A.

DEFINE CULTURE

Culture is the combination of spiritual and emotional features of a particular

set of people. We can say that it defines the identity of a certain group of
people. It includes food, dress, arts, culture, literature, language, etc. Besides
this, it consists of customs and traditions that are followed and implemented
by people from ancient times. Most importantly, it is something that people
follow as a community and society.

This is basically something that every individual needs to follow in the

community. It leads to following rules and regulations that are implemented in
society. Culture is transferred from one generation to another following the
same customs and traditions. A person is identified from their culture and the
place they belong to. It is beneficial for the social and emotional well-being of
people. In this culture essay, we will discuss the types and importance of
cultures in our lives.

Characteristics of Culture
It is important to understand the fact that culture does not allow us to be
isolated from others. It brings people together. They become closer to others
by socially interacting with them. Culture is something that we all share, it
does not belong to a specific individual. This would include, morals, values,
traditions, etc. It is capable of transferring from one generation to another. It is
a continuous process that keeps moving forward. Additionally, it adapts to the
new changes according to the time and circumstances.

Types of Culture
Culture is the most integral part of our lives. It is not something that people are
born with. But, they inherit the culture by living with a set of communities.
Cultures are classified to be materialistic and non-materialistic. Some of the
types of cultures are mentioned below:

 Art: Dance, music, painting, etc.

 Literature: Stories, drama, poetry, manuscripts, etc.

 Spiritual: Prayers, worship, belief, etc.

 Behavior: Traditions, myth, customs, etc.

Also explore: Learn more about culture with Globalization essay and Essay on
World.

Importance of Culture
Although we all live in the modern world, there are customs which we follow
from the ancient times. We hold certain values which are morally rich. Most
importantly, every culture has its own festivals and traditions that it celebrates
and believes in. Culture is dynamically changing according to the
environment. But, the essence of the traditions are still maintained. Today, all
are connected and trying to adapt to each other’s culture. Have you heard
about cultural diversity? It basically means respecting and living together with
people from different backgrounds, traditions, languages, interests and skills.
Some of the benefits of culture are mentioned below:

 It teaches community equality, love and respect towards each other.

 It encourages art forms with a wide range of audiences.

 It treats all the culture and traditions of people equally.

 It helps to understand and exchange ideas with each other.

 It helps in respecting and appreciating other cultures.

 It allows people from different backgrounds to work together for a

common goal.

 It supports people to contribute in ways that helps society to grow and

flourish.

 It preserves cultural ideas and traditions.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE

Characteristics of Culture:
From various definition, we can deduce the following
characteristics:

1. Learned Behaviour:
Not all behaviour is learned, but most of it is learned; combing one’s
hair, standing in line, telling jokes, criticising the President and going
to the movie, all constitute behaviours which had to be learned.

Sometimes the terms conscious learning and unconscious learning are

used to distinguish the learning. For example, the ways in which a
small child learns to handle a tyrannical father or a rejecting mother
often affect the ways in which that child, ten or fifteen years later,
handles his relationships with other people.

Some behaviour is obvious. People can be seen going to football

games, eating with forks, or driving automobiles. Such behaviour is
called “overt” behaviour. Other behaviour is less visible. Such activities
as planning tomorrow’s work (or) feeling hatred for an enemy, are
behaviours too. This sort of behaviour, which is not openly visible to
other people, is called Covert behaviour. Both may be, of course,
learned.

2. Culture is Abstract:
Culture exists in the minds or habits of the members of society.
Culture is the shared ways of doing and thinking. There are degrees of
visibility of cultural behaviour, ranging from the regularised activities
of persons to their internal reasons for so doing. In other words, we
cannot see culture as such we can only see human behaviour. This
behaviour occurs in regular, patterned fashion and it is called culture.

3. Culture is a Pattern of Learned Behaviour:

The definition of culture indicated that the learned behaviour of
people is patterned. Each person’s behaviour often depends upon
some particular behaviour of someone else. The point is that, as a
general rule, behaviours are somewhat integrated or organized with
related behaviours of other persons.

4. Culture is the Products of Behaviour:

Culture learnings are the products of behaviour. As the person
behaves, there occur changes in him. He acquires the ability to swim,
to feel hatred toward someone, or to sympathize with someone. They
have grown out of his previous behaviours.

In both ways, then, human behaviour is the result of behaviour. The

experience of other people are impressed on one as he grows up, and
also many of his traits and abilities have grown out of his own past
behaviours.

5. Culture includes Attitudes, Values Knowledge:

There is widespread error in the thinking of many people who tend to
regard the ideas, attitudes, and notions which they have as “their
own”. It is easy to overestimate the uniqueness of one’s own attitudes
and ideas. When there is agreement with other people it is largely
unnoticed, but when there is a disagreement or difference one is
usually conscious of it. Your differences however, may also be cultural.
For example, suppose you are a Catholic and the other person a
Protestant.

6. Culture also includes Material Objects:

Man’s behaviour results in creating objects. Men were behaving when
they made these things. To make these objects required numerous and
various skills which human beings gradually built up through the ages.
Man has invented something else and so on. Occasionally one
encounters the view that man does not really “make” steel or a
battleship. All these things first existed in a “state nature”.

Man merely modified their form, changed them from a state in which
they were to the state in which he now uses them. The chair was first a
tree which man surely did not make. But the chair is more than trees
and the jet airplane is more than iron ore and so forth.

7. Culture is shared by the Members of Society:

The patterns of learned behaviour and the results of behaviour are
possessed not by one or a few person, but usually by a large
proportion. Thus, many millions of persons share such behaviour
patterns as Christianity, the use of automobiles, or the English
language.

Persons may share some part of a culture unequally. For example, as

Americans do the Christian religion. To some persons Christianity is
the all important, predominating idea in life. To others it is less
preoccupying/important, and to still others it is of marginal
significance only.

Sometimes the people share different aspects of culture. For example,

among the Christians, there are – Catholic and Protestant, liberal or
conservation, as clergymen or as laymen. The point to our discussion
is not that culture or any part of it is shred identically, but that it is
shared by the members of society to a sufficient extent.

8. Culture is Super-organic:
Culture is sometimes called super organic. It implies that “culture” is
somehow superior to “nature”. The word super-organic is useful when
it implies that what may be quite a different phenomenon from a
cultural point of view.

For example, a tree means different things to the botanist who studies
it, the old woman who uses it for shade in the late summer afternoon,
the farmer who picks its fruit, the motorist who collides with it and the
young lovers who carve their initials in its trunk. The same physical
objects and physical characteristics, in other words, may constitute a
variety of quite different cultural objects and cultural characteristics.

