One of the most important things this course has taught me is to realize more of the differences that exist between cultures and that these differences need to be taken into consideration when communicating with different cultures. I was always aware of the obvious physical differences that exist between cultures, but I was not aware of the more subtle differences. For instance, I did not know that different cultures view time differently. I now know that if I had a meeting with someone who was from a polychromic culture and they showed up late, they did not do it to be rude. They were late because they don’t view time as being lost like we do in monochromic society. I will also be more aware if the person is from a high-context or low-context culture. I will try to pick up on more non-verb cues when communicating with them. I also learned more about myself; who I identity myself as and how my culture and identity has shaped who I am; and about assumptions others might make about me because of my culture.
After taking this class I feel that I am by no means an expert in this area. The topics we covered in class just scratch the surface of understanding everything that goes into intercultural communication. I do feel that after this class I can definitely communicate with others in my own culture and from other cultures better because I have a clearer understanding of both. I have learned enough that I can share my understanding of intercultural communication with others so that they too may develop tools to be better intercultural communicators. I also feel more comfortable discussing and voicing my opinion on intercultural conflict because I understand some of the main traits of each group. Even with all the information I have learned, I my still be a little nervous talking to someone from a very different culture than my own, but I feel like I am a lot more prepared for an interaction like that now than I was before I took the class.
To develop my intercultural skills in the future, I plan on actively checking myself when I make assumptions about other cultures. I will question myself on the validity of the source that is causing me to make this assumption. Another area I can work on is being more aware and sensitive to cultural differences between my friends and me. Finally, by sharing this information with friends and family, I will keep the information fresh in my mind and will probably learn something from them by talking about intercultural communication. I will also be able to practice my intercultural skills as a veterinarian. When speaking with various clients, I will take what I know about their culture into consideration. The best treatment for the animal may depend on the owners culture. I plan to continue working on the skills I have learned in this because they will help me both professionally and personally.
What was the most interesting information you learned by taking this class?
Friday, June 11, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Activity 11
There is a large Amish community around my hometown. By working at the local vet clinic and by being the daughter of a food safety inspector, I have had a lot of interaction with the Amish. For those of you that are not familiar with the Amish, they are an extremely religious group that cannot possess anything that is run by electricity. They usually use horse and buggy as their mode of transportation. The Amish also have very strict rules regarding clothing and facial hair for men. Most of them make a living by farming on small family farms.
Recently, a new law was passed in the state of Wisconsin requiring every premise with any livestock to register with the state and obtain a premise ID number. The reason the state enacted this law was to provide easy tracking of animals in case there was an animal disease outbreak such as hoof and mouth disease or mad cow disease. The Amish greatly opposed this law because it goes against their religion. They believe that once everyone is assigned a number, the end of the world is coming. The state has even taken legal action against some Amish who have failed to register for the premise ID number.
The main issue in this conflict goes back to religion vs. government which has caused many conflicts throughout history. The issue between the Amish and the government is somewhat blurred because the Amish have fought the government before and have been granted exemptions to some things. For instance, they do not have to sign up for the draft because their religion does not believe in war. As our book says, they avoid conflict.
Even though most of the time the Amish use the avoidance style strategy for conflict, I think in this case they used the dominating style. They held many public forums in the Amish community and spoke out about the law. They were only concerned about protecting their religion and not about how this law could increase the safety of our nation’s food supply. Before this law was in place, many Amish threatened that they would stop farming or move out of the state if this law was enacted. The state of Wisconsin also used the dominating style because they were only concerned with keeping the state food supply safe and preventing an animal health outbreak such as the mad cow incident in England. The state was not concerned with staying within the Amish religion.
There may be a way to satisfy both parties that has not been explored. It would have to be something that involved the government identifying premises someway other than the current number system such as, using the current farm address as the premise ID. This would have allowed the government the ability to track animals in an emergency and would not have been against the Amish religion. Because the government did not compromise, the Amish were forced to compromise in some way. Some had the dairy plant apply for the ID number for them. This allowed them to satisfy the government requirement and stay within their religion because they did not apply for the number personally. Those Amish that did not agree with this interpretation of their religion moved out of state or quit farming.
Differences in religion are a major cause of intercultural conflict as demonstrated by this example. What are some other major causes of intercultural conflict?
Recently, a new law was passed in the state of Wisconsin requiring every premise with any livestock to register with the state and obtain a premise ID number. The reason the state enacted this law was to provide easy tracking of animals in case there was an animal disease outbreak such as hoof and mouth disease or mad cow disease. The Amish greatly opposed this law because it goes against their religion. They believe that once everyone is assigned a number, the end of the world is coming. The state has even taken legal action against some Amish who have failed to register for the premise ID number.
The main issue in this conflict goes back to religion vs. government which has caused many conflicts throughout history. The issue between the Amish and the government is somewhat blurred because the Amish have fought the government before and have been granted exemptions to some things. For instance, they do not have to sign up for the draft because their religion does not believe in war. As our book says, they avoid conflict.
