Cultural Values

This week in sociology we talked about American values versus other culture’s values. Each culture is different because they value different aspects of life. For example, German’s place an emphasis on family time, and therefore close all supermarkets on Sundays. In America, we are always competing for businesses, so Walgreens, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s are open 24-7 in order to make a greater profit.

            In addition to having a first-hand experience in different cultural values, other countries have assumptions about the values of countries abroad. For example, this past summer I hosted a French student and the agency gave the exchange student and host family a page of expectations. The host family had to keep in mind that French people “don’t smile” often, and that they don’t usually go out of their way to smile and say hello to anyone. The French students had to realize they shouldn’t close the door to their room because it would “offend” the host family, and it would seem as if the French exchange student is mad, or doesn’t want to talk. These are absurd values that misjudged. After the four week exchange I realized that you shouldn’t generalize an entire group of people and their values. You should get to know someone for who they are by spending time with them, and also visiting their country. This way you can see, first hand, what they value.

            When I visited Iran seven years ago I was shocked with the difference in cultural values from America. In America we have a two-day weekend, but public businesses are still open. In Iran, Friday is their only day off, and every place is closed: all the markets, restaurants, and offices. This is because Friday is family time. The guy who owns the supermarket has the day off and is spending it with his family. In America, we don’t emphasize this as much. We do our grocery shopping, get our nails done, and deposit checks over the weekend. Although I eat dinner with my family every night, just like my relatives in Iran, I know many of my friends who never eat dinner with their family. This value is not emphasized in America as other nations.