9. Culture is Pervasive:
Culture is pervasive it touches every aspect of life. The pervasiveness
of culture is manifest in two ways. First, culture provides an
unquestioned context within which individual action and response
take place. Not only emotional action but relational actions are
governed by cultural norms. Second, culture pervades social activities
and institutions.

According to Ruth Benedict, “A culture, like an individual is a more or

less consistent pattern of thought and action. With each culture there
come into being characteristic purposes not necessarily shared by
other types of society. In obedience to these purposes, each person
further consolidates its experience and in proportion to the urgency of
these drives the heterogeneous items of behaviour; take more and
more congruous shape”.

10. Culture is a way of Life:

Culture means simply the “way of life” of a people or their “design for
living.” Kluckhohn and Kelly define it in his sense, ” A culture is a
historically derived system of explicit and implicit designs for living,
which tends to be shared by all or specially designed members of a
group.”
Explicit culture refers to similarities in word and action which can be
directly observed. For example, the adolescent cultural behaviour can
be generalized from regularities in dress, mannerism and
conversation. Implicit culture exists in abstract forms which are not
quite obvious.

11. Culture is a human Product:

Culture is not a force, operating by itself and independent of the
human actors. There is an unconscious tendency to defy culture, to
endow it with life and treat it as a thing. Culture is a creation of society
in interaction and depends for its existence upon the continuance of
society.

In a strict sense, therefore, culture does not ‘do’ anything on its own. It
does not cause the individual to act in a particular way, nor does it
‘make’ the normal individual into a maladjusted one. Culture, in short,
is a human product; it is not independently endowed with life.

12. Culture is Idealistic:

Culture embodies the ideas and norms of a group. It is sum-total of the
ideal patterns and norms of behaviour of a group. Culture consists of
the intellectual, artistic and social ideals and institutions which the
members of the society profess and to which they strive to confirm.

13. Culture is transmitted among members of Society:

The cultural ways are learned by persons from persons. Many of them
are “handed down” by one’s elders, by parents, teachers, and others [of
a somewhat older generation]. Other cultural behaviours are “handed
up” to elders. Some of the transmission of culture is among
contemporaries.

For example, the styles of dress, political views, and the use of recent
labour saving devices. One does not acquire a behaviour pattern
spontaneously. He learns it. That means that someone teaches him
and he learns. Much of the learning process both for the teacher and
the learner is quite unconscious, unintentional, or accidental.
14. Culture is Continually Changing:
There is one fundamental and inescapable attribute (special quality) of
culture, the fact of unending change. Some societies at sometimes
change slowly, and hence in comparison to other societies seem not to
be changing at all. But they are changing, even though not obviously
so.

15. Culture is Variable:

Culture varies from society to society, group to group. Hence, we say
culture of India or England. Further culture varies from group to
group within the same society. There are subcultures within a culture.
Cluster of patterns which are both related to general culture of the
society and yet distinguishable from it are called subcultures.

16. Culture is an integrated system:

Culture possesses an order and system. Its various parts are integrated
with each other and any new element which is introduced is also
integrated.

17. Language is the Chief Vehicle of Culture:

Man lives not only in the present but also in the past and future. He is
able to do this because he possesses language which transmits to him
what was learned in the past and enables him to transmit the
accumulated wisdom to the next generation. A specialised language
pattern serves as a common bond to the members of a particular
group or subculture. Although culture is transmitted in a variety of
ways, language is one of the most important vehicles for perpetuating
cultural patterns.

To conclude culture is everything which is socially learned and shared

by the members of a society. It is culture that, in the wide focus of the
world, distinguishes individual from individual, group from group and
society.

FUNCTION OF CULTURE
Among all groups of people we find widely shared beliefs, norms,
values and preferences. Since culture seems to be universal human
phenomenon, it occurs naturally to wonder whether culture
corresponds to any universal human needs. This curiosity raises the
question of the functions of culture. Social scientists have discussed
various functions of culture. Culture has certain functions for both
individual and society.

Following are some of the important functions of culture:

1. Culture Defines Situations:
Each culture has many subtle cues which define each situation. It
reveals whether one should prepare to fight, run, laugh or make love.
For example, suppose someone approaches you with right hand
outstretched at waist level. What does this mean? That he wishes to
shake hands in friendly greeting is perfectly obvious – obvious, that is
to anyone familiar with our culture.

But in another place or time the outstretched hand might mean

hostility or warning. One does not know what to do in a situation until
he has defined the situation. Each society has its insults and fighting
words. The cues (hints) which define situations appear in infinite
variety. A person who moves from one society into another will spend
many years misreading the cues. For example, laughing at the wrong
places.

2. Culture defines Attitudes, Values and Goals:

Each person learns in his culture what is good, true, and beautiful.
Attitudes, values and goals are defined by the culture. While the
individual normally learns them as unconsciously as he learns the
language. Attitude are tendencies to feel and act in certain ways.
Values are measures of goodness or desirability, for example, we value
private property, (representative) Government and many other things
and experience.

Goals are those attainments which our values define as worthy, (e.g.)
winning the race, gaining the affections of a particular girl, or
becoming president of the firm. By approving certain goals and
ridiculing others, the culture channels individual ambitions. In these
ways culture determines the goals of life.
3. Culture defines Myths, Legends, and the Supernatural:
Myths and legends are important part of every culture. They may
inspire, reinforce effort and sacrifice and bring comfort in
bereavement. Whether they are true is sociologically unimportant.
Ghosts are real to people who believe in them and who act upon this
belief. We cannot understand the behaviour of any group without
knowing something of the myths, legends, and supernatural beliefs
they hold. Myths and legends are powerful forces in a group’s
behaviour.

Culture also provides the individual with a ready-made view of the

universe. The nature of divine power and the important moral issues
are defined by the culture. The individual does not have to select, but
is trained in a Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim or some other
religious tradition. This tradition gives answers for the major (things
imponderable) of life, and fortuities the individual to meet life’s crises.

4. Culture provides Behaviour Patterns:

The individual need not go through painful trial and error learning to
know what foods can be eaten (without poisoning himself), or how to
live among people without fear. He finds a ready-made set of patterns
awaiting him which he needs only to learn and follow. The culture
maps out the path to matrimony. The individual does not have to
wonder how one secures a mate; he knows the procedure defined by
his culture.