Even though most of the time the Amish use the avoidance style strategy for conflict, I think in this case they used the dominating style. They held many public forums in the Amish community and spoke out about the law. They were only concerned about protecting their religion and not about how this law could increase the safety of our nation’s food supply. Before this law was in place, many Amish threatened that they would stop farming or move out of the state if this law was enacted. The state of Wisconsin also used the dominating style because they were only concerned with keeping the state food supply safe and preventing an animal health outbreak such as the mad cow incident in England. The state was not concerned with staying within the Amish religion.
There may be a way to satisfy both parties that has not been explored. It would have to be something that involved the government identifying premises someway other than the current number system such as, using the current farm address as the premise ID. This would have allowed the government the ability to track animals in an emergency and would not have been against the Amish religion. Because the government did not compromise, the Amish were forced to compromise in some way. Some had the dairy plant apply for the ID number for them. This allowed them to satisfy the government requirement and stay within their religion because they did not apply for the number personally. Those Amish that did not agree with this interpretation of their religion moved out of state or quit farming.
Differences in religion are a major cause of intercultural conflict as demonstrated by this example. What are some other major causes of intercultural conflict?
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Activity 10
My culture of European Americans consider their parents and siblings to be part of their family as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. The people who make our family can change as people marry into the family and divorce.
The parents are responsible for taking care of the children by providing them with love, food, and shelter. They are also responsible for making sure the children have the tools to become successful adults. The children are responsible for listening to their parents and learning from them. The rest of the family is there for emotional support or help when needed.
This culture does not encourage children to stay in the same house/area as their family after adolescence. They are encouraged to go wherever they need to go for school or for a good job. This shows that European Americans value education and profession success over being physical proximity to family.
Most people meet someone whom they date at work, school, or through a mutual friend. Meeting people through internet dating sites used to be very taboo, but it is increasingly more acceptable. People are expected to date others around their own age, although dating outside of a certain age range is becoming more acceptable as well.
Marriage proposals are very exaggerated. Men are expected to be the one proposing, but it is becoming more acceptable for woman too. Men have to plan out the proposal in a way that is magical and memorable. The proposal must be followed by a ring that the man will probably be paying off for several years. When people ask a couple how he “popped the question”, they are let down if there is not a good story to go along with the proposal.
An extravagant proposal would be nothing without an extravagant wedding. The bride will usually spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on the dress. There is usually a ceremony and reception. The ceremony generally takes place in some religious building or at least presided over by a religious figure. Usually, close friends, family, and co-workers are invited to the ceremony, followed by a reception where there is a meal and a dance. The reception is usually opened to more friends than the ceremony.
Divorce used to be viewed as a tragic event that splits up families. It was something that brought shame to the couple that decided to divorce. Over the past few years, the view has changed. More people have realized that sometimes divorce is the best choice for the parties involved and because of this, divorce has become more accepted.
When divorce occurs, a judge decides how the assets get split up and who gets custody of the children. Usually the assets of the couple get split up equally. As long as both parents are competent, they will get equal custody of the children. If the judge decides one of the parents is unsuitable to raise children, they will have limited custody and be required to pay child support.
This culture used to be unaccepting of homosexuality. Recently, homosexuals have begun speaking out and have gained more acceptance and rights. Some states have even legalized gay marriage.
The current gender roles in this culture closely resemble my perspective that a man and woman can both the nurturing parent and the working parent. Both genders are expected to do whatever it takes to keep the household running. The woman no longer has to be the stay-at-home parent.
The answers for these questions for my culture have changed greatly over the past 50 years. How have some of these answers changed for your culture over the past 50 years?
The parents are responsible for taking care of the children by providing them with love, food, and shelter. They are also responsible for making sure the children have the tools to become successful adults. The children are responsible for listening to their parents and learning from them. The rest of the family is there for emotional support or help when needed.
This culture does not encourage children to stay in the same house/area as their family after adolescence. They are encouraged to go wherever they need to go for school or for a good job. This shows that European Americans value education and profession success over being physical proximity to family.
Most people meet someone whom they date at work, school, or through a mutual friend. Meeting people through internet dating sites used to be very taboo, but it is increasingly more acceptable. People are expected to date others around their own age, although dating outside of a certain age range is becoming more acceptable as well.
Marriage proposals are very exaggerated. Men are expected to be the one proposing, but it is becoming more acceptable for woman too. Men have to plan out the proposal in a way that is magical and memorable. The proposal must be followed by a ring that the man will probably be paying off for several years. When people ask a couple how he “popped the question”, they are let down if there is not a good story to go along with the proposal.
An extravagant proposal would be nothing without an extravagant wedding. The bride will usually spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on the dress. There is usually a ceremony and reception. The ceremony generally takes place in some religious building or at least presided over by a religious figure. Usually, close friends, family, and co-workers are invited to the ceremony, followed by a reception where there is a meal and a dance. The reception is usually opened to more friends than the ceremony.
Divorce used to be viewed as a tragic event that splits up families. It was something that brought shame to the couple that decided to divorce. Over the past few years, the view has changed. More people have realized that sometimes divorce is the best choice for the parties involved and because of this, divorce has become more accepted.
When divorce occurs, a judge decides how the assets get split up and who gets custody of the children. Usually the assets of the couple get split up equally. As long as both parents are competent, they will get equal custody of the children. If the judge decides one of the parents is unsuitable to raise children, they will have limited custody and be required to pay child support.
