Revise your 1,000-1,250-word paper that connects specific cultural communication patterns or practices to the history, values, and beliefs of that culture. You should focus on a culture

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Intercultural Interview Reflection

Laurelle Espinoza

COM-263

March 26, 2023

I interviewed my friend Akili who is of African descent, for my Multicultural Interview. When he was 10 years old, he and his family emigrated to the United States from Republic of the Congo. This interview was conducted to shed light on cultural differences between the United States and Africa. I asked him four questions during the interview.

The first question, “What do you identify as the most important or distinct practices of your culture?” Ivan spoke about food and the people he cared about. He claims that in Africa specially in Congo, food is more than just a requirement for survival. He spoke into detail about how, back in Africa, his family existed in a state of destitution.

Despite their lack of resources, they made sure to sit down together as a family each night for a satisfying supper. Akili's mother has always emphasized the significance of having a loving family in order to be able to value one's achievements in the material world. This was the motivation for their meal every evening. Akili and his brother are also familiar with the strong bonds that bind African families together. After some consideration, he concluded that it would be prudent for them to look out for one another while they were in their home country Africa.

The second question, “How are gender roles addressed in your culture?” Akili has provided a response indicating that conventional gender roles are present in African society. In the past, it was common for wives to remain at home in order to cook and care for their families while their husbands were away at work. He went on to say that, in contrast to the United States, the traditional gender roles that are seen as being held by men and women are not seen as being problematic in Africa.

The third question is, “How is social power, authority, or social roles in a hierarchy expressed in your culture?” Akili said that there are significant class or income gaps in Africa. He elaborated on why the concept of a middle class in Africa is so foreign to the country. Most Africans live in abject poverty, and only a tiny fraction can be classified as middle class. Akili expanded on this by saying that the rebel groups play a significant role in African tradition. He warned that it is not unusual to encounter rebel groups members armed with weapons in public. The rebel groups often have more influence than the government in certain areas.

The fourth and final question, “What is the role of honor/shame in your culture? Are honor/pride and dishonor/shame important concepts in your culture? According to Akili the honor and shame systems in Africa to provide light on traditional family responsibilities. As the patriarch of the family, the father has certain responsibilities that are beneath him. Akili used driving as an illustration. When a guy is also in the automobile, it can be seen as dishonorable for a woman to be behind the wheel. According to Akili, this is why values like honor, pride, and shame play such a significant role in the African society.

I gained a great deal of insight into the African society through my conversation with Akili. First, I gleaned an appreciation for the value of traditional gender norms. According to the mainstream opinion in American society, gender norms are archaic and sexist. After talking with Akili, however, I have a new outlook on things. Now I see that traditional gender norms might be beneficial. The family's structure can be maintained and the strengths of both sexes can be reflected with a clear delineation of roles for each gender (Campbell, 2018). The significance of gender roles in marriage stability is clear. The United States, a country largely opposed to traditional gender roles, has a marital success rate of around 50%. While around 78% of marriages in Africa are successful (Ospina, 2021). The significance of family in African culture was another thing I picked up. As a result of this belief that one can always count on one's family, the African people accord the family the highest level of priority.

Due to the country's high crime rate and widespread poverty, many African families rely only on one another for support. My views on security and loved ones have shifted since I learned this. It has taught me not to take my family's security for granted. After talking to Akili, I've come to the conclusion that people outside of my society view us as entitled brats who don't appreciate what we have (Ospina, 2021). Akili claimed that after visiting the United States, he realized that Americans are among the happiest people on the planet because of all the wonderful opportunities available to them. But alas, such was not the situation. To the contrary, Akili claimed that the individuals he knew were content with much less than those he has encountered in the United States.

References

Moreau, , Scott, A., Campbell, , Hay, E., Greener, , Susan, , Moreau, , & A. (2018). Effective intercultural communication. Baker Publishing Group.

Esteban, O. (2021, March 23). Marriages and divorces. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/marriages-and-divorces

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