Assignment Takeaway for Assignment #5

 

Men and Women are forced into gender stereotypes. This photo represents how most individuals see each gender, even when that is far from the case.

In assignment five we analyzed a study regarding a chapter in the book from another country. The country I chose was Germany. It is not surprising to note that their culture regarding gender roles and stereotypes is not too far from our own. Compared to American culture it seems as though we hold similar expectations from each gender. For example, people would rather see a woman in a nursing or teaching field than a man just because women are seen as more suited for the type of work that is involved. Men are seen as more suited for manual labor or business fields. Profession stereotyping needs to end, and we are breaking down this stereotype every day. More men are pursuing teaching and nursing positions. There should not be any stigma or judgment regarding what job a person wants to pursue. It is interesting to read studies that are conducted for this specific type of research that shows proof of these problems not just in America but all around the world.

 

 

 

Assignment Takeaway for Assignment #4

 

This is a comparison between IKEA advertisements in Western culture and Middle-Eastern cultures. Though the presence of the woman does not change the advertisement, she is still edited out of the picture.

For assignment four we examined advertisements in Western culture and a culture of our choosing. I chose Middle-Eastern Arabian culture. It was interesting to see how different these cultures are when it comes to its advertising. One major ideal that I noticed was that most often, women are removed from the advertisements completely. In Western culture, women in advertising are commonplace. That is not the case everywhere. Everything from furniture advertisements to CD album covers is either censored or changed completely to exclude women and their bodies. I learned more about how advertisers have to adjust to the cultural norms of a society for their product or service to be accepted. Being raised in American culture, it is sometimes difficult to think how the ad I am watching may be completely different in another country. It is interesting to learn how the different genders are represented in different cultures across the world.

 

 

Assignment Takeaway for Assignment #3

Annabelle’s experience in St. Thomas Parish, Jamacia was a perfect example of blending cultures.

In assignment three we read the blog entries of students who have studied abroad in different countries. In the various blog post that I read, you can get a grasp of the culture of the area. She experienced the true culture of the area rather than just being a tourist. I learned by reading her blog that the best way to enjoy traveling to a new area is to do your research beforehand and really immerse yourself in the culture to fully enjoy the experience. Many people when traveling disregard the culture of the area and unknowingly disrespect the locals by doing so. If you live like a local, you will have a more enriching experience rather than just going to major hotspots of an area. After reading her blog post, it gives me a new respect for traveling and I will always have others culture in mind.

 

Assignment Takeaway  for assignment #2

While Americans are diverse and have many different backgrounds, our cultural values across the board are similar.

 

For assignment two we analyzed American values. The value I chose to discuss was time and how Americans manage it. Overall I learned what the standard American values are and why they are important. The concept of time management is relatable to me as a college student since I work full time and also am enrolled in fifteen credit hours this semester. Being productive is incredibly important to me as I am always working in one way or another. If I did not manage my time wisely, it would be very easy to miss deadlines. It is interesting to read about one’s own cultural values and how others view us from an outside point of view. Many assume that if you live in a particular culture then we know all there is. I learned more about American culture from this assignment than I thought I would.