This culture used to be unaccepting of homosexuality. Recently, homosexuals have begun speaking out and have gained more acceptance and rights. Some states have even legalized gay marriage.
The current gender roles in this culture closely resemble my perspective that a man and woman can both the nurturing parent and the working parent. Both genders are expected to do whatever it takes to keep the household running. The woman no longer has to be the stay-at-home parent.
The answers for these questions for my culture have changed greatly over the past 50 years. How have some of these answers changed for your culture over the past 50 years?
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Activity 9
One of my favorite U.S. television shows to watch is Grey’s Anatomy. For those that have not seen the show, it is a medical drama that started with the main characters as surgical interns at a hospital. Now that the show has just finished its 6th season, the main characters are currently residents and have their own group of interns to mold. After analyzing the show, I do not think that it would give a very good impression of Americans to someone with no other exposure to America.
First of all, most of the characters are very cut-throat and only look out for themselves, especially when it comes to being able to participate in a rare surgery. The characters are portrayed this way because the surgical field is very competitive. For someone who didn’t know this, they might assume that all Americans are ruthless and selfish, willing to step on anyone to gain professional success.
Because the characters are surgeons, they are also constantly working and hardly any of the characters’ social lives are explored. The characters are constantly being called into the hospital at all hours of the night and they put in very long days. This may cause people to think that Americans are over-worked.
In the show, the only people the characters socialize with are other people from the hospital. For a couple seasons, they all lived in the same house together which one of the characters had inherited from her mother. When there is a scene with the characters somewhere outside the hospital, the surgeons are either at home or out at a bar. This may cause people to believe that Americans’ only social life involves going out to the bars with co-workers.
Also, many characters are romantically involved with other people in the hospital. This leads to a very gray area between professional and personal relationships. The characters are yelling at each other about things that are happening in their relationship and having sex in the on-call room. This may cause Americans to be labeled as unprofessional, especially since these characters are playing surgeons which is generally viewed as a very distinguished profession.
The show does point out some good characteristics of Americans, also. Because the characters are always at work and seem excited to be surgeons, this would cause Americans to be viewed as very hard-working and enjoying their jobs. Even though this is a positive assumption about Americans, it might not necessarily be true of most Americans.
Also, not all the doctors and patients on the show are white. The show does a decent job of showing the diversity of America. Many of the characters show some level of cultural diversity whether it is race, age, social class, or even sexual orientation. Sometimes the show even highlights the internal conflicts that some of these diverse characters struggle with. This helps those that have had no other experience with America to view it as a culturally diverse and accepting place.
This activity shows how getting information about a culture from only one source can skew our perception of that culture. Are there assumptions that you have made about a different culture based on one piece of information?
First of all, most of the characters are very cut-throat and only look out for themselves, especially when it comes to being able to participate in a rare surgery. The characters are portrayed this way because the surgical field is very competitive. For someone who didn’t know this, they might assume that all Americans are ruthless and selfish, willing to step on anyone to gain professional success.
Because the characters are surgeons, they are also constantly working and hardly any of the characters’ social lives are explored. The characters are constantly being called into the hospital at all hours of the night and they put in very long days. This may cause people to think that Americans are over-worked.
In the show, the only people the characters socialize with are other people from the hospital. For a couple seasons, they all lived in the same house together which one of the characters had inherited from her mother. When there is a scene with the characters somewhere outside the hospital, the surgeons are either at home or out at a bar. This may cause people to believe that Americans’ only social life involves going out to the bars with co-workers.
Also, many characters are romantically involved with other people in the hospital. This leads to a very gray area between professional and personal relationships. The characters are yelling at each other about things that are happening in their relationship and having sex in the on-call room. This may cause Americans to be labeled as unprofessional, especially since these characters are playing surgeons which is generally viewed as a very distinguished profession.
The show does point out some good characteristics of Americans, also. Because the characters are always at work and seem excited to be surgeons, this would cause Americans to be viewed as very hard-working and enjoying their jobs. Even though this is a positive assumption about Americans, it might not necessarily be true of most Americans.
Also, not all the doctors and patients on the show are white. The show does a decent job of showing the diversity of America. Many of the characters show some level of cultural diversity whether it is race, age, social class, or even sexual orientation. Sometimes the show even highlights the internal conflicts that some of these diverse characters struggle with. This helps those that have had no other experience with America to view it as a culturally diverse and accepting place.
This activity shows how getting information about a culture from only one source can skew our perception of that culture. Are there assumptions that you have made about a different culture based on one piece of information?
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Activity 8
One of the biggest transitions I have had to deal with was going to college. There are several reasons why this is true. First of all, I had to adjust to living in a bigger city. Even though River Falls isn’t that big, it is quite a step up from growing up in a rural community of 1,000 people. Secondly, I had to learn to share a room with someone while living in the dorms. When I was at home, I only had one sibling and never had to share a bedroom. I also had to adjust to the size of my classes. My graduating class only had 43 students in it, which was smaller than most of my classes in college. The final adjustment that I had to deal with when starting college was the freedom of not having my parents around.