If men use culture to advance their purposes, it seems clear also that a
culture imposes limits on human and activities. The need for order
calls forth another function of culture that of so directing behaviour
that disorderly behaviour is restricted and orderly behaviour is
promoted. A society without rules or norms to define right and wrong
behaviour would be very much like a heavily travelled street without
traffic signs or any understood rules for meeting and passing vehicles.
Chaos would be the result in either case.
Social order cannot rest on the assumption that men will
spontaneously behave in ways conducive to social harmony.

7 CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE THAT ARE

ESSENTIAL FOR LIFE

1. Culture is shared
Every culture is shared by a group of people, usually inhabiting the same part of the
world. The region they live in, the geographical conditions around them, their
country’s past, the belief system and values of its people, and the heritage they are
proud of, constitute their culture. Being common to a group, these aspects develop a
sense of unity and belonging among the people of that group. People of the same
community share the same values, beliefs, and traditions. Their literature and history
is the same. Their language and mannerisms, and the way they communicate is
similar. Built by their belief system, their personalities share certain traits. Their roles
in the family and society are defined by their culture. Their occupations and lifestyles
may be influenced by their culture. Culture gives the people a collective identity. It
belongs to a community and not to any single human being. It is shared.

2. Culture is learned
Culture is not biologically passed from older generations to the newer ones. It is
learned through experience. The members of a culture share certain ideals which
shape their lives. The future generations learn to follow the same ideals. Culture
propagates through generations, which adopt their old customs and traditions as a part
of their culture. The ideals they base their lives on, is a part of their culture. Cultural
values are imparted from one generation to another, which is the reason why they
continue. The language, the literature, and the art forms pass down from generation to
generation. Culture is learned, understood, and adopted from what is taught by society
and assimilated from the environment. No individual is born with a sense of culture.
In the course of life, he learns it.

3. Culture changes

Cultures undergo a gradual change. With passing time, some beliefs change, certain
traditions or rituals are eliminated, language and mannerisms of people change, and
thus their culture. Migration and globalization lead to a mixing of cultures. When
people from different parts of the world come together, they influence each other and
effectively, each other’s cultures. These factors contribute to the formation of a
multicultural society and sometimes, even new cultures develop.

Over time, some traditions are dropped out of a culture because they are dangerous or
due to their arduous nature. Due to education and increased awareness, newer
generations become flexible to change and look at concepts like religion and culture
with a broader perspective and have a liberal view about them. So some rituals or
customs become less rigid, some are replaced by simpler ones and some are
discontinued.

Due to the exposure to various cultures across the globe, people adopt some aspects of
other cultures. This affects what they teach their children, thus influencing the culture
of their future generations and in a small way, leading to a cultural change. Social
thinking undergoes a transition and so does culture. Gender roles change. For
instance, traditionally, the males were meant to work and earn for their family, while
women stayed at home and looked after the children. Today, these roles have
changed. In many families, women work away from home, while men take care of the
kids

All cultures change in time although their rate of change varies. It’s often seen that the
politically or economically stronger countries influence cultures in other parts of the
world, and lead to social changes worldwide. An example of this is the influence of
American and European cultures on other countries.

4. Culture takes years to form

It is true that culture influences us, but it is also true that we influence culture. In fact,
culture evolves over time and takes years to develop. It is not a set of rules made by
one or more people and followed by generations. With passing time, a culture
develops and even changes in the process.

The geographical location and climatic conditions of a region have a direct effect on
the living conditions of the inhabitants. The climate, for instance, may influence the
traditional clothing and food habits of the people living there. The geography of a
region has an impact on the occupations of its inhabitants, and thus their lifestyle. It
influences the art forms, sports, and other activities the people engage in, thus
defining their culture.

Some traditions are created with a cultural or political purpose or in the interest of the
nation. They are passed down from one generation to another. These include holidays,
festivals, beliefs, and rituals. Similarly, art and literature is also passed down through
generations, thus shaping the culture of that community and taking years to form.

A country’s history has a major role in the formation of its culture. Even the political
changes in the country’s history influence its culture. In case of monarchies, each
ruler has an influence on the culture of his people. The forms of government also
influence a country’s culture. Other countries ruling a nation impact the culture of its
people. Even after attaining independence from foreign powers, the people are not
freed from their cultural influences.

5.Culture cannot be isolated

Studies have brought out the fact that no culture can remain in isolation. There is
hardly any social community that is completely isolated from the rest of the world.
Every culture is mostly influenced by cultures of the surrounding regions. Years ago,
there were tribal societies that stayed in seclusion, unaware of the world outside.
Today, most of these once-secluded groups are connected to the rest of the world. And
there is hardly any community, and thereby any culture which is totally isolated.

The cultural values of people in a particular country are affected by those of the
people from neighboring countries. When people from different geographical
locations come together, they influence each other’s cultures. Trade between two
countries, migration of people to different parts of the world, and travel for
educational or recreational purposes are some examples of how cultures cannot stay
separated. Cultures that evolve around the same time show similarities because they
have developed together. Some blend to create shared cultures. No culture can make
itself immune to external influences.

6.Culture is essential
Culture gives us an identity. The art and history that we are proud of, the literature we
learn from, our education, and our upbringing shapes our personalities. What we
observe around us, what our folk tales teach us, and what our culture says, is deeply
ingrained in our minds. Our cultural values, and our system of beliefs dictates our
thinking and behavior. Rituals and traditions are a part of our daily living. The way
we carry ourselves in society and who we are as human beings, is highly influenced
by the culture we belong to. To make us feel a part of the group and to give us the
guiding principles of life, culture is essential.

What are the elements of culture? Language, symbols, values, and norms are among
the important elements of culture. Our religious beliefs, customs and traditions, art, as
also history, taken together can be considered as the cultural elements. They give a
meaning to the concept of culture. All these are important for our overall development
as individuals.

7.Culture is transmitted across generations

Cultural values are transferred across generations in the form of symbols and stories
that make them easier to understand. The beliefs that a culture holds, take the form of
customs and rituals that people are supposed to follow. The languages which are a
part of culture, are integrated into the education system. Sometimes, values and
religious beliefs are also made a part of it. The art, music, and dance forms that are
representative of a culture are also transmitted across generations.

Despite the efforts of the older generations to pass cultural values to the forthcoming
generations, sadly, many are unaware of their own culture. Some things are lost in
translation and some may be removed on purpose. Some aspects are not correctly or
completely understood while some are not accepted. This may even lead to the end of
old cultures. The sad truth is that many may have the knowledge of the world but only
some have a complete knowledge of their culture.

