptance. This is shown through the strict conformist rules that Shirley and Lez impose on Scott when he dances | * Generational difference – May’s parents have a different view of belonging to American culture. They feels as if they belong more strongly to the Japanese culture which is why they decided to move back to Japan and teach may about Japanese culture. * May and her parents have different perceptions of belonging due to generational difference. This is shown in the image of May outside the front of her house with her mother on the inside (Mis en scene and proxemics). This shows that May’s mother does not feel as if he belongs in the American culture...
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...University of Phoenix Material Racial and Ethnic Groups Matrix Complete the matrix below by answering the questions for each group. | |Race vs. Ethnicity |Origins and Past Experiences |Challenges in the U.S. |American Identity |Personal Experiences and Comments | | |Is this an ethnic or racial group |Where did this group originate? How|What challenges has this |How is this group portrayed |Have you witness any racism or prejudice | | |and why? |did this group become a part of |grouped faced in the U.S.? |today in American society? |toward this group? Any additional comments? | | | |American culture? | | | | |Native Americans |This group would be considered a |This group originated in the north |The main challenge of Native |In the past, the image of the |I have no immediate experience with native | | |racial group, because of skin and|American continent. The American |Americans is that of |Native American was that of an |Americans to comment. | | |hair color, as well as facial |culture developed out of the |inclusion. They are not |uncivilized savage....
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...striving. (Spencer-Oatey, 2012) Culture give an identity to a group ensures survival and increases the feeling of belonging. Identity development Identity is an individual's self-explanation that stresses the enduring personalities of the self. To understand identity, the individual can justify the origins of these personalities features and the impacts behind those origins. Inclusive identity includes an interpretation...
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...“‘Texts explore, support or subvert notions of identity.’ Discuss this statement making detailed reference to the excerpt from The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.” • The except “The Three Sisters” is chapter 41 from the novel The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros published in 1984. • The chapter starts of by talking about three sisters, aunts, and they are las comadres and that is a Spanish term given to Godmother, ‘one with laughter like tin and on with eyes of a cat and one with hands like porcelain’. This gave a thought of maybe witches and further research of the novel/chapter reveals that they are representations of the “three fates” of ancient mythology and these are women who decide, death, birth and lengths of lives. • Lucy and Rachel’s baby sister died, and there was wake or a viewing that happened in their home, ‘anybody who had ever wondered what color the walls were came and came to look at that little thumb of a human in a box like candy’. • Esperanza then makes a wishes and the sister who had ‘marble hands’ called her over to tell her something. o “When you leave you must remember to come back for the others. A circle, understand? You will always be Esperanza. You will always be Mango Street. You can’t erase what you know. You can’t forget who you are. … You must remember to come back. For the ones who cannot leave as easily as you.” • “The story approaches the fantastical here (in Esperanza’s point of view), as the sisters seem to read...
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...Identity is complicated. It is more than what a person is, identity is their beliefs, their cultures, all things which relate to the person. When a child is displaced or removed from their environment, their cultural identity may be the only thing they have left which relates back to their home land. Respecting this cultural identity has been difficult to accept at times in Australia with the push to have immigrants assimilate. Assimilation means they leave their cultures behind and accept the new countries beliefs (Bowes, Grace, & Hodge, 2012, p.25). In the situation of a child who has only these cultural identities to hold onto, this is not respecting their heritage or their journey. Encouraging multiculturalism rather than assimilation means the child can still maintain their cultural...
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...HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2004 Cultural Liberty in Today’s Diverse World Accommodating people’s growing demands for their inclusion in society, for respect of their ethnicity, religion, and language, takes more than democracy and equitable growth. Also needed are multicultural policies that recognize differences, champion diversity and promote cultural freedoms, so that all people can choose to speak their language, practice their religion, and participate in shaping their culture— so that all people can choose to be who they are. 65 108 166 55 34 82 3 14 91 51 40 138 29 62 6 99 161 134 114 66 128 72 33 56 175 173 130 141 4 105 169 167 43 94 73 136 144 168 45 163 48 52 30 32 Albania Algeria Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, Dem. Rep. of the Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic 17 154 95 98 100 120 103 109 156 36 170 81 13 16 122 155 97 19 131 24 93 121 160 172 104 153 115 23 38 7 127 111 101 10 22 21 79 9 90 78 148 28 44 110 135 50 80 Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Fiji Finland France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea...
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