Figuring Foreigners Out and Hofstede's Dimensions of Culture argued that culture is composed of different categories that make one culture different from another. Dr. Geert Hofstede initially identified four factors: power distance index, individualism, masculinity, and uncertainty avoidance index, and long term orientation and indulgence were later added to the list. I thought it was interesting how Figuring Foreigners Out discussed the disconnect in a conversation between people from different cultures because of how behaviors could be interpreted differently on both ends. When learning a language and exposing yourself to a new culture, it is important to keep these differences in mind, especially when it concerns etiquette and formality conventions. How we view different behaviors depends on our upbringing and our interpretation of the behavior based on what we have learned to be permissible in society.
The factors for differentiating culture reminded me of personality test categories and how the degrees of each category can vary between people, which I found interesting. I see the points the readings are trying to convey about defining different factors that encompass culture, but I think this model oversimplifies and creates an unintentional (and possibly detrimental) way to compare cultures. For each category, one side seemed more positive than the other (for example, collectivism/helping those in your community seems more benevolent than individualism, associated with selfishness), which might lead people who are using this analysis to interpret some cultures as better than others.
In one of the sources, there was a quote by Dr. Geert Hofstede that said, "Culture is more often a source of conflict than of synergy. Cultural differences are a nuisance at best and often a disaster." I highly disagree. It's not our cultural differences that are disastrous, but rather people’s lack of open-mindedness and their aversion to unfamiliarity. I do think that cultural differences build barriers for universal understanding, but diversity prompts different ideas and is something that should be embraced. Based off of my take on Dr. Hofstede's statement, I want to make sure to be open-minded of Turkish culture and be willing to learn about it, even if it contrasts with my American upbringing. In fact, one of the things that I find so interesting about other cultures is there differences, so I hope to identify Turkey's similarities and differences to my native culture.
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