To take pride in the culture you belong to and to respect its teachings, you must first
know it. It is important to know the past that has shaped your present and is going to
influence your future.

Cultural Universals
Often, a comparison of one culture to another will reveal obvious differences. But all
cultures also share common elements. Cultural universals are patterns or traits that
are globally common to all societies. One example of a cultural universal is the family
unit: every human society recognizes a family structure that regulates sexual
reproduction and the care of children. Even so, how that family unit is defined and how it
functions varies. In many Asian cultures, for example, family members from all
generations commonly live together in one household. In these cultures, young adults
continue to live in the extended household family structure until they marry and join their
spouse’s household, or they may remain and raise their own nuclear family within the
extended family’s homestead. In the United States, by contrast, individuals are
expected to leave home and live independently for a period before forming a family unit
that consists of parents and their offspring. Other cultural universals include customs
like funeral rites, weddings, and celebrations of births. However, each culture may
view and enact these rituals and ceremonies quite differently.

What is the meaning of cultural universality?

Cultural universality is something that is found in all cultures throughout place and time. These are
things that are found in all cultures, but they may not look or sound the same in all cultures. For
example, all cultures have developed language, but not the same language.

THE UNIVERSALITY OF CULTURE

Cultural universals ( which has been mentioned by anthropologists like George
Murdock, Claude Levi-Strauss, Donald Brown and others) can be defined as
being anything common that exists in every human culture on the planet yet
varies from different culture to culture, such as values and modes of behavior.
Examples of elements that may be considered cultural universals are gender
roles, the incest taboo, religious and healing ritual, mythology, marriage,
language, art, dance, music, cooking, games, jokes, sports, birth and death
because they involve some sort of ritual ceremonies accompanying them, etc.
Many anthropologist and socialists with an extreme perspective of cultural
relativism deny the existence or reduce the importance of cultural universals
believing that these traits were only inherited biologically through the known
controversy of “nurture vs. nature”. They are mainly known as “empty
universals” since just mentioning their existence in a culture doesn’t make them
any more special or unique. The existence of these universals has been said to
date to the Upper Paleolithic with the first evidence of behavioral modernity.

THE VARIABILITY OF CULTURE

Cultural variation refers to the rich diversity in social practices that different cultures exhibit
around the world. Cuisine and art all change from one culture to the next, but so do gender
roles, economic systems, and social hierarchy among any number of other humanly organised
behaviours.

Definition
The examination of differences in human behavior and development across contexts and cultures
is crucial in appreciating human diversity.
Introduction
Although cultural universals are widely critiqued for the lack of emphasis on the diversity of
human experiences and its Eurocentric principles (Ziai 2019), an examination of both variations
and universals among cultures has been foundational in ethnography. Cultural universals are
defined as similarities between human traits and attributes across cultures (Norenzayan and
Heine 2005). For example, expressions of some emotions such as happiness, sadness, disgust,
fear, surprise and anger (Ekman and Friesen 1971), sympathetic impartiality and communication
(Wiredu 1995), arts, recreation, and social and economic organization (Cleaveland et al. 1979)
appear to exemplify such universals.
Cultural variations, on the other hand, integrate diversity in development, behavior, and
expectations across cultures.

WHY IS CULTURE VARIATION IS SO IMPORTANT?

Cultural diversity is important because our country, workplaces, and schools increasingly
consist of various cultural, racial, and ethnic groups. We can learn from one another, but first
we must have a level of understanding about each other in order to facilitate collaboration and
cooperation.

Cultural variability refers to the diversity of cultural and social areas. As different
companies have different cultures. The diversity of human culture is remarkable.
Values and customs vary across cultures behavior is often radically contrasting ways
(Broom and Sleznki, 1973). For example, Jews eat pork, while Hindus eat pork, but
avoid beef. Cultural diversity or variation both between and within societies society. If
we take the two airlines, Ethiopia and India, with large, sharp cultural differences
between the two communities. On the other hand, the same society is distinct cultural
variability. Cultural variability between society can lead to various health conditions
and diseases. Thus, variations in dietary habits closely associated with these types of
diseases. The spread of tapeworms in raw-meat-eating people can be a good example.
We use the concept of subculture to identify the variability of cultures within a
specific society. Sub culture is a culture that is shared by a group within a society
(Stockard, 1997). We call this sub cultural groups (and their subcultures) exist within
and as a smaller part of the larger, dominant culture. Examples of subculture is the
culture of the university students, street children and prostitutes in Addis Ababa, the
culture of medical professionals, etc.
Why culture is different from company to company? Sociologists, anthropologists,
cultural geographers and other social scientists to study the causes of cultural
differences (between) society. Many arguments were given the diversity, including
geographical factors, race determination, demographic factors span of interest and
purely historical opportunity. Those who carried out his view that cultural differences
are genetic racial determination. Geographical factors include: climate, altitude, etc.
Along with the demographic factors are changes in the structure of population,
population growth, etc., while overvoltage important goal culture varies from person
to person interested life also varies. Cultural diversity is due to the almost historic
opportunity; a certain group of people can develop a culture when exposed to certain
historical events and opportunities.
However, no explanation is sufficient in itself; anthropologists reject now very
deterministic explanations, such as those based on race; rather than cultural
differences are explained by more holistic statement.

CULTURE AND FILIPINO IDENTITY

Located between the South China Sea and Philippine Sea, the Republic of
the Philippines contains a diverse set of landscapes, languages and
cultures. Various countries – such as Spain, China and the United States –
have interacted with and impacted Filipino culture. A sense of national
identity and pride emerged out of struggles for Philippine independence.
However, loyalties remain foremost with one’s family and place of birth.
Key values such fellowship, respect and acceptance are found throughout
the culture, with many Filipinos displaying a warming and hospitable
demeanour.

he Philippines is a culture in which East meets West. The Filipino people have a
distinct Asian background, with a strong Western tradition. The modern Filipino culture
developed through influence from Chinease traders, Spanish conquistadors, and
American rulers. Filipino people tend to be very hospitable, especially to Western
visitors (1). Because of their strong ties to Spanish culture, Filipinos are emotional and
passionate about life in a way that seems more Latin than Asian (1). This is easily seen
in the works of comporary artists such as Rody Herrera in 79his painting Unahan Sa
Duluhan.

The family is the basic and most important aspect of Filipino culture. Divorce is
prohibited and annulments are rare (2). The family is the safety net for indivuduals,
especially older people, during difficult economic times. Children will often stay with their
parents into adulthood, only leaving when they get married (2). Political and business
ties are often influenced by family relationships (2).

