Ethnicity What does it mean Bryan Roberts Point

Ethnicity What does it mean? Bryan Roberts Point College

Purpose of this presentation Understand cultures and cultural differences WHY? What’s in it for me? *

1. Work well with people from different cultures 2. Use the strengths of immigrants 3. Help with integration 4. Strengthen our economy together 5. Increase profits through collaboration 6. Make new friends Many things to do with culture are not written anywhere; they are just things you do

Ethnic Group Social group that shares a common and distinctive: • culture • religion • language • background • allegiance • association • traits

Ethnic values 1. Judgement of what is important in life. 2. Principles or standards of behavior 3. Internalize parents' rules and values 4. Principles, moral principles 5. What is right and wrong

Ethnic values 1. Moral code, morals, moral values 2. Standards, moral standards 3. Code of behavior 4. Rules of conduct, standards of behavior 5. Society's values are passed on to us as children

Race Physical characteristics: o o o o hair type colour of eyes and skin stature shared interests habits characteristics physical traits Common ancestry Physical characteristics

Cultural differences 1. In Syria, people nod up to say No! 2. In Somalia they nod up to say Yes! 3. In Bulgaria they shake their heads to say yes! 4. In UAE they (all male and female) rub noses to say hello. They do not shake hands. 5. USA and litigation

Cultural differences Japan. If you have guests to dinner in Japan, when they leave after the dinner, they will share out the food that is left over and take it home with them. Why? Is it rude or considerate?

Cultural differences Finland. When you stay at a persons home for the night, you take your own duvet cover, pillow cases and towels. The food and drink that guests bring to your home should be consumed with them When you arrive at your hosts home, give them “tuliaiset” gifts immediately you arrive, not when you leave.

Cultural differences Nokia: ”Jedem das seine” (to each his own) advert in Germany for changeable covers for mobile phones. Same slogan in Buchenwald concentration camp. Language = The mirror of culture. Non-verbal: • How words are spoken • Gestures • Tone of voice • Body position • Eye contact

Cultural differences Venezuela. Just as in Finland, there is plenty of snow and likewise, there are plenty of words to describe snow, in Venezuela, there is an abundance of time and many ways to describe it. Ahora (which usually means now) means today. Ahorita means in a few hours. Ya means within the next half hour Yaya means immediately

Cultural differences South Africa, which takes its English from Britain (having been part of the empire), Just now means within the next hour Now means immediately. Britain Just now means immediately Now means within the next quarter hour or so.

Cultural differences Nothing sucks like Electrolux UK: This works well USA: This doesn’t work. It sucks! Finnair in Japan Nova cars in Spain

Cultural differences Table a proposal. US: Delay a decision UK: Lets go forward with this idea Kenya: Pay some grease and then it will happen By the end of the day UK: When we have completed the job US: Within 24 hours Negotiations bombed US: Negotiations were a complete failure UK: Negotiations were a success

Cultural differences Body language: Index finger and thumb OK sign. US: Things are going well. Nearly completed negotiations France: Nothing for us here Japan: They have asked for a bribe Brazilians: Insulted? (means anus) Somali: Just a minute Israel: Go slower Italy: Insult S. America: Crowded China: WC (if open space between thumb & index finger) Thailand: Interested if money is right

Cultural differences What is a family unit? • Parents and children in the west • Grandparents? • Cousins and uncles and aunts? Zulu example Father Eye contact Greet first Distance Ladies first

Cultural differences Give two examples of things that you just do in your home country that are not written down in any manual or in the rule books.

Citizenship • • • What is a person’s role as a citizen? Everyday involvement in civil society Not only immigrants Community life Social relationships Vote every 5 years? Active participation in society?

Nation. State. TOGETHER? § How are nationality and citizenship perceived and practiced? § What defines belonging to a nation? § Is technical citizenship enough for ethnic minorities to be recognised as fully belonging to the nation? § Will they suffer from racism? § Will they be viewed as being non. British/Finnish/French/Swedish/Est onian/Danish?

Effective ways to assimilate people? Education system • Equal opportunity for social promotion through education • Negate regional cultures and languages • Unification of people from different areas & classes • Levelling and secular education • Free Education? • Compulsory • But what if: • High unemployment Trade unions? • Mismatch skills Employment?

Effective ways to assimilate people? Trade unions • Integrate immigrant workers into Eg. the French social and political system. • But what if: • High unemployment? • Lack language skills? Education? Trade unions? Employment?

Effective ways to assimilate people? Religion • EU secular states. Separation between Church and State. • Muslim populations have more difficulty assimilating because Islam plays an integral part in their lives • Earlier immigrants (Spanish, Portuguese, Polish) were quickly 'assimilated', because they were Catholic. • Are these ways valid? Education? Trade unions? Employment?

RESPECT. REAL WORLD. TOGETHER. Let us help each other

Now for the fun part. TOGETHER. Required: Prepare a 5 minute video for the blog in which you answer the questions below and discuss the topics: integration, assimilation, tolerance, etc.

TOGETHER in Teams 5 minute video Remember: 1. Content of your video 2. Camera angles 3. Lighting 4. Sound 5. Background picture 6. Background sounds 7. Dress code

Questions? ? ? 1. What defines belonging to a nation? 2. Is technical citizenship enough for ethnic minorities to be recognised as fully belonging to the nation? 3. What can we do to prevent people suffering from racism/exclusion? 4. Will they be viewed as being non. British/Finnish/French/Swedish/Estonian/Danish? Why? 5. How do you identify different races/ethnicities? 6. How are social boundaries built? 7. What does it mean to be a citizen of your country? 8. How can you assimilate immigrants into a nation? Is it necessary? 9. How did they do it in the old days? Is this how we should do it now? Skills for the 21 st century.