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Every culture in the world is diverse and different by region, religion, and country. For this paper, it may not be the same for everyone who lives in Southeast Asia because an individual’s expression of their culture varies far and wide. This paper is including some generalizations about Southeast Asia cultural. Therefore, not every Southeast Asian will subscribe to all of these values, as well as information included in this paper due to the principles, and will vary from person to person. Southeast Asia consists of Mainland Southeast Asia and Maritime Southeast Asia. It includes Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines. There are several main components when it comes to culture which consist of marriage, religion, communication, women roles/rights and other principles. There is no particular book or task to study for Southeast Asian culture but its teachings are passed down by parents, grandparents, and the elderly.
Buddhism is one of the most common major religions in Southeast Asia. It is shaped the way of life in many Asian countries through its practice of non-violent protests and teaching of patience. Buddhism also helps teach temperance, passivity, endurance and the religion has a strong belief in unavoidable fate. Most people do not support converting religions but many Buddhists believe that religious practice should be free and you are to be allowed to believe what you want. In Buddhism there is no creator god however they have many meditation practices very similar to that of praying. Being a Buddhist usually means being part of a community that follows the teachings of life said to have come from the Buddha. The teachings at any Buddhist temple is free, including many meditation practices, however sometimes there is a fee for hosted or public events.
Marriage patterns are changing based on women’s education and income rates. Women, more than likely, choose not to marry if they can have their own voice. Most Women choose jobs over marriage so she can have more options in living their lives. The reason being why is because of the complexity and complication of marriage. Marriage is a big deal because people respect only to the family that has one marriage. Having more than one marriage, for several reasons, can cause insulting and a low social status among ones community and relatives. There are options for divorce but many are less likely to choose them. In most Southeast Asian countries, wives are taken into their husband’s family household and have to live with them as soon as they are married. They also lose their opinion and rights because they need to have permission from their husbands, the dominant male figure. After getting married, women are also expected to stay at home, do house chores such as cooking, cleaning, washing, and taking care of their children. They are tied to their husband’s family whether they like it or not. Some parents also choose the groom or bride for their children because they have absolute power over their children and can decide for them. Parents are also encouraged to marry someone who is richer and more educated. For traditional societies, after getting married, parents from both sides are also expected to have children. People believe that children are the sign of a family that will never be broken, in another words not divorcing. Delaying or not being able to have a child could cause problems among the two families, mostly from the fear of losing heritance. Some women who have a low education choose to marry because they might be dependent on others and or struggle to find a stable job. Marriage is not only one issue but represents both genders inequalities and roles in society.
Gender roles are rules created in a society over many years according to social norms and to this day many of those roles still play a part in society. In most Southeast Asian countries, women are considered as lower class and men as upper class. In other words, males have more power than females do in many ways, such as politics, marriage, business, education, etc. In the nineteenth century, European involvement increased due to vast economic resources and a strategic position set between China and India. In the 1890s, entire regions became under European control, except Thailand. Some areas, women became cheap labor for factories and plantations that made things such as tea, sugar, tobacco and even rubber. At the same time, males held higher and better positions in the work area, and were considered the head of the household. Sometimes, school text books and religious teachings were filled with stereotypes that were in favor of males over females. Women could not have their own opinions and thoughts and were told to just follow what they were told by men. These stereotypes and rules shaped people’s opinions, like some by preferring to have sons over daughters. In the late nineteenth century, male leaders focused more on political independence while educated females were concerned with divorce, domestic abuse, and financial responsibilities of men. Women are also expected to wear “correct” clothing, which is not wearing shorts, tank tops, or short skirts in public. There are many rules and expectations when it comes to women and they will never fade away. In this culture, communication also could be interpreted in several ways.