This whole experience affected me in several ways. By having to share a room, I have learned to make compromises and become more aware of and considerate of others’ feelings. Living in a bigger city and having larger classes have pushed me to become more outgoing so that I can stand out more. In high school everyone knew everyone’s name so I did not have to speak up very much in order for the teachers to know me by name. Finally, being away from my parents has caused me to become more independent and self-motivated. I feel transitioning into college was something that helped me take a big step into adulthood.
What were some adjustments you had to make when you started college and how did they affect you?
This whole experience affected me in several ways. By having to share a room, I have learned to make compromises and become more aware of and considerate of others’ feelings. Living in a bigger city and having larger classes have pushed me to become more outgoing so that I can stand out more. In high school everyone knew everyone’s name so I did not have to speak up very much in order for the teachers to know me by name. Finally, being away from my parents has caused me to become more independent and self-motivated. I feel transitioning into college was something that helped me take a big step into adulthood.
What were some adjustments you had to make when you started college and how did they affect you?
Friday, June 4, 2010
Activity #7
I was very excited to these activities because my friends are always messing with me so I was glad to pay them back. For the first part of the activity, I chose to do this experiment on a good friend who I figured would understand what was going on after I debriefed her. For the 2-minute sustained eye contact part, I had some very interesting results. For about the first 15 seconds, maintaining eye contact was easy and I did not have to move. After that it became very difficult to maintain eye contact with my friend. She looked over to the side at which point I had to dart over to get back in her line of vision. We then maintained eye contact for another couple seconds until she looked away. Again, I had to move to get back in her eye sight. This pattern continued for the rest of the two minutes during which time she kept looking at me more and more strangely and at one point even asked me if something was wrong. After the two minutes, I debriefed my friend and asked her what she thought. She said she felt very nervous and uneasy that I wouldn’t break eye contact with her. It also made me feel very awkward to maintain eye contact that long. It felt very unnatural.
I did the second activity on another friend. I chose a casual conversation to do this so that she wouldn’t think I didn’t care about her problems. In the beginning of the conversation, she did not seem to notice that I wasn’t making eye contact. After about 30 seconds of not making eye contact, she stopped conversing with me. It was left up to me to work to keep the conversation going. After it was over as I was debriefing her, I asked her how she felt about me not maintaining eye contact with her. She told me she felt that I was very uninterested and distracted and that is why she stopped talking. The combination of these first two activities shows just how important the nonverbal communication of eye contact is. Too little eye contact may cause a person to think you are not listening to what they are saying, and too much eye contact may make the other person feel very nervous.
For the last activity, I chose a third friend to be my victim. I found this experiment to be the most difficult to do correctly. I started to close the space between us and once I got to within a foot of her, she took a small step back. I was worried I wasn’t moving slowly enough, but it must have worked because I was able to back my friend up a few feet. When I was done, I asked her if she noticed that she had backed up and she said she hadn’t. This activity shows just how much personal space is valued in our culture and that we will maintain it at a subconscious level if necessary.
Why do you think we value our personal space so much that we will subconsciously move to keep it?
I did the second activity on another friend. I chose a casual conversation to do this so that she wouldn’t think I didn’t care about her problems. In the beginning of the conversation, she did not seem to notice that I wasn’t making eye contact. After about 30 seconds of not making eye contact, she stopped conversing with me. It was left up to me to work to keep the conversation going. After it was over as I was debriefing her, I asked her how she felt about me not maintaining eye contact with her. She told me she felt that I was very uninterested and distracted and that is why she stopped talking. The combination of these first two activities shows just how important the nonverbal communication of eye contact is. Too little eye contact may cause a person to think you are not listening to what they are saying, and too much eye contact may make the other person feel very nervous.
For the last activity, I chose a third friend to be my victim. I found this experiment to be the most difficult to do correctly. I started to close the space between us and once I got to within a foot of her, she took a small step back. I was worried I wasn’t moving slowly enough, but it must have worked because I was able to back my friend up a few feet. When I was done, I asked her if she noticed that she had backed up and she said she hadn’t. This activity shows just how much personal space is valued in our culture and that we will maintain it at a subconscious level if necessary.
Why do you think we value our personal space so much that we will subconsciously move to keep it?
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Activity 6
This was a very interesting activity. Before this, I did not realize all the different accents that existed in the United States. I knew of the Southern and New England accents and because of that, I had the easiest time picking out those two accents. The Southern accent extended the /i/ and the New England accent dropped the /r/ sound in one of the sound clips.
I was slightly aware that the North had an accent. I had been told by some friends that live outside of Wisconsin that I had an accent, but never really believed them until I took this quiz. It was then that I realized in the North we pronounce our /o/’s differently. After thinking about it, I realize that this is true about me and others in the North, as well.
I had never heard of the rest of the areas having an accent before. This made it very hard to place them in a particular area, and as a result, I got most of them wrong. I found it very interesting that the midland region is considered “General American”. I never realized there was an area in the United States that was considered to have no accent. After listening to all the sound clips, I now understand why it can sometimes be very difficult to communicate with someone, even if they are speaking the same language but are from a different area of the country. I have had several experiences speaking with people from the southern states where it is difficult for me to understand them and visa versa. I think these types of situations are even more frustrating than the difficulty communicating due to speaking different languages.
