Cultural Differences?

Or, are we really that different?

To all who took the proxemics survey (between December 2007 and
June 2009) a warm thank you! We are in the process of analyzing the
data. Also, the best copy of this paper on cultural differences may be
found as a PDF (Appendix I) under my new book, Party-Directed
Mediation: Helping Others Resolve Differences, which you may
download free here.--Gregorio
In 1993, I had my first opportunity to visit Russia as a representative of
the University of California. I was there to provide some technical
assistance in the area of agricultural labor management. "Russians are a
very polite people," I had been tutored before my arrival. One of my
interpreters, once I was there, explained that a gentleman will pour the
limonad (type of juice) for the ladies and show other courtesies.
Toward the end of my three week trip I was invited by my young
Russian host and friend Nicolai Vasilevich and his lovely wife Yulya out
to dinner. At the end of a wonderful meal Yulya asked if I would like a
banana. I politely declined and thanked her, and explained I was most
satisfied with the meal. But the whole while my mind was racing: "What
do I do? Do I offer her a banana even though they are as close to her as
they are to me? What is the polite thing to do?"
"Would you like a banana?" I asked Yulya.
"Yes," she smiled, but made no attempt to take any of the three bananas
in the fruit basket. "What now?" I thought.
"Which one would you like?" I fumbled.
"That one," she pointed at one of the bananas. So all the while thinking
about Russian politeness I picked the banana Yulya had pointed at and
peeled it half way and handed it to her. Smiles in Yulya and Nicolai's
faces told me I had done the right thing. After this experience I spent
much time letting the world know that in Russia, the polite thing is to
peel the bananas for the ladies. Sometime during my third trip I was
politely disabused of my notion.
"Oh no, Grigorii Davidovich," a Russian graciously corrected me. "In
Russia, when a man peels a banana for a lady it means he has a romantic
interest in her." How embarrassed I felt. And here I had been proudly
telling everyone about this tidbit of cultural understanding.
Certain lessons have to be learned the hard way. Some well meaning
articles and presentations on cultural differences have a potential to do
more harm than good and may not be as amusing. They present, like my
bananas, too many generalizations or quite a distorted view.
Some often-heard generalizations about the Hispanic culture include:
Hispanics need less personal space, make less eye contact, touch each
other more in normal conversation, and are less likely to participate in a
meeting. Generalizations are often dangerous, and especially when
accompanied by recommendations such as: move closer when talking to
Hispanics, make more physical contact, don't expect participation, and so
on.
Here is an attempt to sort out a couple of thoughts on cultural
differences. My perspective is that of a foreign born-and-raised Hispanic
who has now lived over two decades in the United States and has had
much opportunity for international travel and exchange.
Commonality of humankind
Differences between people within any given nation or culture are much
greater than differences between groups. Education, social standing,
religion, personality, belief structure, past experience, affection shown in
the home, and a myriad of other factors will affect human behavior and
culture.
Sure there are differences in approach as to what is considered polite and
appropriate behavior both on and off the job. In some cultures "yes"
means, "I hear you" more than "I agree." Length of pleasantries and
greetings before getting down to business; level of tolerance for being
around someone speaking a foreign (not-understood) language;
politeness measured in terms of gallantry or etiquette (e.g., standing up
for a woman who approaches a table, yielding a seat on the bus to an
older person, etc.); and manner of expected dress are all examples of
possible cultural differences and traditions.
In México it is customary for the arriving person to greet the others. For
instance, someone who walks into a group of persons eating would say
provecho (enjoy your meal). In Chile, women often greet both other
women and men with a kiss on the cheek. In Russia women often walk
arm in arm with their female friends. Paying attention to customs and
cultural differences can give someone outside that culture a better chance
of assimilation or acceptance. Ignoring these can get an unsuspecting
person into trouble.
There are cultural and ideological differences and it is good to have an
understanding about a culture's customs and ways. Aaron Pun, a
Canadian ODCnet correspondent, wrote: "In studying cross cultural
differences, we are not looking at individuals but a comparison of one
ethnic group against others. Hence, we are comparing two bell curves
and generalization cannot be avoided." Another correspondent explained
the human need to categorize. True and true, but the danger comes when
we act on some of these generalizations, especially when they are based
on faulty observation. Acting on generalizations about such matters as
eye contact, personal space, touch, and interest in participation can have
serious negative consequences.
