In today’s world, we are constantly surrounded by different cultures and how they interact with one another. With the surging of technology and the expansion of the internet, you can now access various cultures from all over the world in a matter of minutes. Cultural diversity allows us to not only understand other people better but also explore new things that we might have never tried before. Whether you are interested in travelling or just want to meet new people, understanding other cultures is an excellent way of broadening your horizons. In this blog post, we will be exploring why cultural awareness is so beneficial and how it can help you in life. Read on to know more!
Why is Cultural Awareness Important?
Growing up in a society that is predominantly of a certain culture shapes our perception of life, goals, lifestyle and priorities. We aren’t often aware that other people around the world have different opinions and perspectives on money, careers, food, friendships, personal space, relationships and more. When you are exposed to a society that is global or culturally aware, you are more likely to understand other people better since you are more open to different perspectives.
Benefits of Being Culturally Aware
Being culturally aware can be beneficial in many ways.
1. An awareness of the culture and history of a country helps to understand certain idioms and language references that are not common to the English-speaking world. For instance, Malinche was a Nahua woman that contributed to the fall of the Aztec Empire by acting as Companion, interpreter and messenger to Hernan Cortes, the Spanish conquistador. In Mexico, it is common to label traitors to a cause or the country “Malinchistas“, from this historical reference!
2. Likewise, it is usually a good idea to educate yourself about the history of a country as most countries are battling racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination based on ideology, as well as persecution of large communities by governments with steadfast ideologies. Cuba, Haiti, Mexico and most of South America have a painful history of dictatorships, unstable governments and political dissent and that awareness is a must if you want to establish a business, study in those countries or immigrate.
3. Being aware of different cultures and their customs can help to build understanding and respect for different cultures and their traditions. For instance, it is customary to laugh and celebrate the dead during the famous Dia de Los Muertos in Mexico, which is a strange tradition for most of the world, given that death anniversaries are for mourning and remembrance. Once you understand the belief, you might even adopt the Mexican way of honouring the dead by celebrating their life!
4. It can also help to foster productive relationships between people of different backgrounds, and allows us to celebrate our differences. This is especially important for Multinational Corporations where teams have participants from different ethnicities and nationalities. Cultural awareness and respect at the workplace make for better etiquette.
5. In multicultural societies, people with a deeper understanding of other cultures tend not to experience as much discrimination based on their ethnicity. This can help you accept people who are different from you, including family members, friends and co-workers with different sexual orientations and ideologies. It can also help you accept yourself more since you will be less likely to compare yourself to other people.
6. Understanding the culture of the community gives you a sense of their priorities and struggles. For example, in most places in India, tipping is still voluntary and not something a server necessarily expects. There are even cafes, restaurants and hotels that explicitly forbid tipping. However, in restaurants and cafes in the USA and Europe, a substantial tip is expected or you are frowned upon. If you are not aware of smaller customs like tipping and drinking or partying culture, you could stand out as a sore thumb in such countries.
7. You could adopt certain practices into your own life, like the Japanese ikigai concept. Cultural awareness is understanding how people make sense of their context. The way people think of money, family, personal space, love and relationships can influence you to broaden your own horizons and adopt better practices that bring balance to your own life!
8. Some customs are quirky and fun to know about. If you know about their origin, that adds to the fun. It is customary for parents in Northern Spain to lay their babies on a small mattress during the El Colacho ceremony while men dressed as the devil take a run at the babies and jump over the mattress, watched by the delighted audience and terrified parents!
Being culturally aware gives us greater insight into different perspectives and worldviews, which can help when it comes to problem-solving and decision-making. Ultimately, being culturally aware enables us to be more open to learning and allows us to better appreciate different cultures and traditions.
How can you Develop Cultural Awareness?
Becoming more culturally aware is a continuous process that you will need to work on over time. This starts with education and learning.
1. You can read books, watch documentaries, and take courses to learn about different cultures.
2. You can also travel or participate in cultural or language exchanges with people from different backgrounds to gain hands-on experience.
3. You might even attend festivals or events that celebrate different cultures.
4. Ultimately, the best way to develop cultural awareness is to actually talk and interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds, with openness, respect, and curiosity.
5. It is also a good idea to explore what your own culture means to you and its values.
Once you have an understanding of your own culture, you can look at other cultures and their customs to see how they compare to your own. This will allow you to be a lot more accepting of other cultures and avoid any prejudices or preconceived notions you might have about them.
Conclusion
A deep understanding of other cultures can help you better understand the world and your place within it. It can also help you become less prejudiced against other cultures and other people because you will be able to see their value without making judgments. When you become more culturally aware, you are more likely to see other people as individuals and accept them for who they are. This means that you will have a lot more meaningful relationships in your life since you will be able to truly connect with people on an individual level. Cultural awareness can help you become a better person, both as an individual and as a member of society. It is worth the time and effort to learn more about other cultures and gain an understanding of how they function which is beneficial to everyone.
