Define "Ethnocentristic"

It's Only an Umbrella!

I am only 10 days into my intercultural training at CIT and we are being challenged to investigate or evaluate every cultural standard I have ever grown up with.

As westerns we tend to be ethnocentistic, sifting and processing information through our own cultural experiences. The notion that we are in some way superior, more sophisticated or correct is the essence of ethnocentristic thinking. We demonstrate this idea by making conscience and subconscienc comparisions all day long. We believe "our ways" are the ultimate standard by which to measure (compute or process) daily life around us. If it doesn' measure up to our standard, we consider it as inferior. Example; How often have you been in an unfamiliar cultural setting and thought, "that seems weird" or "Well, we don't do things that way!" We are all a product of our cultures or our life experiences. The tempation is to make judgement of others based on what we think is good or bad, according to our individual experiences. The goal in cross-cultural training is to begin seeing things through the eyes of others. Their cultures, for the most part are not necessarily "good" or "bad", but instead, "just different" from ours. For those humble few who believe they are not a victim of their cultural processing style, let me share a short story with you.

My epiphany took place at a Wal-Mart of all places! An unexpected down pour of rain caught me unprepared and soaking wet. Wishing to be more prepared for the next storm, I zoom off to Walmart between classe to buy an umbrella. Being the task oriented person that I am, I engaged in a brief interaction with a Wal-Mart employee for the purpose of locating the umbrellas. With that goal locked in mind, I quickly moved towards the correct isle, waving in a friendly manor to a classmate whom caught my eye a long the way. "Hey, there they are! " (not referring to my classmates… but to the umbrellas!) ....Awesome, they are exactly where the Walmart lady said they would be." Now I needed to choose one that isn’t too expensive or too big, it needs to fit into my suitcase for the trip home. Next, determined to see if the umbrella works, without the slightest hesitation I pop it open. I'm careful to smile at the sales lady near by and not poke her with the umbrella. It certainly seemed sturdy enough and not too big. Okay, mission accomplished and I might add it was purchased in record time! I am now the happy owner of a new umbrella and in the process I have managed to violate almost every cultural standard of the people group I hope to work with!

Beliefs determine what a person values and their values are acted out through their behavior. If I were to re-play the same shopping scenario, using non-american cultural values, my trip to the store may have been quite different.

First, not all cultures value the idea of being prepared ahead of time. Most Americans like being prepared. Maybe it's due to all the Boy Scout/Girl Scout training we had in our younger years! Surprizingly, a large number of people in the “two thirds world” do not display a crisis oriention. The idea of planning ahead for a rain storm or any other future problems are usually avoided. They tend to live on a day to day continuum, placing a higher value on what is currently happening, not on future possibilites. This might seem odd to us, but then again I am being challenged to consider that cultures are neither superior nor inferior-just different!

My western culture places a very high value on "future". We spend much time pondering our future. We want to know the future weather forcasts, the future of the stock markets, the future housing industry. We want to know what is on sale next Tuesday and worry about the future of our children!



Unlike other cultures, we westerns also tend to be more information driven, independent and production (or task) oriented. Although an extremely simplistic; my short trip to Wal-Mart was very good example of my western cultural values. It was very a task! There was a goal in mind! I independently prepared a head of time for the next unexpected rain storm by purchasing MY OWN umbrella. Typically westerners consider their individual agendas to be more important than the collective group's need. Other cultures tend to be more interdependent. Barrowing an umbrella from a family member, friend or neighbor is expected. Some cultures are also more group oriented. Purchasing the larger umbrella instead of the smallest one means more can use it at the same time! Needing to find an umbrella to fit in my suitcase , because they would NEVER consider taking it home, the umbrella is not "yours" it belongs to everyone! Also in other culture around the world, arriving to an event SOAKING WET is not a big issue. Many people are not as preoccupied with their physical appearance as we are here in the states?

This next thought is also hard one to swallow, however it is true! Not all cultures value “time” the same way we do! We love our buzzers and beepers, timers and clocks. We scribble in appointment books and enter data on our PDA. We like to keep track of time and are frustrated when we loose it! We reward those who “arrive on time” and those who are able to “pack a lot into” their time.

In many parts of the world people favor the “process of an event” and the “building of a relationship” over the keeping of a schedule! For them, it's all about relationships. In some parts of the world a "Hello" greeting can easily take 30 to 40 minutes. This is because greetings should include a pleasant conversation in which all members of the other family are enquired about! In my culture sometimes we avoid people we recognize when in public places because we don't have time to visit, we have a "task" to accomplish! For example; Have you ever found yourself at the grocery store and after spotting someone you knew, you pretend you don't see them or avoid that isle completely? Why?

I have been guilty at times of valuing "my time" or "the task" over the relationship. This is shameful for me to admit, but it is true. My thoughts at times were, "Hey, there is -------. Oh no, if I get talking to them, I'll never get back to work on time". In other parts of the world, not taking the time to stop and engage in a lengthy conversation would be considered very offensive! In my culture smiling or waving from a distance (as I did in the Wal-Mart store) is a friendly, three seconds long, form of acknowledgment.

THIS ALL SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF FUSS FOR AN UMBRELLA! You're right, and that's my point! Even the simplest scenarios, when processed through different cultural filters, can become complex, wth potential for significant misunderstandings or judgments! All of us are products of our cultures. Agian -this does not mean one is inferior or superior, it's just a difference! If I intend to work within multiple cultures successfully, I will need to practice “un-learning” some of my american ways.

There is so much I am learning during my training at CIT. For now, my only prayer is to remain humble, teachable and sensitive to others.

Kathy