Cross-cultural and status barriers
Sometimes, observations about cultural differences are based on
scientific observation (see, for instance, Argyle, Michael, Bodily
Communication, 2nd ed., Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1988). Argyle cites
several studies on non-verbal communications and culture (see pp. 57-
61). According to the studies cited, Latin Americans make more eye
contact, face each other more, and touch more (p. 58) when they speak.
Strong eye contact used by Hispanics goes along with my observations.
If Hispanics face each other more, it is probably because of the need for
eye contact. I do not believe that Hispanics touch more, with the
exception of some very specific social contexts, one of them being
between dating or married couples. One of the studies cited more contact
among Latin American couples (p. 60). Another study showed that Latin
Americans stand closer than North Americans (something that goes
contrary to my observations) but that there are regional variations among
countries (p.60). Argyle asserts that there are few genuine cross-cultural
studies in the area of spatial behavior. Interestingly, yet another study (p.
60) showed that "middle-class Americans actually touched quite a lot"
and that the USA is more of a contact culture than people think.
Much of the differences in culture have to do with food preparation,
music, and what each culture considers politeness. Food preparation, for
instance, can be quite different in various cultures. One farmer could not
understand why his workers did not attend a specially prepared end-of-
season meal. The meal was being prepared by the farm owners. Instead,
when the farm operators provide the beef, pork or other meat but
delegate the actual preparation to the workers who can spice up their
own way, such a celebration meal can be a great success. Similarly, a
diary farmer found out that his Mexican employees were not too excited
about getting ground beef as a perk. Instead, they would have preferred
the cow's head, tongue, brains, as well as other cuts of meat that were not
ground up. With world globalization, even tastes in food and music are
rapidly changing, however.
When I came to the US, for a long time I was also guilty of broad
generalizations about those born in the US. While I have not conquered
this disagreeable human inclination, I feel I am beginning to see the way.
Often, observations on cultural differences are based on our own
weakness and reflect our inability to connect with that culture. As a
young man I found myself in an almost entirely Anglo-Saxon
community in New Canaan, Connecticut. I remember that on several
occasions I felt my personal space was being invaded and wondered how
Anglo-Saxon men could stand being so close to each other. After all
these years, I still feel uncomfortable sitting as close to other men as
often dictated by chair arrangements in the US. I am not the exception
that proves the rule. Other foreign-born immigrants from México and
Iran have mentioned feeling the same way.
Jill Heiken, an HRnet correspondent, explained her learning process this
way: "I've taught ESL to many many different nationalities and lived in
rooming situations with people from all nations and lived in Japan and
Cambodia... it took me a long time not to generalize and now when I
hear others doing so... I know they are just beginning to 'wade in the
river,' so to speak, of intercultural relations."
I now live in California and have been married for over 20 years to a
Californian (of Northern European descent). It is sort of funny because
my wife now realizes that I need to have eye contact while we talk. If
she is reading, she has learned that I stop talking if I don't have eye
contact with her. I have had several people tell me, when I stop talking
because I no longer have eye contact, "Keep talking, I'm listening." My
kids still give me a bad time about the year my mother came to visit and
we drove to Yosemite National Park. They were all panicked because I
kept looking at my mother as I drove. They felt I was not looking at the
road enough and thought we would drive off the mountain. I have a very
high need for eye contact.
Besides being a native Chilean, I have met, taught, been taught, roomed
with, studied with, worked for, worked with, been supervised by,
supervised, and been friends with Hispanics from almost every Spanish-
speaking country in the world. I have interviewed and done research
among hundreds of Hispanic farm workers and have noticed no
difficulties with poor eye contact or invasion of personal space. Nor have
I ever had difficulties in these areas with people from other nations or
cultures.
Strong eye contact is partially a factor of shyness; partly a measure of
how safe a person feels around another. If those who have written about
poor eye contact on the part of Hispanics would walk down a mostly
minority neighborhood at dusk, they may also find themselves looking at
the ground and making less eye contact.
Cross-cultural observations can easily be tainted and contaminated by
other factors. Perceived status differences can create barriers between
cultures and even within organizations.