I did pretty well on the quiz of identifying words. I needed the hints to figure out most of them, however. I had the most problems with the “grade” one. Even with the hint, I could not figure this out. I think it was because of how fast it was spoken. At the end of the quiz when it gave the word in a complete sentence, the word seemed more obvious. I think this shows just how important context clues are when communicating with people from different regions of the United States. I found the writing below the quiz really interesting. I realized that some sounds were pronounced differently in different regions, but had assumed that as methods of mass communication increased over the past years, these regional differences would decrease. This, surprisingly, is not really the case according to the quiz. It said that dozens of different pronunciations are developing throughout the country. It also mentioned that some areas which had different pronunciations have been lost.
These quizzes made me realize just how diverse the language can be in one country. Another regional language issue that would be interesting to look at would be the connotations associated with various words in different regions of the United Sates. The different connotations can certainly be a communication barrier at times.
Have you ever had trouble communicating with someone from a different region of the United States because of how they pronounced certain words?
I was slightly aware that the North had an accent. I had been told by some friends that live outside of Wisconsin that I had an accent, but never really believed them until I took this quiz. It was then that I realized in the North we pronounce our /o/’s differently. After thinking about it, I realize that this is true about me and others in the North, as well.
I had never heard of the rest of the areas having an accent before. This made it very hard to place them in a particular area, and as a result, I got most of them wrong. I found it very interesting that the midland region is considered “General American”. I never realized there was an area in the United States that was considered to have no accent. After listening to all the sound clips, I now understand why it can sometimes be very difficult to communicate with someone, even if they are speaking the same language but are from a different area of the country. I have had several experiences speaking with people from the southern states where it is difficult for me to understand them and visa versa. I think these types of situations are even more frustrating than the difficulty communicating due to speaking different languages.
I did pretty well on the quiz of identifying words. I needed the hints to figure out most of them, however. I had the most problems with the “grade” one. Even with the hint, I could not figure this out. I think it was because of how fast it was spoken. At the end of the quiz when it gave the word in a complete sentence, the word seemed more obvious. I think this shows just how important context clues are when communicating with people from different regions of the United States. I found the writing below the quiz really interesting. I realized that some sounds were pronounced differently in different regions, but had assumed that as methods of mass communication increased over the past years, these regional differences would decrease. This, surprisingly, is not really the case according to the quiz. It said that dozens of different pronunciations are developing throughout the country. It also mentioned that some areas which had different pronunciations have been lost.
These quizzes made me realize just how diverse the language can be in one country. Another regional language issue that would be interesting to look at would be the connotations associated with various words in different regions of the United Sates. The different connotations can certainly be a communication barrier at times.
Have you ever had trouble communicating with someone from a different region of the United States because of how they pronounced certain words?
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Avowed and Ascribed Identities
Avowed Identities
Young, Teacher, Student, American, Female, Adult, Heterosexual, Caucasian, Middle, Class, Strong
Ascribed Identities
Child, Teacher, Student, Heterosexual, Upper Class, Weak
My parents have ascribed the identity of child to me. This is probably the ascribed identity that I have tried to resist the most. My parents sometimes make me feel that I am a child instead of an adult by the way in which they communicate with me. They explain some things to me in a very child-like manner and don’t trust me with some responsibilities that I feel I can handle. In order to make my parents view me as an adult like I see myself, I try to act as mature as possible around them. I take on responsibilities and manage my time wisely so they can see that I am growing up. I show them I can manage a job, school, family, and social life, although I think my parents will always view me as a child to some extent, no matter how old I get or how responsible I am.
When I tutor students, they ascribe the identity of teacher to me. This ascribed identity I did not resist because I wanted the students to keep a professional relationship, respect my position, and feel comfortable asking me questions.
Once people get to know me they ascribe the label of heterosexual to me. This ascribed identity I did not try to resist because it helps me to establish relationships.
Some of my friends think that I am from a higher class family than I am and therefore that I have a lot of money, also. Some of my friends feel this way because both of my parents work and have a bigger house. In order to resist this identity, I try to explain to them that just because my family has some nice things, it doesn’t mean that my parents didn’t have to budget and save to get them. I resist this identity further by telling them that I have a job to make money, and even if my parents do have money, I don’t necessarily get handouts. Also, when I am out with my friends, I try to be very frugal with my money so they don’t think I have a lot of it to throw around.
When teachers and professors view me as a student, I do not resist it because it establishes the principle that I expect to learn from them.
Sometimes when shadowing a large animal vet, farmers and even some veterinarians have made comments that ascribe the identity of weak. They thought I would not be able to handle the cows and horses very well. In order to resist this, I’ve restrained the animals for the vets at times and helped them perform the various procedures that needed to be done. If I choose to go into large animal medicine, I feel one of my biggest challenges will be to overcome this ascribed identity. No matter how good of a veterinarian I become, some farmers will probably think I am not a good large animal veterinarian because of my size.
Are there any ascribed identities that you will have to overcome in your chosen profession?
