HU 250 Unit 6 Discussion, Foundations of Culture

HU 250 Unit 6 Discussion

Topic: Foundations of Culture

When cultures raise a child, there are values, attitudes, traditions or beliefs that are communicated. The child must adapt to these elements to find their place in the culture. Often, for children, the first influences of culture are behavioral. This can be as simple as participating in holiday festivities, completing expected duties around the house, or maintaining that “we always do X on Fridays.” Behavioral expectations nearly always serve as demonstrations of a belief. For example, we always eat dinner at the kitchen table is meant to demonstrate time spent as a family in communication.

You may select from your own experiences or interview someone else in order to answer this question. Choose a story from your youth when your culture was communicated to you and you responded by adapting or rebelling. Identify the cultural value, belief, or tradition that was expected of you. Who was in this culture and taught it to you? Why was this such an important cultural element for you to learn? Tell a story about how it had an impact. Finally, note whether this is still a part of your behavior or belief system. In what ways does this remain or how has it changed?

I have chosen to write about a personal experience I grew up with. When I was young, maybe 5-10 years old, I can remember how my family would always come together on Sundays. On these days, everyone would meet at my great grandparent's house, gather into one vehicle, and go to church together. After church, everyone would go back to my great grandparent's house, and we would have dinner ( actually lunch, but they all called it dinner). This was done every day for years as far as I can remember. Everyone came regardless of what was happening, and it was just the norm. This was in the early 90s when the time was slower. I believe it was a time that everyone could relax and catch up on the week. In today's fast-paced time, this is very uncommon. I know this stopped as my great-grandparents passed away, and the traditions went with them. I can't say that I would have still gone had it been going on. I tend to be one of those who have adapted to the norm today, and everything is so fast that it's not like me or my family to slow down and enjoy time like this. Looking back on the tradition, it taught me to value my time with family. There is value to this, and it is something I hope to one day bring back with my own family to an extent. I found an article that sort of goes along with this where the author states, "There may be sadness at the loss of traditions, but it can also be an opportunity to find meaning in new experiences" (Mazell, 2021).

Reference:

Mazella, R. (2021, December 10). When family traditions end - and how to start new ones. Next Avenue. Retrieved May 25, 2022, from https://www.nextavenue.org/when-family-traditions-new/

Option 2

One thing my family does is that when we eat as a family no one can touch their food until my dad takes his first bite of his food. I started to notice us doing that when I was 6. It was until I was six years old is when I started to question it. I asked my mom about it and wanted to know why when we ate as a family no one can eat until my dad took his first bite. She explained it was because he was the man of the house. Since he was the one who provided everything for everyone and protects everyone in the house he gets the first right to food. Because my dad does all that the way we as his family show our appreciation is to wait for him at the dinner table and wait for him to take his first bite of the food.

When I finally understood it why we did that I went along with it. It is important for the head of the house to take his first bite of the food because we show our respect to them. Growing up in that type of environment taught me a lot. It wasn't everyday we had to do that it was only when we had a family dinner because my dad wouldn't make it on time to dinner. It's a tradition I will carry on when I have my own family in the future.

Gannon, M. J., & Pillai, R. (2015). Understanding Global Cultures: Metaphorical Journeys Through 34 Nations, Clusters of Nations, Continents, and Diversity (6th Edition). SAGE Publications, Inc. (US). https://purdueuniversityglobal.vitalsource.com/books/9781483340050

Option 3

Topic: Foundations of Culture

Growing up on both my father's and mother's side of the family, we would have a thanksgiving and Christmas potluck. My mom's side was a weekend before Thanksgiving, and my dad was on Thanksgiving. For Christmas, my dad's side was the weekend before, and my mom's side was on Christmas. Every year growing up, the whole family showed up, and all the cousins got to play. The host was in the exact location each year, and the food was always the same dishes brought by the same people each year. Even as I got older, I enjoyed gathering with all the family and seeing them grow their families. We were all very family orientated in our culture, teaching us how close family is an important it is to stay in touch.

This is still part of my beliefs, my husband did not grow up with this type of family culture, so it has been different to get used to going to all the family functions, but he now enjoys spending time with the family. It has changed for as families grow split off to do their holiday events, there is a disconnect to some extended family, but I know once I have a family of my own, It will start back up with the immediate family.