icc assignment

7/23/2019 ICC Assignment

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SHM 1023 - Cultural Identity Paper

My Culture, Bengali, Its Values, Beliefs and Norms

Having come from a culture which has shaped my worldview, beliefs and values in

unique patterns, I have felt curiosity to research in depth of Bengali culture and all its aspects

from its roots. Therefore, this paper not only demonstrates the cultural patterns oriented with

Hofstedes, Strodtbecs and Halls indices, but also discusses the cultural norms, social and

personal identities that Bengali culture and its people possess.

!irstly, looing into Hofstedes value dimensions, it says to consider four identified value

dimensions "Individualism#collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, power distance, masculinity#

femininity$ while describing cultural patterns. However, Bengali culture prefers collectivism.

Though a wind of moderni%ation has blown inside the culture, it did not yet become a

individualist culture. &eople in Bengali culture are well concerned of relationships. In any

problem, conflict or solution they rely on each other and see for others to get supported and

protected. Besides, Bengali is a low'uncertainty avoidance culture which is strongly tolerant of

the unusual, concerned with few rules, fle(ibility and much riss. !or e(ample, people in

Bengali culture is mostly business and agriculture oriented) they lie to tae initiatives on their

own and fle(ible in hardworing for respective *obs regardless of riss. +ccording to Hofstedes

third value dimension, Bengali culture is High'power istance oriented. Since the era of ancient

ynasty "thousand years ago$ Bengali culture accepts power as part of society. !or e(ample, the

more the hierarchy of a person is in a village government or a company would surely be bossy

than the lower one and try to control all of them. Therefore, the power distance is more in among

Bengalis. !urthermore, Bengali is a masculine and male'dominant culture gives priority to male

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over female and does not concentrate on gender equality. Bengali people believe man as chief

and woman as care'taer of the family.

Secondly, the definition of cultural patterns by Strodtbec and other anthropologists have

introduced five questions which determine value orientations with cultures. !or e(ample,

answering the first question by Strodtbec where he inquiries on the character of human nature,

Bengalis believe human is greedy, romantic, ego'centric, slanderer and traitor. Since we have the

history of infidelity during -ughal mpire and so the fall of the empire held in Bengal. The

second question was about human beings sub*ect to nature. In the point of view of Bengalis,

nature is beyond the control of human being. +s Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism are the three

main religions in Bengal region, naturally the belief goes to birth, death and a life'cycle that is

controlled transcendentally "more e(actly by the creator of nature$. Bengalis also believe nature

is for human pleasure and protection from natural disasters. !urthermore, according to the third

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Fig 1: Bengalis sharing views in tea-stalls


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question, Bengali is a past oriented culture who always remember the golden history of their past

and thin past as a guide for maing decisions and determining the future. !or e(ample, the

nation has faced difficulties at past while trying to get independent. The memories and lessons

from revolution, procession, strie, war and courage made Bengalis to go for further

development after the independence. +ccording to fourth question, Bengali culture is being and

being'in'becoming oriented. +s Bengalis lie entertainment, *oy and share with people their

ideas, personal life and stories) they have many days and occasions of celebration living the

tribal and Bengalis in harmony. In case of low'conte(t or high'conte(t which has been ased to

consider in question five, Bengali is a high'conte(t culture. &eople in Bengali culture prefer deep

relationship with family members, relatives, friends and others. They understand each other in

such way that if an elderly man loos at a young boy with big eyes, it is understood that in that

situation something is not appropriate to be done by the young boy.

Thirdly, Hall e(plained cultural identity as indicators of either /ommunal,

Social#0elational or &ersonal identity. !irstly, looing into communal identities of Bengal

people) they have unique worldview, beliefs, values and norms which consists of lots of

superstitions and influence of Hindu'-uslim mi(ed cultural characteristics. !or e(ample,

Bengalis perceive the world as there is an end of everything lie human and animal death. They

believe there will be a life after death either in Heaven#Hell or in the arth "depending on

-uslim#Hindus point of view$. They also believe there is punishment for bad deeds and reward

for good deeds and all the deeds will be or have been done before are written by +lmighty

/reator. So they rely on fate when it is gone beyond the control of human hands. The verbal and

non'verbal norms are spread out all over the culture whether in occasion or in informal activities.

!or e(ample, if somebody say I will slap you in Bengali culture would be a verbal norm but a

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raising hand would easily remind of a upcoming slap. -oreover, they believe in superstitions

lie if somebody calls you from bacside while you are on the way to somewhere, it is bad to

loo bac) otherwise something bad will happen.

Bengalis also possess unique national, ethnic, regional, gender, religious and political

affiliations. 1e the Bengalis are purely nationalistic minded and proud of our nations. 2ur

national identity is we spea in same language, have same flag and stay in same region which

also goes with our regional identity. 2ur gender identity has been mentioned at the section of

Hofstedes value dimensions before in this paper. !urthermore, we do not consider equality

among man and woman. -an is always dominant over woman and it is a constant belief that

Bengali nation is carrying on for ages. 0egarding ethnic identity, Bengalis are from +ryan or

ravidian races) though there is a conflict between opinions, we consider ourselves as unique

ethnic groups mi(ed with +rabian, +fghan, nglish, -ughals, &una*abi and 3ree ethnicity.

!urthermore, politically Bengalis are prone high'power. Though we have been ruled over

centuries and years, sometimes being independent, sometimes being oppressed, the tendency of

sitting on throne of power did not demolish yet. The democracy is still going on under political

turbulence in Bangladesh.

!inally, regarding my personal beliefs and views, I believe in an independent lifestyle

being a person of superstition'free, conscious, thinable perception. Being a follower of Islam, I

have got moral and ethical lessons that I try to follow in my lifestyle even though the different

Bengali culture may affect my values and norms. I en*oy travel across countries and learn their

own values and beliefs. I am completely open'minded and lie open minded people to tal with.

I lie the marriage ceremony and id celebration in my county than other places as it is more

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entertaining, gorgeous and en*oyable there. I am agreed with our Bengali view that we should

respect the elderly people and care the youths and children. Thus being a person to accept and

access other cultural view, values and norms maes me a cosmopolitan.

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