Young, Teacher, Student, American, Female, Adult, Heterosexual, Caucasian, Middle, Class, Strong
Ascribed Identities
Child, Teacher, Student, Heterosexual, Upper Class, Weak
My parents have ascribed the identity of child to me. This is probably the ascribed identity that I have tried to resist the most. My parents sometimes make me feel that I am a child instead of an adult by the way in which they communicate with me. They explain some things to me in a very child-like manner and don’t trust me with some responsibilities that I feel I can handle. In order to make my parents view me as an adult like I see myself, I try to act as mature as possible around them. I take on responsibilities and manage my time wisely so they can see that I am growing up. I show them I can manage a job, school, family, and social life, although I think my parents will always view me as a child to some extent, no matter how old I get or how responsible I am.
When I tutor students, they ascribe the identity of teacher to me. This ascribed identity I did not resist because I wanted the students to keep a professional relationship, respect my position, and feel comfortable asking me questions.
Once people get to know me they ascribe the label of heterosexual to me. This ascribed identity I did not try to resist because it helps me to establish relationships.
Some of my friends think that I am from a higher class family than I am and therefore that I have a lot of money, also. Some of my friends feel this way because both of my parents work and have a bigger house. In order to resist this identity, I try to explain to them that just because my family has some nice things, it doesn’t mean that my parents didn’t have to budget and save to get them. I resist this identity further by telling them that I have a job to make money, and even if my parents do have money, I don’t necessarily get handouts. Also, when I am out with my friends, I try to be very frugal with my money so they don’t think I have a lot of it to throw around.
When teachers and professors view me as a student, I do not resist it because it establishes the principle that I expect to learn from them.
Sometimes when shadowing a large animal vet, farmers and even some veterinarians have made comments that ascribe the identity of weak. They thought I would not be able to handle the cows and horses very well. In order to resist this, I’ve restrained the animals for the vets at times and helped them perform the various procedures that needed to be done. If I choose to go into large animal medicine, I feel one of my biggest challenges will be to overcome this ascribed identity. No matter how good of a veterinarian I become, some farmers will probably think I am not a good large animal veterinarian because of my size.
Are there any ascribed identities that you will have to overcome in your chosen profession?
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Activity 4-Quiz
I found this activity to be very eye-opening. The first time I took the quiz, I could barely think of people in any of the areas besides the white males and females and a few in the black males and females. Regarding most of the other ethnicities, the people I remembered were leaders of nations that the United States had gone to war with or been in conflict with, for instance Kim Jong-Il and Saddam Hussein. In between taking the two quizzes, I did some research to fill in the blanks that I had in my mind. Even after doing so, I still had some unanswered questions.
The easiest group to come up with answers to was by far the whites. This is because this ethnic group is the one taught about the most in United States history. They are the most prominent because they have written most of history and chosen which facts and names to record.
The male gender was by far the easiest gender to come up with individual names. Males have been the prominent leaders of nations and therefore their names have come up more often in history classes. Also, for most of history, males were the only ones who were educated and therefore the only ones who could write. As a result, history tends to generally be presented from a male perspective.
This quiz showed the flaws in how the history of the United States is taught. The majority of United States history focuses on white males. However, there are other histories mentioned. White females, black males, and black females are also mentioned throughout, but not to the same extent. Most of these ethnic histories in the United States are still developing as more research is being done. These are hidden histories that are begging to be uncovered.
The groups I found that were not discussed much in the United States history were Hispanic, Asian, and Middle Eastern. With more and more immigrants coming to the United States from Hispanic countries and with more of them gaining political power, Hispanic history in the United States is just beginning to be uncovered. The Asian history in the United States has been a hidden history in part due to the treatment of the Asian population after World War II. Even though this was a big atrocity, it is something that is skimmed over in many history books, as is the influx of Asians from Laos after the Vietnam War and their impact on America. The Middle Eastern history in the United States is also hidden. After September 11, 2001, more people became interested in that history out of fear as they became more aware of a Middle Eastern presence in America.
This experience was very eye-opening. I didn’t realize how United States history is skewed toward white males. It is very easy to see how the prominent ethnic group and gender can affect national history. However, like the book states, just because histories are hidden does not make them unimportant. If it wasn’t for these hidden histories, America would not be what it is today.
In what ways have the hidden histories of different ethnic groups affected the United States national history?
The easiest group to come up with answers to was by far the whites. This is because this ethnic group is the one taught about the most in United States history. They are the most prominent because they have written most of history and chosen which facts and names to record.
The male gender was by far the easiest gender to come up with individual names. Males have been the prominent leaders of nations and therefore their names have come up more often in history classes. Also, for most of history, males were the only ones who were educated and therefore the only ones who could write. As a result, history tends to generally be presented from a male perspective.
This quiz showed the flaws in how the history of the United States is taught. The majority of United States history focuses on white males. However, there are other histories mentioned. White females, black males, and black females are also mentioned throughout, but not to the same extent. Most of these ethnic histories in the United States are still developing as more research is being done. These are hidden histories that are begging to be uncovered.
The groups I found that were not discussed much in the United States history were Hispanic, Asian, and Middle Eastern. With more and more immigrants coming to the United States from Hispanic countries and with more of them gaining political power, Hispanic history in the United States is just beginning to be uncovered. The Asian history in the United States has been a hidden history in part due to the treatment of the Asian population after World War II. Even though this was a big atrocity, it is something that is skimmed over in many history books, as is the influx of Asians from Laos after the Vietnam War and their impact on America. The Middle Eastern history in the United States is also hidden. After September 11, 2001, more people became interested in that history out of fear as they became more aware of a Middle Eastern presence in America.