Two traits that many foreign visitors often have a difficult time understanding
are Pakikisama and Utang na Loob. Pakikisama roughly means "getting along" and
requires individuals overlook slight improprieties or indiscretions for the sake of
preserving peace within the family, personal, or business relationship. Utang na Loob
refers to the custom of paying back one favor with another (2). These traits emphasize
the importance that Filipino people place on maintaining pleasant interpersonal
relationships and puting the needs of the group ahead of the individual.

More than 80% of the population of the Philippines is Roman Catholic. Fiestas in
honor of the patron saint of a town are quite common. Criticism of the Catholic church is
not taken lightly - and should be avoided (2).

In the Philippines, people greet each other with a handshake. A smile or raised
eyebrows can mean "Hello" or "Yes". Someone can be summoned with a downward
wave of the hand.

Things You Should

Know About Filipino
Culture
Filipinos are very resilient
In times of calamities and catastrophes, Filipinos always manage to rise above the
challenge. Instead of wallowing, they manage to pick themselves up and smile.

Filipinos take pride in their families

In the Philippines, it is family first. So whether you are part of the immediate family or you
belong to the third or fourth generation, you are treated as a family member. Sometimes, even
the closest of friends are considered family, too.

Filipinos are very religious

In all corners of a Filipino house, you can find brazen images of crosses and other religious
paraphernalia. They go to church every Sunday, or sometimes even twice or three times a
week.

Filipinos are very respectful

From the moment they are born into this world, they are already taught how to be respectful
by using these simple catchphrases—po and opo, words that end sentences when addressing
elders. They have a culture of pagmamano, which is where they raise the backs of the hands
of their elders to their foreheads as a sign of respect.

Filipinos help one another

More popularly known as bayanihan, Filipinos help one another—without expecting anything in
return—so that undertaking their tasks and responsibilities become much easier. Sometimes this
is called “community spirit.”

Filipinos value traditions and culture

For Filipinos, traditions in their home and in their family are important. They usually set aside a
specific day for a certain celebration like festivals, birthday parties, reunions, etc. And of course,
every gathering is dedicated to keeping up with each other over sumptuous food. If, like us, good
food is what makes you get up in the morning, then you might be interested in our gourmet Mini
Trips to destinations such as Bologna and Puglia, bookable now through Culture Trip.

Filipinos love to party

Yes, Filipinos love to hold celebrations and fiestas. Bacolod has its MassKara Festival, Davao
has its Kadayawan Festival, and Marinduque has its Moriones Festival.

Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo, Philippines | © Kobby Dagan / VWPics / Alamy Stock Photo

Filipinos have the longest Christmas

celebrations—ever
Even as early as August, you can hear Christmas songs and jingles being played in the malls or
in the restaurants in the Philippines. The mood becomes festive, with many people shopping and
in good spirits. Christmas celebrations last until around the first or second week of January. Love
the yuletide time of year, Christmas display, Mactan International Airport, Cebu, Philippines | ©
Thomas Cockrem / Alamy Stock Photo

Filipinos love to eat

Aside from breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Filipinos manage to squeeze in a little meal in between,
too. Whether they eat every hour or every three hours, they savour every bite. Oh, and they do
love going to buffets!

Filipinos love to sing

This is the reason why karaoke has become so prevalent. As part of their recreation, Filipinos
spend some quality time with their families or friends singing or belting out new and old songs.

Filipinos love art and architecture

Just look at the massive and tall buildings everywhere. Filipinos have a penchant for bringing art
and architecture to a whole new level. They love to design creatively, to think intuitively, and
have a passion for anything different and unique. Talking of which, so do we. So much so in fact,
that we’ve created a collection of small-group getaways that celebrate the unexpected – from
street food, to local customs and traditions.

FILIPINO BELIEFSYSTEM, VALUES AND

IDEOLOGY
Filipino values are social constructs within Filipino culture which define that which is
socially considered to be desirable. The Filipino value system describes "the commonly
shared and traditionally established system of values underlying Filipino behavior" within
the context of the larger Filipino cultural system. These relate to the unique assemblage
of consistent ideologies, moral codes, ethical practices, etiquette and personal and cultural
values that are promoted by Filipino society.
The formal study of Filipino values has been made difficult by the historical context of
the literature in the field. The early scholarship about the Filipino value system lacked
clear definitions and organizational frameworks, and were mostly written by foreigners
during the Philippines' American colonial period. The latter half of the 20th century saw
efforts to develop clearer definitions and properly contextualized frameworks, but many
aspects of the scholarship require further clarification and consensus.
The distinct value system of Filipinos has generally been described as rooted primarily in
personal alliance systems, especially those based in kinship, obligation, friendship,
religion and commercial relationships.

