Cultural Diversity Final Presentation

Reflection on the Cultural Diversity Course

The cultural diversity course is really great for many reasons because it is a course that makes a person think of their surrounding in present times and its effects on themselves and how cultural elements affect each other. Another reason is also how the course if even taken before or after a person is working or before working it still has its benefits, like if taken before it will prepare the person on how to think and interact with a person of different cultural backgrounds, and if taken after working, it will make a person think of the details in one’s own culture and other cultural elements like sexism or ableism to name a few.

My three most favorite classes in this course were :

1.    The disability class because it gives that however the future of a person with a disability looks grim, there is always hope with patience and perseverance.

2.    The outsourced movie class because even though it was an actual movie, it actually teaches of a different culture and made me think of ways to interact with different cultures.

3.    The class when the ‘ISMs’ were taught because it made me think of the finer points in my life and how the different type ISMs affected them and I only realized it when was explained in class.

   I would like to say because of the nature of the course which helps a person to better interact with the outside world and understand cultural differences, it is better for this course to be taught at a later age like for example 23 or 24 because it will give the person to study this course thought material to better understand this course.

    I’m honored to say that I learned many things from this course but to say the most important lesson is this course gave me the ability to think of the small things in life that have a big impact which I learned in time by going through this course in ways of interaction between all the elements of this course.

   By the nature of the country of UAE which is very culturally diverse it would be a great idea to establish a harmony day because it would bolster the morale and pride of the many different background people in this country which can be held one day before the national to show the significance of this day and hope that one day this day might happen and I would approve.

   To conclude what I have to say about this course is that with the right mind and will this course can be a stepping stone to achieve world that will be accepting of each other and a move toward peace because of how when differences between people are settled troubles in the world are much reduced and will benefit all.

Outsourced Reflection

Todd’s journey began because of the individualist society in America, specifically because of Todd’s boss. Because Todd’s boss preferred his own gain and benefit to the benefit of his team by outsourcing his employee’s jobs. When Todd travelled to India, he was surprised by how the Indian community by how they function with different rules and values which shown when even a cow can be so near to the call center and how each person in the community value each other which was shown by when even a the fine hotel establishment were contributing to the poor in whatever way they can which he accepted when he himself adopted the same habit, another example of this is how when Todd’s boss came to check up on him and they came to see the call center in a mess and flooded, the employees could have left him to his own troubles, but because of the Indian collectivist community, they took it upon themselves to get him out of trouble which shows how even Todd, a foreigner was a part of their community. Eventually even Todd felt the same feeling when he felt it hard to tell them of their own jobs being outsourced. And even though they lost their jobs they celebrated instead of blaming Todd which shows how in the end Todd was close to them

Ethnocentrism

The three most famous examples of ethnocentrism from history are:

1.     European Imperialism: Starting in the 16^th century nations deemed themselves better than the rest of the world and tried to conquer because the European nations though they were the true masters of the world.

2.     The Mandate of Heaven:  A system of government that in ended in the 19^th century where the Chinese had received divine favor and deemed themselves better than the rest of the world and the Emperor was called the son of heaven and he could exert heavy very harsh control  over his people and anyone he deemed unworthy.

3.     Nazi Germany: The most infamous example is of Nazi Adolf Hitler who hated Jews and any person who was not in the image of Germans of blue hair and blue eyes and ordered for them to torture and massacred by the millions which was tragic and extreme example of ethnocentrism.

The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare portrays an intense disagreement between the Jew, Shylock, and the Christian, Antonio. Antonio constantly scorns Shylock for being a Jew, which ultimately culminates in one of the most famous speeches of all time where Shylock asks:

"If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? /If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?"

The "us" that Shylock is referring to are Jews.

    A country that depicts to be ethnocentric today is The United States of America because they believe themselves superior than other countries and therefore meddle in many countries even if not needed. Even their film industry always depict America as the strongest and best and advanced in all their movies and show other countries to be backwards like the movie transformers when they showed Qatar to just be a small village in the desert with just one telephone to use and really poor.

How many slaves do you have working for you?

My score was that I have 32 slaves working for me.

I am not sure how I got what this score which is surprising because I don’t feel like I have that many slaves working for me. But I believe that’s it’s the daily things we do and have in our everyday life that was somehow contributed by slaves working to make them like clothes or electronics which I have not really thought about before. And by slaves it could even be cheap labors that are kept because they do not have any other choice but work for companies that exploit them.

