Culture

Topic 1: Culture

Culture is the language, beliefs, values, norms, behaviors, and even material objects that characterize a group and are passed from one generation to the next. This is very important to me. I work with all sorts of culture. It is amazing how people live their lives in today’s world, from years ago. I work downtown Lewiston, and meet every array of culture. I work closely with the somalin population. We are starting to get a group of people from Angola. I have learned that culture is not just where you come from or where you live. It is everything about the person. Chapter 2 talk in depth about culture. It talks about symbolic culture which I found very interesting. How gestures can be misunderstood and offensive as people put meaning to gestures and what one thing means may not be the same meaning in another country. Chapter also talks about cultural lag and cultural change. Three or four generations ago, sociologist William Ogburn coined the term cultural lag. What Ogburn meant by this was when one part of a culture change, other parts lag behind. This can also mean material items as well.

Although the US is a pluralistic society, made up of many groups, each with its own set of values, certain values dominate, which are called core values. Every person that I have met have core values and each are a little different. This why each person is unique. I love to learn new ways of life. I have learned about the Somalia culture which I find very interesting. On the same note they do have similar cultural values as we American’s do. I do use my knowledge of culture in my everyday life and while on the job. It can be challenging as one may not feel the same as I do, and I have come to know that it is okay. I have learned not to judge as quickly as my values may not be the same as the next person. I feel that this topic is a non-stop learning topic. I feel that people should learn more about their own culture, and then to learn about others as we all...