Family orientedEdit
The basic and most important unit of a Filipino's life is the family. Young Filipinos who turn
18 are not expected to move out of their parents' home. When a Filipino's parents are old and
cannot take care of themselves, they are cared for in their children's homes and are very rarely
brought by their children to homes for the aged. The practice of separating the elderly from the
rest of the family, while common in Western countries, is often looked down upon in Filipino
society. Family lunches with the extended family of up to 50 people, extending until the line
of second cousins, are not unusual. The Filipino culture puts a great emphasis on the value of
family and being close to one's family members.
Humor and positivity
This famous trait is the ability of Filipinos to find humor in everything. It sheds light on the
optimism and positivity of Filipinos in whatever situation they are in so as to remain
determined in going through struggles or challenges. It serves as a coping technique, the same
way a child who has fallen laughs at himself/herself to hide his/her embarrassment.
Flexibility, adaptability, discipline, and creativity
Filipinos adapt to different sets of standardized rules or procedures. They are known to follow
a "natural clock" or organic sense of time—doing things in the time they feel is right. They are
present- and future-oriented: one attends to a task or requirement at the time, and, often, in
preparation for future engagements. Filipinos do not tend to dwell in the past unless it serves
to help them understand the present and future. This allows the Filipino to adapt and integrate
well into different cultures, and create effective case-by-case schedules.
Education and multilingualism
Filipinos place a high value on holistic child education with a belief in parental involvement in
the child's success. Filipinos believe in the importance of multilingualism and
multiculturalism; in the Philippines, there are over 120 distinct languages based in different
regions with different tribes and races. At school, children are educated foremost in their
regional language. There are eight most widely-spoken Filipino regional
languages: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicolano, Waray, Pampango,
and Pagasinese. Next, children learn their country's two national languages: Filipino (Tagalog)
and English. Effectively, by adulthood, children are often at least proficiently bilingual or
trilingual.
Religious adherence
The Philippines is approximately 85 percent Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) and 10
percent Muslim, with the remaining 5 percent belonging to other religions
including Taoism, Buddhism and the Dayawism of the highlands. The combined percentages
of Christian and Muslim faithful are indicative of the strong or at least nominal faith most
Filipinos have in the existence, agency and power of a creator deity.
With regard to the Catholic majority, it observes numerous Church holidays, notwithstanding
the fewer holy days of obligationcompared to the faithful of other countries. Attendance
of Mass is high not only on Sundays but also on national and regional feast days, and
abstention from Communion is almost unheard of. Catholicism also provides the basis for
many citizens' positions on moral, ethical and everyday issues. Extreme practices, officially
frowned upon by the clergy, take place during Holy Week.
Ability to survive and thrive
The Filipinos have survived the rule of numerous colonial and imperial countries of their time
such as the United States, Spain, and Japan. Consequently, Filipinos have developed a sense of
resourcefulness or the ability to survive and thrive irrespective of the political context. They
have an extraordinary ability to thrive despite perceived or actual material, social, or political
limitations.
Hard work and industriousness
With resourcefulness comes hard work. Filipinos are very determined and persevering in
accomplishing whatever they set their minds to.
Filipinos over the years have proven time and time again that they are a people with an
industrious attitude. [...] This is also present in the country’s workforce particularly the
farmers. Even with little support, technological weaknesses and the country’s seasonal
typhoons, the Filipino farmer still strives to earn their daily meal.
Hospitality
Foreigners who come to visit the Philippines speak of Filipinos going out of their way to help
them when lost, or the heartwarming generosity of a Filipino family hosting a visitor in their
home.
Respect for the elderly
Filipinos have high regard for their elderly, including their parents. Even young adults
still practice taking their elders’ hands and saying “mano po” when they arrive at their
homes.

Industrious attitude
Another one of the great characteristics of Filipinos is their being resourceful and
industrious. They are determined to finish their set goals despite difficult circumstances
and limited resources.
Generosity
Filipinos are naturally helpful and generous people. They give as much as they can and
extend help to family members — and even strangers — when needed. This is seen
through the abundance of charity drives and foundations in the country, especially when
calamities arise.

Social Interactions and ‘Hiya’

Social hierarchy in the Philippines is determined according to age and social status.
Nearly all Filipinos are taught from an early age about the importance of the
underpinning social hierarchy. Gestures, terms of address and communication
styles vary depending on who one interacts with and their relative positions in the
social hierarchy. For example, it is expected that, if you are referring to someone
who is older than you but within the same generation, you use the terms kuya for
males and ate for females (for example, ‘Ate Jess’). Failing to do so is considered
highly disrespectful and a lack of acknowledgment of the established hierarchy.

Warmth and Acceptance

Filipinos are usually very warm and friendly people who enjoy conversing with
those around them. It is common to find strangers engaging in conversation or
sharing stories to family, friends or foreigners about their hometown, family or
country. Filipinos are often expressive and sentimental while maintaining a light-
hearted demeanour. For example, the word ‘hugot’ (‘to pull out’) is often used to
describe someone drawing out deep sentimental memories or experiences. Indeed,
Filipinos are often willing to share stories of their past that may be considered
personal.

Alongside their warming and light-hearted demeanour, the general approach to life
is of acceptance. ‘Bahala na’ (come what may) captures the strong belief among
many Filipinos that whatever may happen is a part of God’s will. Any individual or
group success is often attributed to fate or God rather than efforts. This indicates
a fatalistic attitude throughout society whereby Filipinos are generally accepting of
theirs and others circumstances. However, this does not mean Filipinos are passive.
Rather, they are hardworking and will often do their best to help themselves and
their family.
FUNDAMENTAL PATTERNS OF CULTURE
DIFFERENCES
1. Different Communication Styles

The way people communicate varies widely between, and even within, cultures. One
aspect of communication style is language usage. Across cultures, some words and
phrases are used in different ways. For example, even in countries that share the English
language, the meaning of "yes" varies from "maybe, I'll consider it" to "definitely so,"
with many shades in between.

Another major aspect of communication style is the degree of importance given to non-
verbal communication. Non-verbal communication includes not only facial expressions
and gestures; it also involves seating arrangements, personal distance, and sense of time.
In addition, different norms regarding the appropriate degree of assertiveness in
communicating can add to cultural misunderstandings. For instance, some white
Americans typically consider raised voices to be a sign that a fight has begun, while some
black, Jewish and Italian Americans often feel that an increase in volume is a sign of an
exciting conversation among friends. Thus, some white Americans may react with greater
alarm to a loud discussion than would members of some American ethnic or non-white
racial groups.

2. Different Attitudes Toward Conflict

Some cultures view conflict as a positive thing, while others view it as something to be
avoided. In the U.S., conflict is not usually desirable; but people often are encouraged to
deal directly with conflicts that do arise. In fact, face-to-face meetings customarily are
recommended as the way to work through whatever problems exist. In contrast, in many
Eastern countries, open conflict is experienced as embarrassing or demeaning; as a rule,
differences are best worked out quietly. A written exchange might be the favored means
to address the conflict.

3. Different Approaches to Completing Tasks

From culture to culture, there are different ways that people move toward completing
tasks. Some reasons include different access to resources, different judgments of the
rewards associated with task completion, different notions of time, and varied ideas about
how relationship-building and task-oriented work should go together.

When it comes to working together effectively on a task, cultures differ with respect to
the importance placed on establishing relationships early on in the collaboration. A case
in point, Asian and Hispanic cultures tend to attach more value to developing
relationships at the beginning of a shared project and more emphasis on task completion
toward the end as compared with European-Americans. European-Americans tend to
focus immediately on the task at hand, and let relationships develop as they work on the
task. This does not mean that people from any one of these cultural backgrounds are more
or less committed to accomplishing the task, or value relationships more or less; it means
they may pursue them differently.

4. Different Decision-Making Styles

 The roles individuals play in decision-making vary widely from culture to culture. For
example, in the U.S., decisions are frequently delegated -- that is, an official assigns
responsibility for a particular matter to a subordinate. In many Southern European and
Latin American countries, there is a strong value placed on holding decision-making
responsibilities oneself. When decisions are made by groups of people, majority rule is a
common approach in the U.S.; in Japan consensus is the preferred mode. Be aware that
individuals' expectations about their own roles in shaping a decision may be influenced
by their cultural frame of reference.