For instance, farm managers, instructors, and foreign volunteers (through
universities, peace corps, farmer-to-farmer programs, etc.) may appear to
have a status differential with those farm workers, students, and
technical assistance recipients they are working with. A person with this
status differential will have to show, by word and action, that she values
the potential contributions of those she works with. Until this happens
she will only obtain compliance but never commitment.
At times, then, it may appear that some workers or students, especially
when there are social or ethnic differences, do not participate as easily.
This is not because they do not have ideas to contribute, but rather,
because they may need a little convincing that their ideas would be
valued. Once this floodgate of ideas is opened, it will be difficult to stop
it. In some sub-cultures, once a person has given an opinion, others are
unlikely to contradict it. That is why some organizations ask their least
senior employees to give an opinion first, as few will want to contradict
the more season employees. Setting up the discussion from the beginning
as one where one desires to hear all sort of different opinions, can be
very fruitful both in the workplace and in the classroom.
Americans have been historically welcome in most of Hispanic America.
With a few exceptions they are looked up to, resulting in deferential
treatment. This deferential and polite treatment should not be confused
for weakness, lack of interest, and the like. Studies conducted some
years ago showed African American children preferred White dolls. This
has been changing as African Americans are less likely to discount their
own contributions (for an excellent discussion on contributions see
Roger Brown's Social Psychology: The Second Edition, Free Press,
1986). I believe Hispanics are also valuing their contributions more than
in the past, and less subservient behaviors will be observed. Only
through equality of respect between races and nations can we reach
positive international relations in this global economy (as well as peace
at home). Cultural and ethnic stereotypes do little to foster this type of
equality.
Breaking through status barriers can take time and effort. The amount of
exertion will depend on many factors, including the skill of the manager
(teacher, volunteer) on the one hand, and how alienated and
disenfranchised from the main stream the person he is trying to reach
feels.
For example, in East Africa, a non-Black manager speaks to the Black
African accountant and the accountant makes little eye contact and
responds with submissive "Yes, Sirs" regardless of what he hears. When
the manager exits, this same accountant makes plenty of eye contact and
is full of ideas and creativity when dealing with those of his same and
different race.
In another example, an adult class of Hispanic farm workers says
nothing to their Anglo-Saxon instructor over a three day period--even
though they do not understand what is being taught. This same group of
farm workers, when given a chance to be active participants in the
learning process, become, in the words of a second Anglo-Saxon
instructor at the same junior college, "the best class of students I have
ever taught."
In yet another case, an Anglo-Saxon adult educator finds that Hispanics
are apt to listen politely but not ask questions. He advises others not to
expect much participation from Hispanics. A female Hispanic elsewhere
wonders if those Hispanic farm workers she teaches don't participate
because she is a woman. The first perceives that the lack of participation
is somewhat inherent in the Hispanic population; the latter assumes her
gender is the cause.
Meanwhile, other Hispanic instructors create so much enthusiasm and
active participation from the Hispanic audiences they work with, that
those who walk by wonder what is going--and why participants seem to
be having so much fun. It is not a cultural difference if someone can
totally involve a group into a discussion, within minutes, even when that
group has had little experience with a more participatory method in the
past.
Conclusions
Stereotyping can have intense negative effects, especially when
educators or managers make fewer attempts to involve those of other
cultures because they have been taught not to expect participation! Or do
not realize there may be something wrong when a student or employee
of a different ethnicity makes little eye contact with them. Faye Lee, a
concerned Japanese-American wrote: "How anyone can try to make
generalizations about an entire continent of people, plus all the Asian
Americans and the infinite permutations of people's differing
experiences, is beyond me."
As we interact with others of different cultures, there is no good
substitute for receptiveness to interpersonal feedback, good observation
skills, effective questions, and some horse sense. There is much to be
gained by observing how people of the same culture interact with each
other. Don't be afraid to ask questions as most people respond very
positively to inquiries about their culture. Ask a variety of people so you
can get a balanced view.
Making a genuine effort to find the positive historical, literary, and
cultural contributions of a society; learning a few polite expressions in
another person's language; and showing appreciation for the food and
music of another culture can have especially positive effects.
My contention, then, is not that there are no cultural differences. These
differences between cultures and peoples are real and can add richness
(and humor) to the fabric of life. My assertion is that people everywhere
have much in common, such as a need for affiliation and love,
participation, and contribution. When the exterior is peeled off, there are
not so many differences after all.