A Sociological Perspective between Two Cultures

EWAR  JALAL BARZANJI

Canada 2006

 “A society is a large social grouping that shares the same geographical territory and is subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations” (Kendall, Murray, & Linden, 2003 P.4). An outsider’s perception on Canadians is that they are friendly, outgoing, generous, and tolerant. They are also known as peace keepers around the world. One aspect that makes Canadian society unique is its multiculturalism. Canada supports diversity, as well as freedom of speech and equality. Canadian society, in my opinion, aligns with a functionalist perspective, even though their maybe aspects of conflict with the society such as poverty, inequality and discrimination. Our Canadian society is a functionalist one because the most important positions must be filled by the most qualified people. In addition, the positions that require the most talents, training, or both is highly rewarded, which is in my opinion is wrong because a professional athlete should not be making more money then a police officer, teacher or a doctor for that matter, as recognized also by Kendall, Murray & Linden (2003).

There are many sub cultures present within the dominant Canadian culture such as the Kurdish culture. This has greatly influenced my upbringing, and has helped to shape me into the person I am today. Growing up as a Canadian Kurdish has affected the norms, value, attitude, and believes that I hold today. Norms are established tools of behavior.  The norms that the Kurdish culture fallow include respecting elders, addressing people older then you as family, by calling them aunt or uncle, even though you do not know them. Moreover, there are certain rules in how you conduct yourself with older people. You must show respect no matter what. Even a younger sibling must respect the older sibling.” Values are collective idea about what is right or wrong , good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in a particular culture” (Kendal, Murray , Linden 2003 P78). Some core values widely shared by both Canadian society and the Kurdish society include compassion and generosity. Yet there are many values that are strongly held in Kurdish society that aren’t upheld to the same degree in Canadian society. In general Kurds tend to be more generous. For instance, if a plumber was in your home during dinner time, doing his job, he is not expected to sit on the dinner table and eat with the family as if he were a guest. Whereas in a Kurdish household, the plumber would be shown the up most respect and would be expected to join the family for dinner, and would be treated as a house guest. In a Kurdish culture, it has become almost an obligation for one to show a house guest no matter who it may be a friend or foe, the respect and generosity one would expect to be shown.

Furthermore, family is highly valued in this subculture. We do everything with family, weather they are immediate or extended. It is strongly practiced to maintain close ties with family and friends, and to help them financially and personally, when in need.

My attitude and believes are also affected by my upbringings as a Canadian Kurd. Again, respect is a major factor. There is a double standard that exists about males and females in the Kurdish culture. This double standard gives the idea that males can get away with staying from the norm more than females. Moreover, attitudes about education vary depending on a few factors such as family, and money. In my case, my parents more specifically my mother pushed me to do something with my life, so that I do not have it as hard as those without an education. My beliefs are derived mostly from my culture, but are also influenced by my traditions, experiences and scientific research. For instance, I believe that the earth is round because scientific proves so. Another example would be that I believe that studying pays off in the end.

Family and friends have a major role in helping you become socialized in your society the person that I am today is greatly influenced by my primary social groups such as family and friends. Most of these people share the same cultural values and beliefs as me. Although, I don’t realize it most of the time, I am also influenced by my secondary social groups such as the people I work with and attend school with. Most of these people do not share the same culture as me and have beliefs and values of their own. For example, without noticing, I take parts of other people cultures such as eating fajitas or Chinese food, listening to Latin music, or speaking a few Spanish words. Being raised as a Canadian Kurd, I would have to say that it wasn’t only my parents who influenced the process of my socialization; instead it was the whole community my aunts and uncles family friends, my school, the community centre, and my fellow students and friends. They have all contributed in some way, to teach me when I need to know to participate in my society. For example, school prepares you for situations where deadlines have to be met under pressure, and they use university as an example. Some of the deeply held assumptions about social life that I have been taught have come from both my culture. My culture looks down upon pre martial relationships between males and females for example dating.

In my opinion, deviance to a certain extend allows a society to bring about change. People should test a norm to allow for social change. For example, women were not treated equally and did not have the right to vote, because of a few “deviant” women went against the norm and asserted pressure on the government and society, were granted the right to vote. I believe that everyone has indulged in deviant activity many times in there lives and will continue to do so. Being deviant can be as simple as talking back to your mother or even dressing differently. I have deviated from the norm, in that I don’t dress as extreme as some in this society, I dress according to the cultural norms. My primarily social group influenced me because my family and friend taught me to be proud of who I am and to be myself even if it deviates from the norm of the dominant society. My secondary social group also influenced me in that the values held by many Canadians is individualism and being proud of whom you are. This makes it easier especially because we live in a multicultural society. As acknowledged by Kendall, Murray, and linden (2003), Canadian also hold a value of tolerance towards other cultures and support diversity so most people do realize and accept that different cultures have different norms, beliefs and values.