5. Different Attitudes Toward Disclosure

In some cultures, it is not appropriate to be frank about emotions, about the reasons
behind a conflict or a misunderstanding, or about personal information. Keep this in mind
when you are in a dialogue or when you are working with others. When you are dealing
with a conflict, be mindful that people may differ in what they feel comfortable revealing.
Questions that may seem natural to you -- What was the conflict about? What was your
role in the conflict? What was the sequence of events? -- may seem intrusive to others.
The variation among cultures in attitudes toward disclosure is also something to consider
before you conclude that you have an accurate reading of the views, experiences, and
goals of the people with whom you are working.

6. Different Approaches to Knowing

Notable differences occur among cultural groups when it comes to epistemologies -- that
is, the ways people come to know things. European cultures tend to consider information
acquired through cognitive means, such as counting and measuring, more valid than other
ways of coming to know things. Compare that to African cultures' preference for
affective ways of knowing, including symbolic imagery and rhythm. Asian cultures'
epistemologies tend to emphasize the validity of knowledge gained through striving
toward transcendence.

Recent popular works demonstrate that our own society is paying more attention to
previously overlooked ways of knowing. Indeed, these different approaches to knowing
could affect ways of analyzing a community problem or finding ways to resolve it. Some
members of your group may want to do library research to understand a shared problem
better and identify possible solutions. Others may prefer to visit places and people who
have experienced challenges like the ones you are facing, and get a feeling for what has
worked elsewhere.

DESCRIBE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN

CULTURE AND BEHAVIOR
Culture and behavior are closely related to each other and we can safely
assume that an individual's cultural and ethnic background has an
important bearing on his or her personal and professional behavior. The
way a human being behaves in his person and professional lives is heavily
affected by the cultural values, beliefs and philosophies he is grown with.
As each culture is unique in terms of beliefs, values, practices and
philosophies, individuals tend to behave differently others in different
scenarios.
Let's take the case of a culture or society in which family is given more
important or in other words, people are brought up in a collectivistic
culture. For example, let us take the case of an individual from country like
India or China versus individual from USA. The person coming from a
collectistic culture will give more importance to family and society in his
day to day decisions, be it related to personal decision such as career
choice, purchase decisions or professional/business decision. For example,
if he choses to select a job, he will first think about his family's welfare and
not his personal growth. If we decides to buy a car, he will think of the
family's benefits versus his own personal benefits. Similarly, a person from
individualist culture will put personal benefits first in place of family's
benefits and will take all decisions from personal perspective.
Culture's beliefs or values also affet behavior of an individual in public
settings or society. For example, culture's beliefs towards women in
society, such as conservative societies like Middle east, is quite different
from western societies. Hence, we see people from conservative societies
behave very differently in front of women as compared to people from
western countries who are much more open to talking with women.
Cultural beliefs and values are so strongly rooted in one's upbringing that it
provides a sort of framework or guideline for behavioral decision making
of an individual in his day to day life. An individual's thinking process and
actions are strongly affected by the cultural values and beliefs that he holds
and he seldom breaks those rules, moral guidelines and behavioral
principles taught to him by his or her culture.
An individual's way of looking at things or decision making, behavior and
actions in certain situations is motivated by his morals, values and beliefs
which he has observed since his childhood. Even if he moves to a different
society or culture, his behavior will still be guided mainly by his cultural
background, ethnicity and beliefs. This is the reason why immigrant
population in western countries like USA still behave differently as
compared to their western counterparts because their cultural values,
beliefs and morals are very strong.
The social and cultural setting that a person is born into and raised is so
deeply rooted in his behavior, actions and thinking that sometimes even
individuals are not fully aware of such behavioral patterns and thinking.
The cultural or social setting since childhood affects child thinking pattern,
behavior, interaction with others in society, decision making, etc.

What is culture and role does it play in society and in

society and in the life of its members.
Culture consists of the beliefs, behaviors, objects, and other
characteristics common to the members of a particular group or
society. Through culture, people and groups define themselves,
conform to society's shared values, and contribute to society. Thus,
culture includes many societal aspects: language, customs, values,
norms, mores, rules, tools, technologies, products, organizations, and
institutions. This latter term institution refers to clusters of rules and
cultural meanings associated with specific social activities. Common
institutions are the family, education, religion, work, and health care.

Popularly speaking, being cultured means being well‐educated,

knowledgeable of the arts, stylish, and well‐mannered. High culture—
generally pursued by the upper class—refers to classical music,
theater, fine arts, and other sophisticated pursuits. Members of the
upper class can pursue high art because they have cultural capital,
which means the professional credentials, education, knowledge, and
verbal and social skills necessary to attain the “property, power, and
prestige” to “get ahead” socially. Low culture, or popular culture—
generally pursued by the working and middle classes—refers to spo
Sociologists define society as the people who interact in such a way
as to share a common culture. The cultural bond may be ethnic or
racial, based on gender, or due to shared beliefs, values, and
activities.

The term society can also have a geographic meaning and refer to
people who share a common culture in a particular location. For
example, people living in arctic climates developed different cultures
from those living in desert cultures. In time, a large variety of human
cultures arose around the world.

Culture and society are intricately related. A culture consists of the

“objects” of a society, whereas a society consists of the people who
share a common culture. When the terms culture and society first
acquired their current meanings, most people in the world worked and
lived in small groups in the same locale. In today's world of 6 billion
people, these terms have lost some of their usefulness because
increasing numbers of people interact and share resources globally.

2. Culture is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior,

institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge,
beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in
these groups. Culture is often originated from or attributed to a specific
region or location.

Does culture play a role?

Culture helps us make sense of our social worlds and shapes our actions
thoughts and feelings. For example culture plays a role in the way we experience
emotions construct our self-concepts and learn and problem-solve.
What is the role of culture in a society
Quora?
Culture is so important to society because culture is constructed by society.
Culture reflects the inner workings of an individual society. For example
culture helps to define social situations so people understand how to behave
based on that society’s cultural norms.

What Role Does Culture Play In Society?

Culture is the lifeblood of a vibrant society expressed in the many ways we tell
our stories celebrate remember the past entertain ourselves and imagine the
future. … In addition to its intrinsic value culture provides important social and
economic benefits.