Communication is important for socialization and interacting with other people in the world. Therefore, it has conditions. In America, people are assumed dishonest or even evasive if one fails to make direct eye contact during a conversation. It is considered a sign of respect and shows how one is paying the speaker their full attention; however, this is not always so in Southeast Asian culture. When communicating with an elder or superior, direct eye contact is considered disrespectful and impolite. Listening is required yet not direct eye contact. Speaking and laughing loudly in public is considered inappropriate and impolite, especially for women in some Southeast Asia countries. Smiling and laughing represent different meanings and may communicate in vary ways. It could be taken as scorn, pleasure, indifference, embarrassment, awkwardness and/or disapproval. The communication style is different and more in favor of in-direct contact. For example, Southeast Asians are not willing to express negative opinions and their normal response could be that everything is fine. They are more willing to share and discuss the issue with someone who is not superior knowing the message will pass on to you. Last but not least, there are also some principles for this culture in general.
In Southeast Asian culture, a group is more important than an individual. They are willing to sacrifice something for each other as family, friends, or community. They highly value achievements made by a group and share all those results whether they are good, or bad, together as group. They also are more productive when they work together as a group in the work area. There is no social security service in Southeast Asian regions, so young generations are expected to taking care their parents, grandparents, or even their elders. They have full responsibilities from shelter to their nutrition. Among body parts, the head is considered the most sacred but feet are considered as the lowest/ worst part of the body. Therefore, touching another person’s head or touching with ones feet is considered most offensive, disrespectful, and impolite. In traditional Southeast Asia cultures when two people who are of the opposite sex are holding hands it is usually considered very inappropriate unless they are married or related. However, if two people of the same gender hold each others hands then it is, for some reason, considered acceptable.
In this world, there are many different cultures and they are unique, as well as beautiful, in their own way. Culture is important to us because it is how people form their own identity and how people learn from each other. New generations can learn from old generations thus gaining an understanding of their past and what principles were considered important. Learning different cultures can help you understand the people around you and help you be more open minded. Everyone in this world is different because we have different backgrounds and cultures from which make unique and interesting.
Buddhism is one of the most common major religions in Southeast Asia. It is shaped the way of life in many Asian countries through its practice of non-violent protests and teaching of patience. Buddhism also helps teach temperance, passivity, endurance and the religion has a strong belief in unavoidable fate. Most people do not support converting religions but many Buddhists believe that religious practice should be free and you are to be allowed to believe what you want. In Buddhism there is no creator god however they have many meditation practices very similar to that of praying. Being a Buddhist usually means being part of a community that follows the teachings of life said to have come from the Buddha. The teachings at any Buddhist temple is free, including many meditation practices, however sometimes there is a fee for hosted or public events.
Marriage patterns are changing based on women’s education and income rates. Women, more than likely, choose not to marry if they can have their own voice. Most Women choose jobs over marriage so she can have more options in living their lives. The reason being why is because of the complexity and complication of marriage. Marriage is a big deal because people respect only to the family that has one marriage. Having more than one marriage, for several reasons, can cause insulting and a low social status among ones community and relatives. There are options for divorce but many are less likely to choose them. In most Southeast Asian countries, wives are taken into their husband’s family household and have to live with them as soon as they are married. They also lose their opinion and rights because they need to have permission from their husbands, the dominant male figure. After getting married, women are also expected to stay at home, do house chores such as cooking, cleaning, washing, and taking care of their children. They are tied to their husband’s family whether they like it or not. Some parents also choose the groom or bride for their children because they have absolute power over their children and can decide for them. Parents are also encouraged to marry someone who is richer and more educated. For traditional societies, after getting married, parents from both sides are also expected to have children. People believe that children are the sign of a family that will never be broken, in another words not divorcing. Delaying or not being able to have a child could cause problems among the two families, mostly from the fear of losing heritance. Some women who have a low education choose to marry because they might be dependent on others and or struggle to find a stable job. Marriage is not only one issue but represents both genders inequalities and roles in society.