In the capitalist society that we live in now, classes are divided among lines of wealth and education. These qualities can be most obviously observed in differing neighborhoods, where some live in mansions while others live in government funded house (E.g. Edmonton housing). These inequalities are becoming more and more obvious as the gap between rich and poor increases. Recognized by Kendall, Murray and Linden, inequalities are inevitable in a society like the one that we live in right now which is dominated by the free-market economy and capitalist ideology where each man looks after his own interests. At the same time tough, our Canadian society is a democracy which provides social services and welfare programs to look after those who are less fortunate. These programs are designed in a way to ensure that everyone in our society can benefit from free health services and welfare benefits. These inequalities are inevitable in our present society because it focuses primarily on personal gain over the ‘common good’.

In my society if you are a Kurd you’re taken in as a brother/sister so to say and you can fit in and be accepted. For example if someone is looking for a job, in most cases they are more likely to be hired by someone of their own race or ethnicity. As a Canadian Kurd you can benefit from the freedoms granted by the Canadian charter of rights and freedoms. However, according to Kendall, Murray and Linden, because my Kurdish culture sets me apart from the society, because of my physical and cultural characteristics, I am subjected to unequal treatment by the dominant Canadian culture and become an object for collective discrimination. Hence, I would be considered part of the visible minority. In many instances I have been criticized my culture in this free society. People have given me dirty looks or even insulted me for speaking my cultural language. Been a part of the Kurdish culture, makes me a target in the Canadian society for criticism, scrutiny and public backlash because of the negative portrayal of the middle east in this era in the western media. Events halfway across the globe, which have no bearing on my personal views whatsoever, often, make me a target also for blame. Racial discrimination should be taken seriously, because it affects everyone.

Sexual discrimination is another problem that exists in our society today. To be brought up under the influence that both genders have their own role in society has persuaded certain aspects of my behavior. Society and the education system attempt to push genders into certain job sectors. It can be seen that males are often found in jobs which are more physically demanding, whereas, women are found in the education and service industries. For instance, when I was younger, I was under that influence that girls become teachers and nurse’s while boys became doctors, police officers, and fire fighters. Because I am the oldest child, and being a female, my father is more sensitive to my needs compared to my brother. However, my father did not really make me feel like I couldn’t do anything because I was a girl. Growing up, I remember always helping him around the house. He took me to his office, and asked me if I wanted to go to poetry readings with him when as I got older. I don’t feel like my parents really enforce the gender role on me compared to the Kurdish society, because it would be fine with my parents for me to become a lawyer, or a politician. Whereas, in the Kurdish society, for me to be a politician or a firefighter for example, would be seen as an inappropriate job for a women. As generations begin to develop there is more open-mindedness that exists within the society.

“Aging is the physical, psychological, and social processes associated with growing older” (Kendall, Murray, & Linden, 2003, p.371). In Canadian society, based on myth, older people can also be targets of prejudice and discrimination (Kendall, Murray, & Linden, 2003, p.371). However, in Kurdish culture, the elderly is highly respected and must be looked after by the oldest child, preferably the son. Moreover, the Kurdish culture emphasizes the importance of respecting and taking care of ones parents. It is almost considered a crime in this culture to talk back to the parents. When I am older and have a family of my own, I would expect my children to take care of me, until my passing, just like my parents expect that from my siblings and I. I believe this is one of the traits that an ideal family would posses. In my view, an ideal family is that which may contain some trait such as generosity, respect, for others and elders, one that supports one another even if the family member is deviating against the society’s norms. I believe I have a great family, because our relationship with one another is based on love and friendship. And much of who I am today is because of who my family is to me.

My culture was always a main factor that influenced what I stand for today. My parents who were always culturally active that always taught me all the cultural values and beliefs of my community. Through that I have learned how to maintain my cultural values and adapt into this society, culture always plaid a part in teaching me great things from how to respect myself and in teaching me values like education and has taught me many ways to contribute to my society, such as educating myself by going to school, and helping others in need. Society now a days, is full of corruption, and is very stereo typical and discriminates against who deviate from the cultural norm. If I could change anything in this society it would be to reduce discrimination and stereotype, by educating society about once culture.

This paper was presented to the Sociology Department at Concordia University

By: Eawar Jalal Barzanji

Reference:

(D. Kendall,   J. Murray, &. R. Linden, 2003) Sociology in Our Times

04/07/2007