Reflection # 5 EDF 2085

Shaniece N. Jeffers
EDF 2085
September 15, 2009
Reflection #5
Prof. Joseph McNair

What is culture? Culture can be defined as the characteristics of an individual, that helps define who they are. People are mostly distinguish by their culture because of where they came from. There are different cultures that are made up of values and beliefs that most individuals or ethnic group follow. Basically people live their lives among their culture in order to distance themselves from one another. Culture can also bring about and individual behavior, whether it’s positive or negative.
Culture has many different values that are attached to them; some cultures enable us to assist others in situations. Some cultures see things very different that’s why there are many conflicts amongst certain ethnic groups. Society has viewed culture to be sometimes a bad thing, because it can make or break an individual values that were presented to them. It is true that culture amongst different groups can change an individual, but we have to realize that’s what that person was taught within their home or society. There are different norms that each culture may go by and if you disrespect its values, most people sometimes face exile from that culture or their families.
Growing up in a Caribbean culture is quite different from an American culture because most Caribbean families feel as though Americans are more restful with their children. Most Americans let their children talk back to them and hit them and they just admire their children’s behavior verses a Caribbean family that would slap or beat their kids for talking back to them. That’s how most of society sees American culture as the easy way of living and no hardship. Other cultures allow their kids to get married to older men, because they feel that their child is ready for adult life. Most of the time the children don’t even want to do it, but they really don’t have a choice. That I why our children today are becoming more and more independent, because they feel that they have to do what their parents or culture forces them to do.
Some cultures believe in marriage before sex, and some could care less. In the Caribbean sex before marriage is very unacceptable, you are sometimes viewed in your house as an outcast because you didn’t follow your parent’s rules or culture values. Now days it is very common to have sex before marriage because young people are ignoring norms that were taught to them within their household. Kids are having kids, and most parents feel as though society is to blame for all this unacceptable behavior. People need to understand that society and culture can’t mold an individual, it can only help shape who that person wants to be or do.
I know that cultures are different, but the most interesting thing is having two people come from a whole different culture. That’s really a big deal today, because most people are stepping out of their own culture to find love. So there for their children are being taught two different cultures and sometimes that can confuse a child in society in helping to see what cultural group they belong to. I was brought up with two different cultures, but I know what I am, so therefore I don’t have an issue with what culture. As you grow older you will find out more about your culture, so that will help you understand more about what culture really is; and what it stands for.