Psychology

How do you conceptualize racial and ethnic diversity? Identify and describe 3 cultural factors that influence the creation of cultures. Share an example from your own cultural perspective.

ANSWER

Race and Ethnic Diversity

How do you conceptualize racial and ethnic diversity? Identify and Describe 3 cultural factors that influence the creation of cultures to share an example from your cultural perspective

It is commonly acknowledged that power structures and ingrained behaviors formed the cultural construct of race. A sense of ethnicity is a sense of cultural tradition-based belonging (Hesmondhalgh & Saha, 2018). Ethnic diversity is the existence of distinct ethnic backgrounds or identities.

Language, religion, and employment are three major determinants that shape culture. The shifting needs of a society influence the production and modification of language. Language is considerably more than just words; it also includes the way we speak in different vernaculars. Language also contains hidden cultural cues that are understood by people from the same culture but may not be so to others. The influence of religion on a person’s lifestyle is substantially greater. A civilization, a nation, or a region may be significantly impacted by these attitudes and actions. The society in which religious activities are practiced both influences and changes those traditions.

Even certain attitudes on health, disease, and disability are influenced by culture. A pragmatic understanding of culture as developing through regular human encounters describes the fundamental components of culture as being taught, distributed, structured, assessed, and permanent yet changing. Festivals, holidays, ceremonies and rituals, or food are all examples of culture. I’ll use the Day of the Dead celebration as an example from my cultural standpoint. It is customary for Mexicans or even Hispanics to celebrate this day since it is said that the boundary between the spirit and living worlds dissolves, allowing the departed to rejoin their loved ones in the living world.

Some people celebrate this holiday by preparing their deceased relatives’ favorite foods and beverages and placing them as an offering at their tomb, along with whatever decorations they want. My family used to celebrate it this way when I was young. Since I relocated to a new state and my father was cremated and his ashes are with me, I now commemorate it by creating an altar in my home. My altar is adorned and contains images of my loved ones who have passed away, candles, and some of their favorite meals and beverages.

References

Hesmondhalgh, D., & Saha, A. (2018). Race, ethnicity, and cultural production. Popular Communication, 11(3), 179-195.