Emirati Culture Film

Section: CED

Group Members’ Names

Name	ID
Khaled AlMarzooqi	H00280538
Thamer AlAmeri	H00280537
Khalifa AlHosani	H00018119
Salem Matar	H00280879
Muhsin AlKurbi	H00280539

Disability

Man who designs cars with his feet

https://www.upworthy.com/this-guy-is-going-to-show-you-one-of-the-most-important-things-you-can-teach-your-kids-10?c=cur1

Autistic Girl Expresses Unimaginable Intelligence

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNZVV4Ciccg

Stephen Hawking

http://www.biography.com/people/stephen-hawking-9331710

My brother

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ_i3yioHlo

     ·Write a reflection about what you have learnt by watching the videos about people with disabilities.

      I have been astonished by these learned how mind can overcome matter which is the body. That with the right support that gives them the confidence to do what they want in life that will let people with disabilities break from the thoughts in people of how people with disabilities should be, which are staying at home without any fulfillment. It’s amazing how the power thought in a society can influence he individual to better either for themselves or for their society.

       · Give some examples of how things are changing for people with disabilities in the UAE.

       People with disabilities in the UAE are getting more attention as time goes by for a small example many places like banks outlets and building have designated area for them. Another national example is that in 2004, a draft law was submitted to grant and protect the rights of people with disabilities in the areas of employment, healthcare, education and access to facilities and services. An equal right without discrimination is the underlying goal.

Brown eyes, Blue eyes

1.      Where, when and with whom did this experiment take place?

The experiment took place in Riceville community elementary school, Iowa in the year 1970 by Miss Jane Elliot and children in the 3^rd grade.

2.      Why is the year 1968 important in the history of Civil Rights/Racial Discrimination in the USA?

Because the Civil Rights Act of 1968, is a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that provided for equal housing opportunities regardless of race, creed, or national origin.

3.      Describe the experiment.

The experiment was about how in the big picture humankind perceive their reality and how if perceived wrongly can lead to prejudice and eventually violence against fellow humans who even might have been friends recently.

4.      What were the results?

It made the children feel in their own skin how it felt to be discriminated against and once they realized that there weren't any real difference, accepted themselves and their friends no matter the color of their eyes.

5.      Your observations.

I observed that in the beginning of the experiment how even the children didn't want to accept the ‘’facts’’ Miss Elliot was saying was untrue but how eventually she convinced them of it which just shows how the role of the mentor and guide can influence a child during their upbringing.

Quiz 2 – What are Multiculturalism, Assimilation and Acculturation?

True or False? If FALSE, write the TRUE answer.

1. A Multicultural society can be described as a society with a single set of values.	False A Multicultural society can be described as a society with a multiple set of values.
2. A “salad bowl” represents varied and separate cultures.	True
3.    One aspect of Multiculturalism is respecting different cultures.	True
4.       Cultural Diversity can be represented by a “melting pot”	False Assimilation can be represented by a “melting pot”
5.       Acculturation means learning the culture of your birth country.	False Acculturation means learning the culture of your host country.

Define in your own words:

     1.“Melting Pot”: When people of different culture immigrate to a place to form an integrated society.

     2. “Salad Bowl”: When people of different cultures immigrate to a place but keep their own cultural traits.

     3.“Assimilation”: To come together with the dominant society.

     4. “Acculturation”: For cultural traits to rub off on an immigrant from a different culture in time.

     5. “Enculturation”: To instill from a child’s birth the surrounding and accepted culture.

Complete the sentence with words from the text:

   Acculturation often results in changes to culture, customs and social institutions, as well as changes in food, clothing and language.

Give a synonym:

varied	diverse	respect	honor	dominate	control
multiple	many	central	main	interacting	collaborate
specific	exact	represents	Show	adopt	accept

Give the opposite:

varied	similar	respect	disrespect	gradually	instantly
multiple	single	common	rare	dominant group	Minority  group
specific	random	contrasted with	Similar with	adopt	abandon

Culture and Personality in Anthropology

Read the section about Culture and Personality in Anthropology. Answer these questions about that section:-

      1.  Define “Anthropology” in your own words

The study of humankind relating to cultural and social behaviors.

      2. What do you understand by “socialization of children” Give an example

To instill children with the accepted social behaviors of the culture

      3. Read this sentence again and give examples of childrearing in different societies and cultures: “socialization creates personality patterns. It helps shape people’s emotions, thoughts, behaviors, cultural values and norms to fit into and function as productive members in the surrounding human society. The study of culture and personality demonstrates that different socialization practices such as childrearing in different societies (cultures) result in different personality types.”

