Western Culture – Part 2

AWARE Center

History

• American - Thanksgiving• British – Bonfire Night/Guy Fawkes• European – Bastille Day (France)

• Effect of the World Wars I & II• Women begin to work.• British – Queues, rationing, bombs• American - immigration

Social Status

• Background • Experience • Outlook on life • Opportunities • Housing • Community

• Aristocrat• Upper Class• Middle Class• Working Class

• Race

Equality?

• How they look at men/women. They like to think women equal, but actually they’re not treated equally in many respects, work etc.

Family

• Small, average = 2 children• High divorce rate / unstable upbringing• Usually leave home at 18• Expected to be independent from 18• Grandparents live alone / old peoples homes• They will think nothing of introducing you

to their family (wife, daughters etc)

Dress

• Although Westerners dress according to the situation… Dress shows an individuals culture, beliefs, personality, mood.

Lifestyle

• Alcohol• Dating (differences over the last 50 years)• Leisure time

Morals

• Don’t expect them to have your morals.• Their morals don’t necessarily follow their

beliefs.

Beliefs

• Christianity• Judaism• Atheist• Hinduism

• Science

Superstitions

• Horoscopes• Friday 13th

• Weddings• New Year

Celebrations

• Religious = Christmas / Easter• Cultural = Valentines, Mother’s /Father’s

Day, Thanksgiving• New Year

Work

• Service Industries (administration, finance, education, healthcare, tourism)

• Factories

The Arts

• Poets• Playwrights• Novelists• Painters• Musicians

Hobbies

• Sport• Gardening• Reading• Painting• Bird watching

Western Youth

• Dance / Drug culture

How 2 learn about a culture

• Watch their TV programmes (comedies, soaps)

• Read their children’s stories• Learn about the geography of the country• Learn about their cultural holidays • Eat their food• Know their flags

Be yourself

• Don’t try to be too Westernized.• Show them your culture.

Humour

• They enjoy a joke• Don’t laugh at them• Cultural

Thank You