2/4/20; Week 05: Response to Cultural Paradigms

As I gestured “ok” to one of my school friends across the cafeteria, my exchange student’s smile was swapped for a look of complete shock as she covered her mouth in disbelief. She burst into laughter a second later realizing I did not know what my hand signal meant to her. Maria Teresa (“Te”) is from Brazil, and in her country, the “ok” sign is a rude, obscene gesture or the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger in America. Under different circumstances, this could have created a problem; she could have judged me to be rude and obscene and found another host sister. Fortunately, she used her cultural perspective and understanding to figure out I had a different cultural paradigm or interpretation of what the “ok” gesture meant.

According to John Ivers, Professor of Languages and International Studies at Brigham Young University - Idaho, we need to challenge our paradigms. What does this mean? To me, this means to follow Te’s example. Use cultural perspective and understanding. Maybe there’s another way, another insight. Everyone has their own cultural model. Most people aren’t trying to be rude, disrespectful, or other adjectives that might apply. They are operating under the ideas they learned through their societies, families, experiences, religions, and endless cultural influences. Some of these are positive, and some…not so much. 

Delali Bright, in her “Cultural Clashes in Defining Beauty” TED talk, points out that some cultural standards affect the way we view ourselves, how we feel about our appearance, and how we shape our thoughts.  Her message is to not allow cultural measures to tarnish our self-perception. Bright advocates that “…being aware of this will affect our well-being, personal development, and positively impact the way we treat others.”

The change starts within each of us as teachers, students, and human beings. We can create a safe, loving, welcoming culture within us and our space. Here are a few ideas to make this happen:

• Be aware of our own value and self-worth
• Be confident in who we are
• Step outside of our own cultural paradigms
• Learn about each other
• Learn about other cultures
• Be understanding
• Be patient
• Show respect and acceptance even if we disagree
• Have a sense of humor

We may be different in many ways, but we are all priceless regardless of how our cultural rules define and separate us. Let us elevate each other as we break through those cultural paradigms.  Thank you, Te, for stepping outside of your cultural interpretation and keeping me as your host sister.