Chapter 3 The Microcultural Context
Pick and respond to one (only one) of the following topics/questions: (your post should be a minimum of 125 words). reply to at least two other threads.
1- How do you identify culturally and ethnically? Do you identify with a micro-cultural group or with the dominant culture? Analyze and discuss how, based on your identification, you have experienced or saw how microcultural group members in your community are treated differently than other members who belong to a different microcultural group or dominant culture and vice versa (e.g. how microcultural group members treat non members differently).
2- Some people argue that most members of the microcultural groups discussed in this chapter are not doing enough to assimilate, take in, absorb and become a part of U.S. culture. Do you think that microcultures should do more to assimilate to the dominant U.S. Culture? Or should microcultures hold on to the traditions and customs of their native cultures?
thread one
Question 1
Personally, I identify as Candian/American. My father was born out in British Columbia, and I am in the process of getting my dual citizenship in Canada. This can make my experience unique because while the Canadian culture is similar to the American culture, they also have their differences. So being able to experience both sides is something that I am grateful for. I personally don’t feel like I receive any special or different treatment from any of the micro-cultural groups. I do think that this background makes me fit into the mainstream culture, I also identify with the Roman Catholic background so that is also something that makes me fit into the mainstream culture.
There are so many ways everyday where I see micro-cultures being treated differently than mine. I used to work at a store in the mall, and I had some co-workers who would specifically call out just the African-American people as suspected theifs. Never any other race, so that made me question why they were just singling out them and never anyone else. It’s something that we see so often in our world today, where people choose one specific race to constantly target. Seeing that happen in my job, made me question why they chose to target them when they didn’t even have a valid reason for it.
I think that being apart of the mainstream culture is something that some people can take for granted because they don’t necessarily have to deal with some of the things that people in the micro-cultures have to encounter on a daily basis. So being able to understand my culture and then also being able to understand and respect other people’s cultures is something that is very important to my family and I and it’s something that I’m thankful that I was taught to respect other cultures from a very young age, to hopefully try and break some of the stigmas that other cultures face.
thread 2
Q2
Personally, as a person who is not from the US, I don’t think that members of the microcultural group do enough to understand American culture. The thing that I have noticed is that many people who came to the united states, they became used to US culture and some time through the years people forget their culture. For me, I feel that each person should hold on their tradition and culture. I do not say that they should not learn and understand other culture but it is good to behold on your culture and not change to be the same as other. When I came to the US, I realize that they are holding on their culture, and they never want to change it which I think all people should do the same.