The simplest example is that during infancy in our society to try and talk Arabic.

Another example is that a child is born in our culture for the mother with child to stay with family as much as possible to familiarize as much as possible and respect their elders

      4.Read this sentence again and say to what extent you agree: “all humans are the same when born, but childrearing in different societies causes deviations in behavior and personalities from each other.”

I agree to an extent but I have to say everyone is an individual and develop their own sense of individuality and freedom from each other and also a child gets traits that are already written in their DNA, but I wouldn’t be sure because I cannot try this theory.

      5.Reflect on the reading above. Can you see a link between your culture and your personality? Think about that in relation to your own culture first, and then think about personality and culture in a different society. Reflect. Give examples.

Of course I can relate myself to my culture in like how the feeling to be close to my family and respect my elders no matter the reason to name a few. But if for example I was born in American society I would have been encouraged to leave home the time I am able to support myself and depend on myself no matter to family if you could not .

Individual Reflection

     1.What is Culture?

     Culture is the defining aspects to certain ethnic race concerning Language,                beliefs, food, habits and even music.

     2. What is Cultural Diversity?

It is when people of different cultures come together in a place and share their respective cultures with each other.

     3.What are the advantages of Cultural Diversity?

First of all to live in a culturally diverse environment is beneficial because it will teach everyone about peoples different lives. While I was growing up, I had friends from different cultural backgrounds which helped me now as I grew up to better communicate and understand the different people I came into contact with at work and places like banks and hospitals.

Another reason why cultural diversity is good is because of the different aspects other cultures like food, for example burgers from western culture and noodles from eastern cultures. Another aspect is music where every culture has developed their own unique style and feels for it which can be shared in a culturally diverse environment.

Quiz 1 - What is Cultural Diversity?

Read the UNESCO report. True or False? If FALSE, write the TRUE answer.

1. At least 6000 different languages exist in the world.	True
2. Over 200 million people live outside the country where they were born.	False 175 million people live outside the country where their birth in
3. One aspect of Human Rights is respecting different cultures.	True
4. Cultural Diversity means a lack of respect for freedom of thought.	False Cultural Diversity means respect of freedom of thought
5. Cultural Diversity can make a society stronger.	True

Vocabulary  practice. Define in your own words:

      1. Heterogeneous: To have different parts 

      2. Plurality: Large quantity.

      3. Migration: To travel and settle down in foreign country.

      4. Fundamental: Basic and nessacary

      5. Collective strength:  The combined power of a thing or people.

Now read the rest of the article, and answer these questions by researching on the internet.

      1. The article mentions food as an example of Cultural Diversity. Can you think of something else which could add interest and richness in a culturally diverse country?

         ·      Sports: Football / Cricket.

         ·      Apparel/clothes: Kandora / shirt& jeans.

         ·      Music: Chinese / English.

      2. Name three ways in which people of different cultures can help a country to function in the new global economy.

   1.    Different cultures lead o different ways of thought and problem solving.

   2.    The use of different languages facilitates easier communication.

   3.    Diverse social connections to different cultures.

      3. From the internet, in relation to Cultural Diversity, find a picture and a definition of “Melting pot” and “Garden salad”.

    ·         Melting pot: heterogeneous society becoming more homogeneous, the different elements "melting together" into a harmonious whole with a common culture

    ·         Garden salad: Cultures are juxtaposed — like salad ingredients — but do not merge into a single homogeneous culture. Each culture keeps its own distinct qualities.

4.  Britain today is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. Look on the internet and find out which nationalities make up the “ethnic minority population of over 4 million”.

        ·     Irish Traveller/Gypsy.

        ·     Asian or Asian British: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese.

        ·     Black or Black British

       5. Australia is another of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. The University of Melbourne has a policy on Cultural Diversity. Read the two paragraphs and summarize them in your own words.

That the University of Melboure will respect cultural diversity in all its aspects to create an environment to enhance cross-cultural enrichment for all who attend, be they staff or students, for it will be a strong asset for the University.

Vocabulary practice. Give the opposite:

Varied	Homogeneous	Increasingly	Decreasingly	Respecting	Disrespecting
Strength	weakness	Improving	Worsening	Inclusive	Exclusive
Majority	minority	Tolerance	Intolerance	Equality	Inequality

Vocabulary practice. Give a synonym:

Diverse	Different	Creative	Inventive	Uniqueness	Distinctive
Dignity	Honor	Integrated	Combined	Asset	Valuable
Global	international	Benefit	advantage