Blog # 1

While reading the chart on pages three and four in Intercultural Communication I found the essentialism and non-essentialism views on culture to be really interesting. I think that the essentialist view of culture is a more conservative and close-minded way to think about culture throughout the world. I do believe it’s true that there are different cultures in different countries and regions that each have their own unique customs and beliefs, etc. However, I agree more with the non-essentialist belief that cultures can overlap, have similarities and that people can belong to different cultures at the same time. When I think about myself, I can identify with Italian culture, Austrian culture, Midwest regional culture and even the culture of being an ISU college student. The way that I can relate to various different cultures goes along with the non-essentialist view of membership for cultures. Non-essentialists believe that people can belong to different cultures in different societies. All of these cultures are different yet I can find them all within my own personal culture. I very much disagree with the statement from the essentialist view of culture in regards to relation, saying that “The world is divided into mutually exclusive national cultures. People in one culture are essentially different from people in another culture”. After reading this statement I realized that I agree with the non-essentialist idea of culture. Like I said before, I agree that each culture has unique characteristics; however, I believe that there can be intermingled and similar characteristics among different cultures. As a future Bilingual Education major, it’s for me important to be culturally sensitive and show a mutual respect for all of the cultures represented by my students. However, I also think it’s important to show the students that we can find similarities within all cultures. By showing my students how cultures can be related, I think that will help students understand and respect their peers’ unique individual culture while also creating a community within the classroom. On page seventy-three in Intercultural Communication, the idea of non-essentialism is also discussed. I like the idea of “small cultures”. A family, sports team or group of friends can be small cultures. Each of these different groups have their own way of speaking, dressing, and may have their own traditions that they take part in. I also believe that these “small cultures” can be made up of culturally diverse people that share certain similarities and can find common ground amongst each other. I think that a classroom is a small culture. Each classroom has their own rules and regulations. Each classroom has certain standards and a certain code of conduct that the students and teacher follows. The idea of a classroom being a small culture goes along with my belief that a classroom should be like a community. Non essentialists believe that the small culture approach considers any instance of socially cohesive behavior as culture and I think that a classroom of students falls into that category. Culture really can be found anywhere; it doesn’t necessarily have to be associated with what country you are from, what language you speak, what food you eat and what religion you practice. Everyone that lives in the United States is part of an American culture even though we are all from different backgrounds. Some people believe that the United States doesn’t have a culture since we are all so different. I think all of our unique differences is what makes our culture. The culture of America is the diversity that can be found within everyday life. Whether it be our ancestors, parents or you yourself that immigrated to America; we all came for the same reason: freedom, liberty, a better future. I believe that those three qualities are also part of the American culture that we all share. We are all different yet equal and bring our own individual cultures to make one large culture.