What is Culture?

What is culture? Culture can be hard to describe because there are many aspects of what culture represents within each person. One individual may think culture is only differentiated from language, ethnicity, and skin color. While, another individual may think that culture encompasses every aspect of their lives including family structure, where they live, personal experiences, and religious belief. Which one defines culture and which one doesn't? The answer is both individuals are correct because culture is both. Culture is language, ethnicity, skin tone, family structure, where they live, personal experiences, religious belief, and much more.

 

Imagine losing everything that you once knew and going to a place to a place that you know nothing about. If my nuclear family and I were to be relocated at a unknown location I would bring sentimental items significant to what is important to my personal culture. I would bring my set of keys, cell phone, and a small bible. Keys represent a sense of ownership and belonging. This item also represents the hope of possibly getting home in the future. Home is everything that I know including family, my own personal things, daily routine, and comfort. The cell phone because it holds the memories of the past such as photos and messages. A small bible represents my Christian foundation that guides my decision making, perspectives, and overall well-being. These three items are very important because they have sentimental value. Home, family, and religion are the three most important aspects of my life. I would feel lost without remnants of my of culture.

 

I would be upset if I had to give up any part of my identity. If I had to give up two items, it would be the cell phone and set of keys. I may never get home so keys would be useless. Cell phones need to be charged and the device would soon die. I would never give up my bible because the scriptures give me strength in hard times. This assignment has opened my eyes to the importance of culture. In the United States, sometimes Americans think that foreigners who have become American citizens or who have a green card should assimilate to the dominant culture. It is expected for the individual to abandon their own cultural norms, language, and perspectives on family. I think that this perspective has flaws because individuals that think this way don't take into account that each culture has there own self identity, family structure, and overall culture. A loss of culture could result into a loss of identity.