This experience was very eye-opening. I didn’t realize how United States history is skewed toward white males. It is very easy to see how the prominent ethnic group and gender can affect national history. However, like the book states, just because histories are hidden does not make them unimportant. If it wasn’t for these hidden histories, America would not be what it is today.
In what ways have the hidden histories of different ethnic groups affected the United States national history?
Friday, May 28, 2010
Activity 3-Ethnicity and Communication
After talking to some of my relatives, I learned that my ancestors came from Germany and Ireland many generations ago. Over a few generations after arriving in America, my ancestors made there way to the Midwest. The majority of the last few generations have been located in west central Wisconsin. Also, most of my ancestors have lived in rural areas with an increasing shift to urban areas in the past couple generations.
My ethnic background has had some impact on who I am. I find myself drawn toward things of Irish or German origin. For instance, I enjoy listening to Celtic music and in middle school when I had to choose a country to do a presentation on, I chose Ireland so I could learn more about my ancestors’ country. However, my family does not make traditional German or Irish meals, nor do I have a strong connection to Irish or German customs. Learning about the countries of my ancestors is more of a hobby to me as compared to a sense of identity.
Even though my ethnic background has had some impact on who I am, there are other variables that have had a bigger influence on my behavior. One of the biggest factors that has shaped who I am is my environment. Growing up in a town of less than 1000 people, I have found myself to value a sense of community. Because of this, I try to find ways to get involved with smaller groups of people. Going to college was a big change for me because of its size. In order to make it seem smaller, I became activity involved in the Pre-Vet Club. Wanting to stay in a more rural community even shaped my decision on where to go to college. Also the people around me, family and friends, have influenced me more than ethnicity. The experiences I have had with them have helped to shape my values and expectations. For example, my parents have always encouraged me to be hard working and to do well in school. Because of this, I do work hard and value my education immensely.
Most people are not aware of my specific ethnic background. They would probably be able to deduce that I am of European decent, but not specifically German and Irish. This is true for the reverse though, also. For most people that I interact with, I do not know the specific countries that their ancestors immigrated from, but I can infer a general area of the world. Knowing that I am of European decent is enough to influence communication, however. When people communicate with me, they do so in a very Western way by making eye contact and by keeping a certain amount of personal space. Also as the book discuss, Western societies are short-term orientated so that also comes into play when people communicate with me and how I communicate with others in that I prefer quick results.
This activity has made me feel a little disappointed that I do not have more of a connection to my ethnic heritage. Especially after looking at immigration and the struggles my ancestors went through to get here, I feel like I have done them a disservice by not keeping at least some of their traditions alive. Maybe once I look into my ethnicity more, I will hopefully be able to realize more connections than I am able to now.
If you were of a different ethnicity, how do you think it would change the way people communicate with you?
My ethnic background has had some impact on who I am. I find myself drawn toward things of Irish or German origin. For instance, I enjoy listening to Celtic music and in middle school when I had to choose a country to do a presentation on, I chose Ireland so I could learn more about my ancestors’ country. However, my family does not make traditional German or Irish meals, nor do I have a strong connection to Irish or German customs. Learning about the countries of my ancestors is more of a hobby to me as compared to a sense of identity.
Even though my ethnic background has had some impact on who I am, there are other variables that have had a bigger influence on my behavior. One of the biggest factors that has shaped who I am is my environment. Growing up in a town of less than 1000 people, I have found myself to value a sense of community. Because of this, I try to find ways to get involved with smaller groups of people. Going to college was a big change for me because of its size. In order to make it seem smaller, I became activity involved in the Pre-Vet Club. Wanting to stay in a more rural community even shaped my decision on where to go to college. Also the people around me, family and friends, have influenced me more than ethnicity. The experiences I have had with them have helped to shape my values and expectations. For example, my parents have always encouraged me to be hard working and to do well in school. Because of this, I do work hard and value my education immensely.
Most people are not aware of my specific ethnic background. They would probably be able to deduce that I am of European decent, but not specifically German and Irish. This is true for the reverse though, also. For most people that I interact with, I do not know the specific countries that their ancestors immigrated from, but I can infer a general area of the world. Knowing that I am of European decent is enough to influence communication, however. When people communicate with me, they do so in a very Western way by making eye contact and by keeping a certain amount of personal space. Also as the book discuss, Western societies are short-term orientated so that also comes into play when people communicate with me and how I communicate with others in that I prefer quick results.
This activity has made me feel a little disappointed that I do not have more of a connection to my ethnic heritage. Especially after looking at immigration and the struggles my ancestors went through to get here, I feel like I have done them a disservice by not keeping at least some of their traditions alive. Maybe once I look into my ethnicity more, I will hopefully be able to realize more connections than I am able to now.
If you were of a different ethnicity, how do you think it would change the way people communicate with you?
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Activity #2-Observation
On Sunday, I attended a Catholic mass with my mom. I have attended mass with my mom a few times but not very often. I decided to do my observation here because whenever I have attended mass in the past, I was always worried I would do something that was against the “rules” and offend someone or make fool of myself. I was hoping by trying to get a better understanding of unwritten rules, I would be more comfortable going to church.