What does culture provide to its members

In addition to its intrinsic value, culture provides important social and economic benefits.
With improved learning and health, increased tolerance, and opportunities to come together
with others, culture enhances our quality of life and increases overall well-being for both individuals
and communities.

Why culture changes?

Culture change is the process of consuming and creating cultural products—from
multimedia memes to Twitter hashtags to TV shows to new forms of dance to
accepted standards of behavior—that challenge existing societal norms.
Culture is always changing; once we’re aware of that, we can take action to change
it intentionally, in positive ways. We can choose to support shows with three-
dimensional women leads. We can choose not to share a sexist photo or video. We
can make sure to treat our children equally and equitably, regardless of gender.
Through personal accountability and everyday actions, we can help make
discrimination and violence (including micro-violence, such as abusive language or
street harassment) the outliers, the exceptions, that which is just not done.

Cultural change can occur from within through new philosophical ideas
or technological advancement. People may rebel against government
decisions and declare their independence. Someone might discover
that washing your hands can help prevent illness better than
performing a religious ritual. Someone else might invent a faster way to
harvest crops. All of these things change a culture in some way.
For example, someone on your island paradise learned to farm. Before
this time, people would rely on fishing to provide them with food. The
fish would be supplemented by coconuts, fruits and berries, or other
edible plants that were gathered. There are still fishermen on your
island, but now there are farmers as well. Less time is spent looking for
food, leaving time for other pursuits.

The history of culture

Cultural history brings to life a past time and place. In this search,
cultural historians study beliefs and ideas, much as intellectual
historians do. In addition to the writings of intellectual elites, they
consider the notions (sometimes unwritten) of the less privileged and
less educated. These are reflected in the products of deliberately
artistic culture, but also include the objects and experiences of
everyday life, such as clothing or cuisine. “Culture” can also imply
everyday attitudes, values, assumptions and prejudices, and the
rituals and practices that express them, from magical beliefs to gender
roles and racial hierarchies. In this sense, our instincts, thoughts, and
acts have an ancestry which cultural history can illuminate and
examine critically. Historians of culture at Yale study all these aspects
of the past in their global interconnectedness, and explore how they
relate to our many understandings of our varied presents.

Cultural history is an effort to inhabit the minds of the people of

different worlds. This journey is, like great literature, thrilling in itself.
It is also invaluable for rethinking our own historical moment. Like the
air we breathe, the cultural context that shapes our understanding of
the world is often invisible for those who are surrounded by it; cultural
history allows us to take a step back, and recognize that some of what
we take for granted is remarkable, and that some of what we have
thought immutable and natural is contingent and open to change.
Studying how mental categories have shifted inspires us to think how
our own cultures and societies can evolve, and to ask what we can do
as individuals to shape that process.

The Nature of Culture

Culture is based on the uniquely human capacity to classify experiences, encode
such classifications symbolically, and teach such abstractions to others. It is
usually acquired through enculturation, the process through which an older
generation induces and compels a younger generation to reproduce the established
lifestyle; consequently, culture is embedded in a person's way of life. Culture is
difficult to quantify, because it frequently exists at an unconscious level, or at least
tends to be so pervasive that it escapes everyday thought. This is one reason that
anthropologists tend to be skeptical of theorists who attempt to study their own
culture. Anthropologists employ fieldwork and comparative, or cross-cultural,
methods to study various cultures. Ethnographies may be produced from intensive
study of another culture, usually involving protracted periods of living among a
group. Ethnographic fieldwork generally involves the investigator assuming the
role of participant-observer: gathering data by conversing and interacting with
people in a natural manner and by observing people's behavior unobstrusively.
Ethnologies use specialized monographs in order to draw comparisons among
various cultures.
NATURE AND CULTURE converge in many ways that span values, beliefs and norms to
practices, livelihoods, knowledge and languages. As a result, there exists a mutual feedback
between cultural systems and the environment, with a shift in one often leading to a change in
the other. For example, knowledges evolve with the ecosystems upon which they are based,
and languages contain words describing ecosystem components. If plants or animals are lost,
then the words used to describe them are often lost shortly afterwards, and this changes the
way the natural environment is shaped by the practices of those human communities. Nature
provides the setting in which cultural processes, activities and belief systems develop, all of
which feed back to shape biodiversity. There are four key bridges linking Nature with culture:
beliefs and worldviews; livelihoods and practices; knowledge bases; and norms and institutions.

Knowledges about Nature

If diverse cultural practices and worldviews are central to the management of biological
diversity, then the key link between Nature and culture is knowledge. How people know
the world governs behaviours, understandings and values that shape human
interactions with Nature. Knowledge of Nature, variously called traditional, Indigenous,
local or ecological, is accumulated within a society and transferred through cultural
modes of transmission such as stories and narratives. Cultural understandings of the
environment not only give rise to sustainable management practices, but also to
knowledge of species requirements, ecosystem dynamics, sustainable harvesting and
ecological interactions. This culturally engrained knowledge can enable people to live
within the constraints of their environment in the long-term.

A Perspective of Culture

Cultural Perspective
A cultural perspective is viewing a situation or concept through the eyes of an
individual's native environmental and social influence. It is the influence that a culture
and society has on a person's worldview and perspective

Cultural Perspective can be defined as:

“Cultural perspective refers to the way that individuals are shaped by their environments as
well as social and cultural factors. Such factors include a person’s nationality, race and gender.”
Reference.com

Each of us comes with a unique story that shapes who we are and how we see the world.
Where we grew up, the size and makeup of our families, our ethnicity, socioeconomic status,
and our educational background all contribute to our world view. Two people who grew up next
door to each other can have radically different cultural experiences and points of view.
Biological siblings raised together have different cultural perspectives from having different
gender identities, and being interested in different things.

Self-awareness about the origins of our beliefs gives us the understanding to appreciate the
origins of the beliefs of others. We learn to receive people as part of a story that has brought
them to where they are today and what their future potential might be, rather than a
predetermined set of assumptions based on stereotypes from external cues.

Three steps you can take to cultivate cultural perspective are:

  Participate in professional development training that can fill in the gaps of your
knowledge and understanding.
 Be open-minded and in relationship to the people around you for who they are and not
just what you may want or need from them.
 Study yourself and how you react in different situations. Take note of how you are when
you are succeeding in your relationships and cultivate those ways of being.
Cultivating cultural perspective is an important step in developing intelligent and agile social
skills that create value in our organizations. Workplaces rely on our ability to forge strong
relationships, both internally and externally, to foster collaborative creativity, attract talent,
retain clients and grow support.