According to culturosity.com, cultural awareness is "the foundation of communication ... it involves ... standing back from ourselves and becoming aware of our cultural values, beliefs and perceptions".
We have been exposed to various people and their cultures through the widespread use of technology. However, we still lack an of understanding other people's core values and why they participate in certain activities, so we miss out on making new friends and trying to understand people who may be nothing like us.
Because of this, I decided to write an article on the four reasons why you should become more culturally aware.
4. Misinterpretations can hinder potential relationships.
For example, when some people see a woman in a hijab, they are either immediately frightened because they think she is a terrorist or they do not understand the meaning behind her public appearance. What if the woman was dressed like the average American citizen? Would you be afraid of her then? If people took the time to understand how wearing the hijab is part of a culture and a religion, then they would not assume a negative stereotype about every person they see who may wear a hijab or any other religious outerwear. If people took the time to step outside their comfort zone and ask the right questions, they could potentially gain a friendship.
3. It broadens your knowledge of the world and can lead to opportunities.
When people learn about other cultures, it opens a door way to new opportunities. For example, I attended an international holiday dinner in 2013. It was so interesting to see people from all over the world coming together to eat a traditional American holiday dinner. They also shared information about how their families celebrate holidays and the typical food they cook for their families. If I did not attend this event or research the specific countries represented there, I would not know as much about certain parts of the world or their cuisine. By attending this event, I met so many new people and it opened a few doors for me throughout my college years.
2. You can learn new skills and behaviors from other cultures.
Learning about other cultures can lead to learning a new skill or understanding of a behavior pattern. An example of this would be learning how to conduct business in Asian countries. In some cultures, but mostly Asian cultures, they like to build a relationship before choosing to invest in your business. This can become a learned behavior pattern for someone who wants to do business globally. In order to be successful in global businesses, you need to understand the culture and learn how to work with the people and not against them. Therefore, it is beneficial to learn a behavior or skill because it could help you in the workplace.
1. You can appreciate and celebrate diversity because it is beautiful.
Diversity is what makes the world so unique. Each country has its own culture and values; it makes each and every culture interesting to learn about. To be honest, there are no drawbacks or negative repercussions to understanding other cultures and celebrating diversity. When you take the time to learn about other people, it will broaden your view and you will learn how to appreciate your own culture and other cultures in a whole new way.
