Do you agree with anthropologist Ruth Benedict that we are "creatures of our culture" and that our habits, beliefs, and impossibilities are shaped by our culture? If so, how can we break through the limits of our cultures?
I do believe that we are all “creatures of the culture” we are raised into. The cultures that we are brought into are the ways of past generations and customs they have built for many years. The environment, religions, and political influences I’m sure have largely to do with what has been passed down from generation to generation. As a child we have no real control of choosing, or knowing whether our habits, beliefs, and impossibilities are shaped by our culture.
It is our parent’s jobs to teach us what they have learned and all we can do is live and respect what you were taught and how you were raised yet be open minded to other cultures. As you grow older you change and so does the culture. It all depends on the person. Some people are biracial and are raised in a mixed culture. I can only imagine the hardships and happiness that comes from having to be raised into both parent’s beliefs and life styles.
I agree liked that you talked about how much parents have on our cultural up bringing. It is neat to watch how people (especially in the US) grow up with their long lasting cultural traditions and customs and mix in this type of americanized sense about themselves. I don't really know if it is a good thing or bad thing that people feel the pressure to have their long lasting traditions and kind of americanizing themselves at the same time. But, it is cool to think that so many people can identify with a vast amount of cultures that they identify themselves as.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there are so many people who try to fit in. But it is the people who are different and raised in specific cultures that are most interesting.
Yet, there are pressures from society in what evere cultural up bring every person has to deal with. It is a difficult balance for people to have there own set of culture and feel comfortable in how the identify with society.