Together but Separate

22 October 2020

Week 06: Individualism and Collectivism

We live in a world where each culture lives and does what they normally do, but what happens when you move or visit a new culture? Will you fit right in or will you stick out in the crowd. There are many things you learn before you go to your new destination such as the language and greeting customs, but did you know there are other customs that are over looked that you may find very odd or uncomfortable with? I would like to express one culture norm that gets over looked a lot. This is the difference between being in an individual society or a collective or group society.

Individualism is a way of life in which you get to decided when, where, and what you do. The Untied States follows an individualistic culture as they live by there constitutional rights. This right is also not just given to adults, but to children of all ages. Many Americans take this right for granted and don’t realize that many other counties do not get to share these cultural rights.

Collectivism is seen in many Asian counties and the Philippines. In this video you can learn a little but about who Japan uses collectivism to there advantage.

As you can see this collectivism helps children stay safe and families and friends help each other. These counties also have a since of unity when put in groups for activities and traveling. It is an honor to be put in group and you should help, respect, and honor the other individuals in that group.

When teaching students about other cultures it is important to express these differences and how they differ from there existing culture. If a student was to go get a job in another culture while attending school or while working internationally the concept of being fired might not come to mind for them. Many students might have questions of why individualism is mean or free spirited. These questions can be addressed by helping them gather a better understanding of the good that comes out. Such as having the time to get to know people on a more personal level or allowing children to learn on their own and gain their own experiences.

Over all neither cultural way is wrong. They both have their advantages and disadvantages and each culture is okay with that, but it is important to understand the cultural norm so that you can feel comfortable where ever you are.