Culture of United States and India - Part I

Culture defines the way people do things and the way of their life. Different groups of people do things differently and their culture also varies for this reason. Through the learning, process culture is passed on to the subsequent generations but genetics are usually passed on by heredity. People’s cooking, religion, clothing, music, writing and many other things show the difference of each region to other regions.

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Culture can be described by the arts and social interactions of a particular region along with their customs where high culture can be defined by the excellence of taste in fine arts and humanities. Attitudes, beliefs, morality, outlooks, customs, norms, knowledge, behavior are the things that differ mostly among different cultures (Davis, 2011). In the whole world, there are many cultures, such as Western culture, Eastern culture, Latin culture, Middle Eastern culture and African culture. For this assignment purpose, I am choosing a western culture and eastern culture and for that United States and India are chosen respectively.

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Culture of the United States and India:

The culture of United States of America is western but greatly influenced by African, Native American and Latin American culture. Its characteristics those differ from other cultures are its music, social habits, cuisine, dialect, arts, beliefs, attitudes. United States is one of the most diversified countries in culture in the world and it is difficult to find any region of the world that is not influenced by this culture (Bahadur, 2007). That is why it is called that United States has a culture that is shaped by some other cultures that are Native Americans, Latin Americans, Africans and Asians. The United States is sometimes also defined as ‘melting pot’ as many cultures have contributed their own unique culture to its culture. Culture of United States involves how the people of United States wear clothes, what they were, what food they have usually and occasionally, what things they believe right or wrong, in which religion they believe or not, how they talk with people, how they greet new people or visitors, what music they love, what language they use along with many other things. On the other hand, culture of India is regarded as most colorful and interesting culture(Mumford, 2016). It is believed that Indian culture is greatly influenced by ’Dharmic’ religion. Indian culture is diversified enough and its languages, dance, music, food, religions, customs and many other things differ from place to place even within the country. India has got many historical places which are famous for their uniqueness. Food, cloth, etiquette all is different in different places of India (Ḥusain, 2010). Christianity is commonly followed by the people of United States but in India Hinduism and Islam is mostly followed and performed. People are found very religious mined in India and love spicy foods. Both United States and India have diversified culture but differences also prevail between them.

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Comparison between the culture of United States and India:

There are numerous differences between United States’ culture and Indian culture. They are educated in distinctively different ways. Their way of living, behaving and all the necessary and natural activities differs due to regional differences. They also vary when it comes about their attitude toward life and love an individual’s personality (Taylor, 2012). Usually Indian people follow the natural order of time and do necessary works following steps but people from United States prefer to live in space which means they prefer their will and what they want to do. If we talk about personality, Indian people tend to be submissive and do not feel like leading staffs. They try to avoid big responsibilities (Widdig, 2007). They often think more and do less but people of United States are quite different. They do more and think less. They enjoy leading and taking responsibilities at the same time. It has been also found that people from western culture often lead the people from eastern culture but the opposite doesn’t happen frequently. Another important fact is attitude toward love. Indian people are found more serious and practical when it comes about the person they love. Marriage is regarded the ultimate destination of love life but the people of United States are not that serious about this matter (Goody, 2014). If they love someone they try to impress and they rarely get married before they make sure that they love each other. Another fact is people from United States usually take decisions by their own but in India parents take the decision of marriage as it is considered to be very crucial decision of life. Because parents of India think they understand better what is good for their children but parents from United States think it is best when someone take his or her decision by own. Besides these facts there are many important facts that show the cultural differences between United States and India. Some of them are described below:

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Comparison of Rigid Beliefs:

Indian people tend to follow traditional values more often that United States’ people. People from India are found more rigid in their own ideologies and beliefs that have been taught them from their childhood. For them the truth is what they have been watching and teaching. Even if the authenticity of the values were fading its validity in modern terms they are not permitted to think against that. They are emotional people and when they take any decision emotion plays a great role (Bahadur, 2007). But when it comes about people of United States, they take things simply. They are rational thinker not emotional. It is not like that they don’t have emotion but they use their emotionless when they make any decision. Their actions are not driven by emotion and that is how they achieve their goals in life(Davis, 2011).

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Comparison of Forthrightness:

People from United States are known for their openness. They take things easily in front of any situation or people. For example, they discuss several topics with their children like childbirth or sex. When talking about these things in front of an elder or younger person is still considered as taboo in India. The lack of openness among the people of India makes thing bit difficult to discuss and sole when any problem occurs (Jaroszyński, 2007). It is also found that children from India are not that free with their parents but children of United States are more free with their parents which is an important thing for any child to overcome his or her queries which also improves the metal development of the children. Openness is important for people of any age but Indian people lack to be more open when it comes about different generation of people before them which is regarded as very common issue for people of United States (Fiske, 2011). So, this is an important fact that differs between the culture of United States’ people and Indian people.

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Comparison of Status of Female:

Status of the female is different in the United States and in India. A female is free to live her life as she wants and she can make her own decisions in the United States but in India, a female has to live her life according to her paternal family’s wish or husband’s wish. She doesn’t have the right to make a decision on her own (Widdig, 2007). She has to take permission before doing anything. In the matter of priorities, female of United States can set her priorities which also involves big decisions such as marriage and be having children but in India, the opinion of a female is less regarded. She has to prioritize her family over anything else and does not have any opinion when it comes about marriage or having a child (Bahadur, 2007). Another thing is, in India it is expected that women will sacrifice her professional life for the sake of her married life or rearing children so that she can take good care of her family but in the United States the case is not same as women enjoy all the facilities equally and get a chance to make balance in professional life and family life. #Continue

In the second part i will describe below comparison

• Comparison of Language.
• Comparison of Food.
• Comparison of Sports.
• Comparison of Festivals.
• Conclusion.

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