Family Cultural Practices

Read the observations regarding the cultural practices of Beatrice’s family. Complete the table based on the observations of the parents.

Produced by underlying universal cultural processes in small culture formation

Anna’s Observation Easy answer Missed complexity of small culture formation
Rooms are used unexpectedly “Beatrice’s parents are STRANGE, because they use the rooms in an untraditional way” Beatrice’s house was very narrow but built on a sloping plot – B’s room had plenty of natural light and by having the sitting room on a separate floor the family could utilise the available space to the maximum.
Heavy earthenware “I am not a valued guest, because they haven’t set the table with their fine china”
Rough, thick slices of roast beef “They are not sophisticated as they like to chew on thick chunks of meat”

Beatrice’s father not using knife/for properly “They lack table manners as they don’t even know how to eat with a knife and fork”

Produced by underlying universal cultural processes in small culture formation

Beatrice’s parents’ Observation Easy answer Missed complexity of small culture formation


 Your easy answers
Reflect on an experience you had related to cultural practices you found strange at first (on holiday, in a foreign country, in a new environment such as flatshare, etc).

• describe specific instances of practices you found strange;
• your initial ‘easy answers’
• any previous knowledge or prejudice that might have influenced your easy answers
• describe what happened to help you to cross boundaries;
• what you learnt about the people who owned the unfamiliar practice which you did not know before.

Record your reflections following the sample below.

Produced by underlying universal cultural processes in small culture formation

Observation Prejudice Easy answer Missed complexity of small culture formation
Children address their parents by given name and no title ‘They are less polite than we are’ ‘They don’t use a respectful form of address’.
‘We value politeness, they don’t’ There are a large variety of possible ways of showing respect. Within this cultural environment using given names is approved by parents and does carry respect.
Children are expected to keep quiet at meal times unless spoken to. ‘They are more formal than we are.’ They don’t encourage open, critical discussion.’
“We value critical discussion, they don’t.’ In every cultural arrangement there are rules of formality. Within this cultural environment they are expressed in a particular way. There may be other times and places where open, critical discussion is encouraged.