Individualism is often brought up in discussions of American culture. This means that Americans view themselves as their own person, independent, separate from any group. A collectivist culture on the other hand, relies on the sense of community and close intragroup connection and views all individuals as part of the group.
In sharing my judgment of American individualism, I believe its influence is present in several areas. For instance, when it comes to voting and public policy, it is not uncommon for Americans to act on what upholds their personal liberties rather than policies that are community-focused. Our country was founded on personal freedoms, yet in my perspective, they have evolved into a sense of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” and that anyone can accomplish their dreams and goals without the help of others in their community. While I do believe independence is essential, it is more complex than “anyone can make it.” That statement does not acknowledge institutional problems in our communities and does not encourage individuals to work for the betterment of their communities, just themselves. My perception of this aspect of American culture might be regarded as harsh. On the other hand, a sense of individualism to an extent can be positive. I do believe I am my own person with my own set of values and I celebrate that, and am grateful to have adopted that in the United States. Yet I believe I can balance my sense of individualism with collectivism. Whether that means voting for the good of everyone, or getting involved in organizations on my college campus that support students, faculty and staff, and the rest of my local area and beyond.
A foreigner’s perspective of this aspect of American culture, greatly depends on their own culture. For instance, in Latin America and in Mediterranean cultures, individuals are often there for their community and have less personal space. Whereas in Western Europe, they tend to value individualism like the United States. In my experience, I have learned to value a great amount of personal space if needed. Americans tend to respect that. Yet if I were to imagine how someone in Latin America would react to personal space, especially if its family, they might not know how to respond to that boundary of personal space and might even take it personal. I can state the former because I come from a Latino background. I believe individualism which is reflected in so many ways in the United States, would be a harder concept to grasp for someone coming from Latin America, where sometimes you might not be seen as your own person with your own thoughts and values, rather a person representing a group with the same focus. In having these discussions, it is also important to point out that some individuals can either hold a more individualist or collectivist stance, regardless of their culture, and their stance might not be common in the culture they are surrounded by.
This exercise has helped me for my time abroad, because it prepares me to adapt. For instance, in France, people greet each other with more touch. Two kisses on the cheek and a hug. They are not so focused on personal space in these circumstances as people are in the United States. Furthermore, it will help me adapt in the sense that I will better understand the collectivist opinions and values of people in France.