1. When people think about a country’s culture, they often view it through a len
1. When people think about a country’s culture, they often view it through a lens of broad generalizations, perhaps even stereotypes. Why do you think this is the case? Why might cultural stereotypes be problematic in today’s globalized world?
2. Be sure to respond to at least one of your classmates’ posts.
CLASSMATES POST: TANYA
A few things that come to mind when addressing why country cultures are often viewed through a lens of broad generalizations are…
For the most part I feel as though many “people” live a sheltered life. Anything people are not familiar with or don’t want to be familiar with you often hear, “Each to their own”
People create stereotypes because they have limited exposure to the world (as far as traveling and seeing things first-hand)
People make assumptions because they reply on too much media for information.
And fourthly, I believe it can be mental issue because ones brain will make an assumption quickly which can lead to oversimplification and generalization.(A brain will naturally look for differences, and what one is familiar with or not) According to NCBI, this can lead to the oversimplification of a country’s culture, because people in general will focus on commonalities and overlook the diversity and individuality that exists within a culture (1).
Why cultural stereotypes can be problematic in today’s globalized world…
Lack of understanding. Cultural differences, poverty, etc., there is clearly not enough empathy given for those that cannot fit into a “perfect mold “ leaving one feeling like they don’t belong which can have negative effects on their wellbeing. Stereotypes can be problematic in today’s world because it can lead to discrimination, racism, and misunderstandings within certain groups of people. Furthermore, NCBI states, by having cultural stereotypes it can limit creativity (1). “Cultural stereotypes reduce innovation to set characteristics, making it difficult to see beyond the different stereotypes and recognize the potential for creativity and innovation. This can limit the development of new ideas and solutions, which can have negative effects on social and economic development” (NCBI, 1).