Cultural values - Assignment Example

Name Professor Course Date Question 1 People cultural values have a fundamental influence on their belief and behaviours as well. The cultural aspects of life remains an essential component for understanding the different themes expressed by people from different cultural backgrounds. Various themes in social lives become defined through the cultural values held within a society. The Japanese society presents unique aspects differentiating men and women (Dale, 17). These arise from social expectations defining how individuals behave within the Japanese society. Emotional reactions form a significant element, essential in understanding the reasons behind individuals’ behaviour within a society. The Japanese society presents women as being subordinate to men in different aspects of life. Within the Japanese society, the element of marriage remains the ultimate goal of the women as defined by social expectations. There is significant difference in the themes of Japanese people when compared to American population. Within the American society, the rights for every individual become established and are not subject to cultural expectations. While similar fundamental rights to choice remain available within the constitution, the Japanese society perceives cultural values as superseding constitutional rights. Married women in Japan are therefore expected by the society to leave their careers and become fulltime mothers. Individuals who opt to follow different paths find life increasingly difficult because of the cultural expectation. In contrast, the American society presents limited cultural expectations because of the multiple cultures making the American society. The diversity within the American culture remains the fundamental reason behind the absence of cultural expectations, and reliance on fundamental rights provided by the constitution. Question 2 There are numerous cultural values within the Japanese society forming the base for the cultural beliefs. Empathy and human relations remains a fundamental aspect of Japanese culture, and are regarded as part of life. The Japanese believe that human emotions like love and anger come from the gods; hence showing love to others and resulting relations become valued within the society. Indentify oneself with another – empathy, remains highly valued within the society. Children are taught that human fulfilment emanates from close relationships with others (Nathan, 116). The Japanese believe that success comes forth through combination of efforts from different people. Order and status could be identified as the second fundamental aspect of Japanese society. The value is based on the Japanese belief in the philosophy of Confucianism, which emphasizes on harmony with nature, displayed through an individual’s contribution to social order and proper behaviour. Tranquillity and happiness are the fundamental results sought through the value of order and status (Slater and Robson, 360). Understanding of one’s social status in Japan remains fundamental in establishing relationship with others. While the status of individuals forms an essential element within the Japanese society, goals and self remain the fundamental aspect behind the establishment of the status. The element of individuality within the society becomes immensely admired when the individuals becomes perceived as sincere. While individuality is admired, extreme cases become negatively perceived as selfishness; which becomes the opposite of the value of empathy and human relations. The combination of these fundamental values presents a satisfactory balance between the society, environments, and the individual (Doi, 57). These values remain significantly important to the society, as they have contributed to the continued peaceful progression of the Japanese nation. Question 3 The social structure could be defined as a combination of different social arrangements resulting from and causing actions by members of the society. Social institutions have a significant impact on the roles played by individuals within the society. The basic social institution for any individual remains the family; which determines the social status of the individuals (Lopez and Scott. 44). Within the Japanese culture, the family remains an essential part for defining individuals’ behaviours as children are taught on the importance of establishing harmonious coexistence with others. The Japanese believe that dependence on other individuals remains inevitable, and is part of human nature. This element of dependence, however, has been significantly identified as a major contributor toward the increasing cases of school bullying during the 21st century in Japan. The family and cultural systems remain fundamental components of the Japanese social structure and have been developed through centuries, and sufficiently induced into the individuals at early ages (Shimizu and LeVine, 121). The American society remains heavily dependent on social systems in defining the social structures within the country. The economic and legal systems have fundamentally transformed the social structure within the American society. Within many American schools, segregation remains a common element and a major concern for the social structures. Economic aspects have contributed significantly to the behaviours and lifestyles of many American citizens. As a multicultural system, the American social structure remains heavily dependent on the legal system in governing the roles of different individuals within the society. Question 4 The German society during the Nazi era depicts a society without regard for importance of human life, consequently lacking respect for human rights. Within the society, each person receives a generalised status based on his or her cultural association. Individuals perceived as of lower status become subjected to mistreatment, and the society expects them to humble and not reciprocate the behaviour of others. The Jews are continuously treated as slaves and second-generation citizens without any human rights. Social classes become clearly defined with individuals expected only to relate with others of their social class. The society lacks value for human relationships because of the differentiation displayed by the various social classes. The disregard for human rights becomes further expressed through the totalitarian rule imposed by the government upon the Jewish population in the society. The government’s totalitarian rule applies to the whole society irrespective of the cultural background. While the target for the mistreatment was the Jewish community, the lower class Germans endure a similar situation based on their economic class. The German soldiers working for the Nazi reside within the concentration camps together with their families, and must work for the government without choice (Boyne, 156). The Germans, however, are accorded limited freedom by the government to ensure they enforce government regulations. Through these little favours, the German soldiers fail to realise that they too remain under similar oppressive rule. The government effectively utilises German soldiers in implementing the oppressive rule within the society. This society disregards all aspects of human rights for societal members and other individuals residing within the society. References Boyne, John. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. New York: Random House, 2012. Print. Dale, Peter N. The Myth of Japanese Uniqueness. London: Routledge, 1990. Print. Doi, Takeo. The Anatomy of Dependence: Exploring an Area of the Japanese Psyche - Feelings of Indulgence. Tokyo: Kodansha International Ltd, 1973. Print. Lopez, J., and J. Scott. Social Structure. Philadelphia: Open University Press, 2000. Print. Nathan, John. Japan Unbound: A Volatile Nation’s Quest for Pride and Purpose. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2004. Print. Shimizu, Hidetada, and Robert A. LeVine. Japanese Frames of Mind: Cultural Perspectives on Human Development. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. Print. Slater, Stephanie, and Matthew J. Robson. “Cultural Interpretations of Destructive Acts and Trust in Japanese Supply Channel Relationships.” International Business Review 21.3 (2012): 357–368. Print.  Read More