One of the first aspects of US culture that comes to mind is individuality. Although this value may lead to conflicts it also creates allowance for diversity and bringing together ideas outside of the norm. Some examples of individualistic ideology in the US include self-sufficiency, autonomy, the ability to have self-expression, and thinking for oneself although it may disrupt the collective. This ideology implies that people are able to pursue their individual goals by their own effort which is also known as the “American Dream” or “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps.” This creates an environment where people have to take responsibility for failures or shortcomings.
From my perspective, I view this aspect of US culture in both a positive and negative light. Individuality allows for creativity; however, collective thinking allows for satisfaction among the population. For individuality to be successful, open-mindedness must also be present in order to get past conflicts. I also believe this aspect of American culture is partially true as individuality systemically supports specific groups more than others. Although individuality is valued, open-mindedness may be limited, which is seen through current conflicts between groups. In terms of the “American Dream,” it would be ideal if people were able to achieve this, however, it also creates a situation where the system is rarely criticized by invalidating people’s reasons behind their lack of success.
I believe people outside of US culture would view this aspect as odd, selfish, and even silly. As stated before, individuality can create conflicts and in a collective society, this may be seen as selfish. In Japan specifically, I believe that this would be seen as strange since their culture values uniformity and not being a burden to others. Respect is another highly valued aspect of Japanese culture that aligns with collectivism. Collective societies may view conforming as being polite and for the greater good whilst individualistic ones may view it as restricting individual rights. Being individualistic may be seen as unnecessary. In Japan, there is a saying about individualism, “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.” This implies that people should conform for the better of the group and that a collective society makes people conform. However, I am not certain that this is the current mindset of Japan as I have not yet experienced the culture.
This exercise helps me prepare for my time abroad because it allows me to think from different perspectives that will allow me to make judgments of my own whilst learning about other cultures. This shows me that I should be able to adapt to the culture I am in and doing so respectfully. Although I am going to another country through an American lens, it is important to see through other unbiased perspectives in order to fully understand other cultures. It is also important to have a relative perspective as cultures are built over time. It would be illogical to view one culture through the lens of a different culture and make a judgment based on that perspective. What should be done is to view the culture through that perspective and come to a conclusion from there.