Before coming into a pew, a person would genuflect. Sometimes there would be a person at the end of a pew where someone wanted to sit. The person on the end would slide down and make room for the people entering the pew. Usually the person would move far enough into the pew so that there was at least a foot of space between them and the person entering the pew. This made it very easy to see where families stopped and started because family members would only be inches apart while people that didn’t know each other were a foot or more apart. If a person did not move over for someone coming into the pew, it would be seen as rude. Also, if someone sat too close to someone that they didn’t know it may be seen as an invasion of personal space and may make people feel uncomfortable. Most people had very proper posture and did not slouch during the service. This showed a certain amount of formality.
Also, I observed when people came into the church they sat down and faced forward. Most did not talk and if they did it was brief and in whispered tones. There were nonverbal gestures like head nods and smiles. If someone entered the church being boisterous and turning around to talk to people, it would be seen as disrespectful and that person would probably get dirty looks from the people around them.
During the sign of peace, everyone turned to people around them and shook hands. Through nonverbal gestures like making eye contact and extending a hand; people knew when it was there turn to shake hands. It seemed to be an unwritten rule that when somebody made eye content and extended a hand, you were obligated to shake their hand. If someone did not understand theses signs and didn’t shake hands after a handshake was initiated, it would be seen as discourteous. In fact the person that initiated the handshake might think it was a personal attack and be very confused.
Because of these unwritten rules, it would be very easy for someone who didn’t know the rules to be viewed as unfriendly or disrespectful. There are many contextual clues that someone unfamiliar with a Catholic mass could use to figure out the appropriate behavior. For instance, noticing when entering the church that everyone was quietly facing the front of the church would be a sign that this is appropriate behavior. These unwritten rules are part of the reason why I think many people are a little uncomfortable to attend church or other religious ceremonies, especially when it is outside their own denomination.
Are there any places that you are a little uncomfortable to go to because of not being clear on the unwritten rules?
Before coming into a pew, a person would genuflect. Sometimes there would be a person at the end of a pew where someone wanted to sit. The person on the end would slide down and make room for the people entering the pew. Usually the person would move far enough into the pew so that there was at least a foot of space between them and the person entering the pew. This made it very easy to see where families stopped and started because family members would only be inches apart while people that didn’t know each other were a foot or more apart. If a person did not move over for someone coming into the pew, it would be seen as rude. Also, if someone sat too close to someone that they didn’t know it may be seen as an invasion of personal space and may make people feel uncomfortable. Most people had very proper posture and did not slouch during the service. This showed a certain amount of formality.
Also, I observed when people came into the church they sat down and faced forward. Most did not talk and if they did it was brief and in whispered tones. There were nonverbal gestures like head nods and smiles. If someone entered the church being boisterous and turning around to talk to people, it would be seen as disrespectful and that person would probably get dirty looks from the people around them.
During the sign of peace, everyone turned to people around them and shook hands. Through nonverbal gestures like making eye contact and extending a hand; people knew when it was there turn to shake hands. It seemed to be an unwritten rule that when somebody made eye content and extended a hand, you were obligated to shake their hand. If someone did not understand theses signs and didn’t shake hands after a handshake was initiated, it would be seen as discourteous. In fact the person that initiated the handshake might think it was a personal attack and be very confused.
Because of these unwritten rules, it would be very easy for someone who didn’t know the rules to be viewed as unfriendly or disrespectful. There are many contextual clues that someone unfamiliar with a Catholic mass could use to figure out the appropriate behavior. For instance, noticing when entering the church that everyone was quietly facing the front of the church would be a sign that this is appropriate behavior. These unwritten rules are part of the reason why I think many people are a little uncomfortable to attend church or other religious ceremonies, especially when it is outside their own denomination.
Are there any places that you are a little uncomfortable to go to because of not being clear on the unwritten rules?
Monday, May 24, 2010
Far and Away
Many immigrants faced challenges when coming to
From the very moment they set foot off the boat in
Because of these financial hardships, the immigrants had to turn to whomever they could when they needed money, shelter, or food. Some of the people the immigrants turned to for help took advantage of them. Shannon and Joseph both experienced this. Shannon had her silver spoons stolen from her by Mr. McGuire, a man that she thought had befriended her on the ship ride to
After losing their room, Shannon and Joseph had a hard time finding work due to their nationality. Potential employers told them that they would not hire Irish immigrants. Because they could not find work to pay for shelter or food, they were forced to break into an abandoned house in order to survive. Shannon and Joseph had been warned when they stepped off the ship that unless they talked to the right people, such as Mr. Kelly, life in
The struggles faced by Shannon and Joseph were probably typical of many immigrants coming to
Far and Away. Dir. Ron Howard. Perfs. Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman. Universal Pictures, 1992.
While these struggles were typical of immigrants in the 1890’s, do they still apply to immigrants coming to
If so, have the changing struggles affected the demographics of immigrants today?
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Two Truths and a Lie
1. I have traveled to Europe.
2. I have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
3. I will be attending UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine in the fall.
2. I have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
3. I will be attending UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine in the fall.
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