Culture is the shared language of a community, the holidays that are celebrated, and the religion that is practiced. Cultivating a positive, accepting, culturally diverse society allows us to embrace multiculturalism and reevaluate old beliefs.
We reflect on what we see as normal or abnormal—like eating a bagel on the way to the Metro—and challenge ourselves to see the world from new perspectives. Sociologists 1 believe that multiculturalism is defined by the following actions:. By immersing ourselves in other cultures beyond our own, we can learn about each other—where people came from, what their traditions are, and what they struggle with as a community. It also forces us to criticize assumptions held about our own daily life and practices, encouraging incredible personal growth.
Who knows, maybe you'll even learn something new about your own culture in the process. It also gives you cultural awareness and acceptance, which can help break down cultural barriers while interacting with people of different backgrounds.
Beyond gaining knowledge about a certain culture, you can become a better ally to a community you want to support by:. Increasing your cultural sensitivity about one culture helps you be more mindful of other cultures too, and may inspire you to learn more about different communities in the future.
It also makes you want to be more open and share your culture with others who are interested. Cross-cultural experiences help you be more aware and cognizant of the way you act—from the things you think to the words you say, to the clothes you wear. You could try: Think about what assumptions you make about your friends, peers, people you work with and strangers you see walking down the street.
What assumptions do you make about people from the same background as you? Learning about different cultures can be a great way to develop an understanding of cultural diversity. You could try: Check out some foreign films on SBS or Netflix, attend a local food festival, or search for some online resources. Try and get to know someone from a different cultural background better. Just being curious and open-minded can be helpful. Remember to treat them just like you would anyone else, and don't think of them only as a way to get to know about other cultural backgrounds.
One of the best ways to experience and understand other cultures is to actually live among them. You could try: Check out some virtual travel and history experiences from the comfort of your own home. You could try: Practise being empathetic towards the people around you and be mindful of your thoughts about others.
Try not to compare or judge. Learn more about how you can become more accepting. One of the biggest difficulties to overcome in understanding cultural differences is making judgements based on one opinion. You can develop sympathy with others. There are times when traditions do need to be discarded. However, it might actually be some of the trappings of your own culture that need shedding.
When you learn about other cultures, you learn that there is more than one approach to life. You also learn that your approach might not always be the best way. Perhaps the cultural heritage of someone else can add another dimension to your life.
Learning about other cultures allows you to move outside your own bubble, and find new ways of thinking, and new ways of approaching problems. With technology making the world ever-smaller, and with the ease of travel between countries, chances are that you will meet someone with a different cultural heritage at some point. Being able to tolerate others, and not berate them because of their differences is not only a big part of living in a global community, but it is also the mark of a well-rounded person.
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