CULTURE, OUR IDENTITY!
Are culture and identity two separate entities or are the two words one and the same thing?
Culture is who we are, our habits and our idea of living. Judith N. Martin and Thomas K. Nakayama’s book, Intercultural Communication in Contexts (Judith N. Martin, 2010), highlights the self-imperative aspect that encourages one to be more aware of themselves. From abilities, to traits, to talents, to how we identify and feel about certain situations among others that foster a sense of identity.
Beyond the personal aspect, it is recommended for one to get to know where one comes from, one’s cultural history and find out the greater meaning of your life. One’s identity.
Furthermore, once we know ourselves, then we are able to understand, appreciate and embrace other cultures. This can be done through practicing cultural awareness as highlighted in my previous article (click here). Nakayama underlines the application of identity tourism as a skill for intercultural relations and communication. Identity tourism is when one takes up exploration of other races, class, gender or sexual orientation for recreational purposes, to learn and understand other cultures or to have a hands on experience. This may include immersing one’s self through learning a language, travelling to cultural sites, reading their literature among others. Technically walking in someone else’s shoes.
However, ethically, this exploration exercise may be used negatively. Some people may take up these identities and pose anonymously to criticize others thus promoting negative insights about certain things under a certain culture. This portrays a negative side of the culture. By understanding and embracing other cultures, we get rid of the ethnocentrism which leads one to think that their own culture is superior to others yet in reality we are all equal and unique in our own ways.
Over and above culture serving as an explanatory construct to human behavioral patterns, it is a window for understanding why certain practices are undertaken and why the particular beliefs are taken to heart.
The Jehovah’s Witness believers are an elaborate example. For instance, they religiously observe their beliefs and teachings against blood transfusion related procedures regardless of the medical emergency situation. They believe that it is against God’s will to receive blood donations. A moral dilemma presents itself here whereby, medical practitioners are faced with choosing between performing the blood transfusion against the patient’s wishes and observing the medical code of ethics which does not permit a doctor to force a patient to accept a certain treatment. (Jehovah’s Witnesses and blood transfusion, 2020)
Another example is Christianity and abortion. The Christian way of life or rather Christians hold the opinion that termination of a pregnancy before the foetus is viable as an independent life outside the womb is morally wrong. It breaks the sixth commandment in the Bible, which states “thou shall not kill”. They believe life is a sacred gift from God and must be protected at all times. (Abortion, 2021)
The aforementioned examples clearly justify Geert Hofstede’s definition of culture; a collective programming of the mind that distinguishes one group of people from another. (Hofstede, 2013)
IN SUMMARY
I believe culture and identity are one and the same thing whereby culture is our identity. But yet again I also believe, it is possible to have culture and identity as separate entities.
Take the courageous steps to rediscover who you are and educate those around you. Knowledge is power!
References
Abortion. (2021). Retrieved from BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zypykqt/revision/4
Hofstede, G. (2013). Cross-Cultural Analysis. In The Science and Art of Comparing World’s Modern Societies and their Cultures. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Jehovah’s Witnesses and blood transfusion. (2020). Retrieved from Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee: https://www.transfusionguidelines.org/transfusion-handbook/12-management-of-patients-who-do-not-accept-transfusion/12-2-jehovah-s-witnesses-and-blood-transfusion
Judith N. Martin, T. K. (2010). In Intercultural Communication in Contexts (5th Edition) (pp. 4–6). New York: McGraw-Hill.
