Writing Assignments

1. Write essays on the following topics:

1. "Is raising children the woman's job?" b)"Women and politics".

	Unit 6:
	Cross-Cultural Stereotypes & Diversity

Morality is largely a matter of geography.

(Elbert Hubbart, The Philistine)

	Vocabulary

Assimilation Cultural diversity Class consciousness Ethnic group Generalization Identity Individualism Mainstream culture

Mainstream values Majority Minority Multiculturalism Race Superiority Value

	Reading Text

Text 1

Notable Characteristics of Americans1

After “Living in the United States”

Except for Native Americans (i.e. American Indians), most Americans come from different immigrant and refugee groups. They have a common heritage which is based on cultural diversity or multiculturalism. Some people describe America as a “melting pot” believing that ethnic groups and races will eventually completely assimilate and become one group. However, ethnic groups cannot and may not want to melt away their identities. Other people describe American multicultural society as a “mosaic” in which all the races and ethnic groups (no matter whether they make up majority or minority) seem to be proudly displayed.

It’s not easy to generalize about the United States for the size of the country and the ethnic mix of its people contribute to its variety: however, there are a few characteristics you may encounter in “typical” Americans from Atlantic to Pacific.

Individualism. Americans value independence. They generally believe that the ideal person is autonomous and self-reliant. This may mean that they prefer to spend less time with their friends than in other countries they often dislike being dependent on other people, or having others dependent on them. Some cultures view this as "selfishness", others as a healthy freedom from the constraints of ties to family, clan or social class.

Americans tend to value their individuality, to think themselves the equal of any other man or woman, and to believe they are masters of their own destiny. They feel free to speak their minds on most subjects and are often astonishingly frank in expressing political opinions, cherishing above all other rights to the freedom of speech guaranteed by the Constitution. They are direct in their communications; they say no when they mean no. Americans do not commonly exhibit class consciousness or make distinctions amongst themselves along class lines. The vast majority identify themselves as belonging to the middle class. Except for, perhaps, the very rich or very poor, Americans do not usually feel that their success in life will be determined by the social class into which they were born, and do not usually show excessive deference or superiority to each other in public situations. This may be different, however, within a professional setting.

Making Friends Americans appear open and friendly at first meeting, but this means only that they are pleased to make new acquaintances and accept new people into their social groups; it may or may not lead to true friendship. They smile easily and are not hesitant to talk, but this is not an automatic commitment to friendship. In this mobile society where Americans are taught to be self-reliant, friendships are often transitory and established to meet personal needs at a certain time. Many Americans have "friends at work', "friends at school", and so on, but only a few very close friendships. These friendships are usually the result of repeated interactions between individuals who find they share similar views and a variety of experiences together. Casual friendships are especially common among college-age students who are trying to establish personal autonomy and are coming into contact with a variety of people representing different values and life-styles.

Informality Americans tolerate a considerable degree of informality in dress, relationships between people and methods of communication. Some cultures view this as a lack of respect and others consider it a healthy lack of concern for social ritual. They are informal; they often introduce themselves by their first names and call others by their first names on very slight acquaintance. In professional situations, however, it is preferable to address people using their title and last name (e.g. Dr. Smith, Ms. Jones) until they ask you to use their first name. Americans stand at least an arm’s length apart when conversing and are not inclined to touch one another, except to shake hands upon greeting one another. They value their privacy and rarely call on even good friends without telephoning first.

Materialism "Success" in American society is often marked by the amount of money or the quantity of material goods a person is able to accumulate. Money and goods are accumulated by means of such valued qualities as hard work, cleverness, and persistence. Some cultures view this as a lack of appreciation for the spiritual or human things in life. Others may see this as a way to sustain a comparatively high standard of living in the country. They are materialistic on the whole, but generous as well.

By and large, differences are indulged, and “doing one’s own thing” is held in high regard.

Time Consciousness/ Appointments/ Punctuality: "Doing" is very important and "wasting time" is seen as a negative thing to be discouraged. For business and most meetings involving a group of people, a date or a dinner invitation, punctuality is very important. Punctuality is viewed as a virtue, especially in professional life. For many other social events, such as large informal parties, time is more flexible.

Americans often seem to be in a hurry since “time is money”. In fact, many Americans organize their activities according to a schedule. As a result, they always seem to be running around, hurrying to get their next "appointment". This fast pace of life may be overwhelming for many people from other cultures. It is always appropriate to make an appointment before visiting someone, particularly at an office. When they do make an appointment or accept an invitation, they can generally be counted on to appear at the appointed time.

It is best to be on time for appointments. When they are professional in nature you should appear within five minutes of the time you have agreed upon. On social occasions, especially when the invitation is for a meal, plan to arrive no more than ten to fifteen minutes after the appointed hour.

Invitations: If you accept an invitation, it is very important that you appear as promised. It is perfectly acceptable to decline an invitation if it is not convenient for you, but some response is always called for. On a formal, written invitation, “RSVP” means “please reply”. It is acceptable to ask about appropriate clothing. If you have any dietary restrictions you should tell at the time you accept the invitation.

It is not necessary to take a gift unless the occasion is a birthday party or Christmas, or perhaps the invitation is for an entire weekend. However, you may always politely ask if there is anything you can bring. It is also nice to give a small gift if you are invited as a house guest for an extended visit. When you are invited to someone's home, you may always ask if there is anything you may do to help in preparing the meal or cleaning up afterwards.

Most Americans consider it polite for guests to leave one or two hours after dinner unless a special party has been planned or you are asked to stay longer. It is a nice idea to write a thank-you note expressing how much you enjoyed the evening. Though a thank-you note, especially following an overnight visit, is considerate, it is a very formal way to express thanks. You may also call the person or say something when you see them again.

"Pot luck" dinners are very common. This usually means that each guest or family brings part of the meal. The person organizing the dinner will tell you what part of the meal you are expected to bring. It is fine for international guests to bring a typical dish of their country.

If you have been invited to go out for a meal, you should assume that all parties will pay for themselves, unless the invitation included a specific offer to pay for your food.

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Text 2