Figuring Foreigners Out focused on developing tools to measure differences in individualism, fatalism, nonverbal behaviors, conceptions of time, and directness of communication throughout cultures. Dr. Hofstede’s tools focused on measuring differences in equality, individualism, masculinity, tolerance for uncertainty, dedication to traditional values and behaviors in indulgence. Ultimately, both of these resources offer quantifiable tools to understand very abstract concepts such as culture, individualism and fatalism. However, I am curious about this quantifiability and its margin of error. Obviously, some of these measurements are easier to control than others especially Dr. Hofstede’s Power Distance Index. Scholars can easily look up numbers on wage inequality, wealth gaps, and much more to understand inequalities in wealth and power. But I would love to know a little bit more about these scholars’ research in determining the correct range for each country. What resources (word-of-mouth, scholarly texts, interviews from people of each culture, etc.) do they use to make these judgements? What are their margins of error? How often do they adjust for changes within specific cultures?
Curiously, during my last tutoring session, Adriana and I talked about the state of the Coronavirus in our native countries and its representation of typical cultural behavior. I asked Adriana if most Slovaks were following the rules by wearing their masks and adhering to stay-at-home orders. Adriana told me that most people closely follow the rules and usually do not deviate from collective behavior. She explained that hundreds of years of outside, authoritarian rule created a culture of collectivism and fervent adherence to the law. In contrast, I told Adriana about the almost toxic sense of American individualism and dedication to personal freedoms. Though individualism and personal freedoms can be very important values, they are detriments to public health efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the United States. I mentioned that some Americans, especially white, middle-class Americans, view themselves as exceptions, as above wearing masks and staying at home. For better or worse, the United States’ resistance to observing pandemic rules perfectly demonstrates the problematic nature of American individualism and our failure to care for the greater good.
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