To summarize this unit I thought it would be appropriate to list the chapter questions and my responses to them.
How does the increasing pattern of cross-border movement change the distribution of people around the globe?
The distribution of people around the world is going to change as well as culture and life style in certain areas. When cross-border movement occurs there are going to begin to be more
representatives from each culture mixing in with that of home cultures. This will begin to shift cultures and call for better communication skills around the world. Not everyone will have the same cultural views so it is important to adapt to one another.
How does the expectation about such common interpersonal relationships as family and friend often differ across cultures?
These interpersonal relationships are going to have different expectations in different cultures because each culture has a different set of norms, values, beliefs, and social practices. These four things make a way of life for members of a certain cultures. Culture also affects behavior, therefore relationships are going to be formed differently and have different expectations. For example, once culture might believe that women are to only speak when spoken to and they are not allowed an opinion. Their role is in the home, cooking cleaning and taking care of the family. Another culture might believe that women are allowed an opinion and equal rights. It may also believe she has the ability to choose a career of her choice and a lifestyle she sees fit for herself. When you combine people from each culture you find it is hard to accept each other and get past culture barriers. It is important to learn good communication skills so that we can overcome these barriers.
Explain in detail the tapestry and garden salad metaphors used to understand U. S. cultural diversity.
The tapestry metaphor is used to explain how cultures are weaved together. Tapestry is a decorative cloth made up of many strands of thread. The threads are woven together into and artistic design that may be pleasing to some but not to others. Each thread is akin to a person, and groups of similar threads are analogous to a culture. The types of threads differ in many ways; their thickness, smoothness, color texture and strength may vary. The threads can range from gossamer strands to inch-thick yarn, from silk to coarse burlap, from pastel hues to fluorescent radiances, and from fragile spider webs to steel cables. The weaving process can vary from one location to another within the overall tapestry. Here, a wide swatch of a single type of thread may be used; there, many threads might be interwoven with many others, so no
single thread is distinguished; elsewhere, the threads may have been grouped together into small but distinguishable clumps.
The Garden Salad metaphor is used to explain how cultures in the United States are tossed together. Some see the United Stated as made up of a complex array of distinct cultures that
are blended into a unique and tasteful mixture. Substitute one ingredient for another or even change how much of each ingredient is present and the entire flavor of the salad may be
changed. Mix the salad differently and the look and feel will also differ. A salad contains a blend of ingredients and it provides a unique combination of tints, textures, and tastes that tempt the palate.
Why do you feel Martin Espada expressed his personhood by refusing to live out the stereotypical behavior expected of Puerto Rican men?
Martin Espada wanted to avoid being thrown into the bunch of Puerto Rican males that make up the typical stereotypes about those of this group. He did not like the thought of being
criticized and thought of like a typical Puerto Rican man. He also raised his son so that he could be the perssonhe wanted to be and also have the opportunity to stray from the male Puerto Rican stereotype.
What are some steps we can take to become more intercultural competent?
I feel that if we learn more about our culture and how we interpret things it is easier for us to have a better idea of how to analyze and interpret other cultures that are different from ours. I also feel that by being open minded and accepting we are allowing for much more room to mesh cultures together into an organized and efficient place where culture can mix and mingle.
In addition to the course questions I thought I should add that Unit One was about being surrounded by people that are from different cultures than you and how to communicate in an efficient and respectful manner.
How does the increasing pattern of cross-border movement change the distribution of people around the globe?
The distribution of people around the world is going to change as well as culture and life style in certain areas. When cross-border movement occurs there are going to begin to be more
representatives from each culture mixing in with that of home cultures. This will begin to shift cultures and call for better communication skills around the world. Not everyone will have the same cultural views so it is important to adapt to one another.
How does the expectation about such common interpersonal relationships as family and friend often differ across cultures?
These interpersonal relationships are going to have different expectations in different cultures because each culture has a different set of norms, values, beliefs, and social practices. These four things make a way of life for members of a certain cultures. Culture also affects behavior, therefore relationships are going to be formed differently and have different expectations. For example, once culture might believe that women are to only speak when spoken to and they are not allowed an opinion. Their role is in the home, cooking cleaning and taking care of the family. Another culture might believe that women are allowed an opinion and equal rights. It may also believe she has the ability to choose a career of her choice and a lifestyle she sees fit for herself. When you combine people from each culture you find it is hard to accept each other and get past culture barriers. It is important to learn good communication skills so that we can overcome these barriers.
Explain in detail the tapestry and garden salad metaphors used to understand U. S. cultural diversity.
The tapestry metaphor is used to explain how cultures are weaved together. Tapestry is a decorative cloth made up of many strands of thread. The threads are woven together into and artistic design that may be pleasing to some but not to others. Each thread is akin to a person, and groups of similar threads are analogous to a culture. The types of threads differ in many ways; their thickness, smoothness, color texture and strength may vary. The threads can range from gossamer strands to inch-thick yarn, from silk to coarse burlap, from pastel hues to fluorescent radiances, and from fragile spider webs to steel cables. The weaving process can vary from one location to another within the overall tapestry. Here, a wide swatch of a single type of thread may be used; there, many threads might be interwoven with many others, so no
single thread is distinguished; elsewhere, the threads may have been grouped together into small but distinguishable clumps.
The Garden Salad metaphor is used to explain how cultures in the United States are tossed together. Some see the United Stated as made up of a complex array of distinct cultures that
are blended into a unique and tasteful mixture. Substitute one ingredient for another or even change how much of each ingredient is present and the entire flavor of the salad may be
changed. Mix the salad differently and the look and feel will also differ. A salad contains a blend of ingredients and it provides a unique combination of tints, textures, and tastes that tempt the palate.
Why do you feel Martin Espada expressed his personhood by refusing to live out the stereotypical behavior expected of Puerto Rican men?
Martin Espada wanted to avoid being thrown into the bunch of Puerto Rican males that make up the typical stereotypes about those of this group. He did not like the thought of being
criticized and thought of like a typical Puerto Rican man. He also raised his son so that he could be the perssonhe wanted to be and also have the opportunity to stray from the male Puerto Rican stereotype.
What are some steps we can take to become more intercultural competent?
I feel that if we learn more about our culture and how we interpret things it is easier for us to have a better idea of how to analyze and interpret other cultures that are different from ours. I also feel that by being open minded and accepting we are allowing for much more room to mesh cultures together into an organized and efficient place where culture can mix and mingle.
In addition to the course questions I thought I should add that Unit One was about being surrounded by people that are from different cultures than you and how to communicate in an efficient and respectful manner.