Gender roles are rules created in a society over many years according to social norms and to this day many of those roles still play a part in society. In most Southeast Asian countries, women are considered as lower class and men as upper class. In other words, males have more power than females do in many ways, such as politics, marriage, business, education, etc. In the nineteenth century, European involvement increased due to vast economic resources and a strategic position set between China and India. In the 1890s, entire regions became under European control, except Thailand. Some areas, women became cheap labor for factories and plantations that made things such as tea, sugar, tobacco and even rubber. At the same time, males held higher and better positions in the work area, and were considered the head of the household. Sometimes, school text books and religious teachings were filled with stereotypes that were in favor of males over females. Women could not have their own opinions and thoughts and were told to just follow what they were told by men. These stereotypes and rules shaped people’s opinions, like some by preferring to have sons over daughters. In the late nineteenth century, male leaders focused more on political independence while educated females were concerned with divorce, domestic abuse, and financial responsibilities of men. Women are also expected to wear “correct” clothing, which is not wearing shorts, tank tops, or short skirts in public. There are many rules and expectations when it comes to women and they will never fade away. In this culture, communication also could be interpreted in several ways.
Communication is important for socialization and interacting with other people in the world. Therefore, it has conditions. In America, people are assumed dishonest or even evasive if one fails to make direct eye contact during a conversation. It is considered a sign of respect and shows how one is paying the speaker their full attention; however, this is not always so in Southeast Asian culture. When communicating with an elder or superior, direct eye contact is considered disrespectful and impolite. Listening is required yet not direct eye contact. Speaking and laughing loudly in public is considered inappropriate and impolite, especially for women in some Southeast Asia countries. Smiling and laughing represent different meanings and may communicate in vary ways. It could be taken as scorn, pleasure, indifference, embarrassment, awkwardness and/or disapproval. The communication style is different and more in favor of in-direct contact. For example, Southeast Asians are not willing to express negative opinions and their normal response could be that everything is fine. They are more willing to share and discuss the issue with someone who is not superior knowing the message will pass on to you. Last but not least, there are also some principles for this culture in general.
In Southeast Asian culture, a group is more important than an individual. They are willing to sacrifice something for each other as family, friends, or community. They highly value achievements made by a group and share all those results whether they are good, or bad, together as group. They also are more productive when they work together as a group in the work area. There is no social security service in Southeast Asian regions, so young generations are expected to taking care their parents, grandparents, or even their elders. They have full responsibilities from shelter to their nutrition. Among body parts, the head is considered the most sacred but feet are considered as the lowest/ worst part of the body. Therefore, touching another person’s head or touching with ones feet is considered most offensive, disrespectful, and impolite. In traditional Southeast Asia cultures when two people who are of the opposite sex are holding hands it is usually considered very inappropriate unless they are married or related. However, if two people of the same gender hold each others hands then it is, for some reason, considered acceptable.
In this world, there are many different cultures and they are unique, as well as beautiful, in their own way. Culture is important to us because it is how people form their own identity and how people learn from each other. New generations can learn from old generations thus gaining an understanding of their past and what principles were considered important. Learning different cultures can help you understand the people around you and help you be more open minded. Everyone in this world is different because we have different backgrounds and cultures from which make unique and interesting.
References:
"Culture." Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. <http://www.people.vcu.edu/~jmahoney/
culture.html>.
"Status of Women in Asian Countries." Women Roles in Asia. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.jobmonkey.com/teaching/asia/html/a_word_to_women.html>.
"Women in Southeast Asia." Asia Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. <http://asiasociety.org/
countries/traditions/women-southeast-asia>.
"Culture." Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. <http://www.people.vcu.edu/~jmahoney/
culture.html>.
"Status of Women in Asian Countries." Women Roles in Asia. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.jobmonkey.com/teaching/asia/html/a_word_to_women.html>.
"Women in Southeast Asia." Asia Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. <http://asiasociety.org/
countries/traditions/women-southeast-asia>.