China and the
United States are two completely different culture models. The biggest cultural
differences between the two countries are especially evident when analyzing the
family unit, classroom, tradition. On the one hand, the differences between China and United
States can be shown in the principle of the power distance is a concept from
intercultural communications that highlights these differences. For cultural
communication classes, individualism and collectivism principles will help
people to understand cultural differences. And communication style is always
influenced by different cultures.
When I talked with my roommate Lisa about American and Chinese culture, the
biggest cultural differences between the two countries are especially evident
when analyzing the family unit. Power distance is a concept from intercultural
communications that highlights these differences. China and the United States
are big countries in the world. China has more than five thousand years of
history. I have been studying in America for almost one year, and the United
States has about two hundred years of history. I think China and the United
States have a lot of differences; not only economic differences, but also
ethnic and historical differences. All those big factors make their cultures
different. I think the United States’ ideas are open and new, but China is more
traditional and closed.
Communication style is always
influenced by different cultures. China and the United States are big countries
in the world. I come from China, and I have been influenced by Chinese culture
for 19 years. China has more than five thousand years of history. I have been
studying in America for almost one year, and the United States has about two
hundred years of history. I think China and the United States have a lot of
differences; not only economic differences, but also ethnic and historical
differences. All those big factors make their cultures different. I think the
United States’ ideas are open and new, but China is more traditional and
closed. The differences between China and United States can be shown in the
principle of intercultural communication: Individualism and Collectivism.
The dimension of individualism-collectivism is a good
way to show the cultural effects in peer response groups. Individualists want to take care of
themselves; they use the group to achieve their own goals and focus on the
benefit to the individual writer.
Collectivism people put the group’s peace above personal goals; they
don’t want to embarrass another writer (3). The article, “The Values Americans Live By,”
may help relate this information with two American values:
individualism/privacy and self-help (2), Americans like to think for
themselves. They are proud of themselves
because of their independence of thought and ability to get what they
want. So in peer review groups, American
students show their individualism in the writing critique. They use the group to show their own ideas to
help others and get others’ help to move their own paper toward better writing
and a better grade. Most Asians are
collectivists; they like to get together to solve problems that they have. In
China, there is a proverb that says, “Depend on parents when at home, depend on
friends when outside.” The proverb means that Chinese people have very strong
relationships with each other and use those relationships to get help for
themselves when they need it. Related to peer review groups, collectivists like the
idea of working together and helping each other. Peer groups should be a natural forum for
them; however, they put the group’s peace above personal goals and don’t want
to embarrass another writer, so it ends up that collectivists in a group often
stay silent, even though they would like to help and to get help from others.
These matters also relate to the concept of
“face”. From Nelson, we can understand
that face is related to people’s feelings of self worth and position in
society. All people from different
cultural backgrounds are involved in it to different levels. (1). Asians care very deeply about being treated
with respect and protecting their honor, their face. However, for Americans, it is not very
important. The stronger American value
of directness may cause trouble here.
Kohls said, “If you come from a country where saving face is important,
be assured that Americans are not trying to make you lose face with their
directness” (2). For Americans,
themselves, however, “not very important” does not mean they do not care about
face at all. We can see this in another American value, competition. Kohls said, “Americans believe that
competition brings out the best in any individual” (2). We can see that Americans want to become the
best they can be so that they can gain their positions in society. This is, in
fact, a kind of face. As in the collectivism/individualism
section above, the Americans’ goal of better individual grades for everyone (a
way of getting recognition and respect) can conflict with the Asians’ need to
avoid public criticism.
“Individualism promotes
self-efficiency, individual responsibility, and personal autonomy” (4). Individualism can be defined
as personal goals and benefits having a higher priority than group goals and
benefits. As I have lived in America for 1 year, I found that American people,
more than Chinese people, follow trends to be individualistic. For example,
Americans like to do everything by themselves; they are proud of themselves
because of their independence of thought and their ability to get whatever they
want. In American families, even nuclear families, they will not discuss very much about their
personal life. In America, parents will pay large sums of money like tuition
and medical fees but not the pocket money for their children. The American
children should earn it by themselves. More than that, in some American
families, when children grow up to be eighteen years old, they should pay for
everything by themselves. They should go to work for getting money for school.
And also Americans like to use their own way to deal with their own problems.
They don’t need to discuss those problems with other family members or even
their parents. They would like to
be independent in
everything.
“Collectivism promotes relational interdependence,
in-group harmony, and in-group collaborative spirit” (4).
Collectivism more strongly emphasizes on “we” rather than “I”, and it refers to
a teamwork mentality and focusing on a group as a whole rather than individual
work. Collectivism can be defined as group goals and benefits having a higher priority
than personal goals and benefits. In my opinion, China is more traditional, and
people prefer collectivism. Chinese people like to do
things together with a group of people. In Chinese families, if a family member
has problems that should be dealt with, all the family members will gather
together to have a meeting to talk about it. Chinese people like to discuss
personal things in their big families. They would like to talk about the things
such as marriage, education and careers. Before I was 18 years, my parents
helped me to think about everything, and helped me find a good school, doing
good things. My family would have a meeting and discuss them. Because my
parents hope I have a good future, they don’t want me to learn something bad
and have a bad future.
Now, I study in America, and I have to adapt to
American life. I have experienced American culture and learned a lot. I have
learned that when I am talking with my friends and family I should show my
opinion in a direct way. If I have some good thoughts and ideas, I will tell my
parents about them. I think they would be open to hearing my ideas because the
relationship between my parents and me is more like a brother and sister
relationship, and also my parents are very open minded. But in China, some
parents do not have an open mind. Since I have both experienced Chinese and
American cultures, I identify myself to be a part of both individualism and
collectivism. On one hand, I represent individualism when I can decide
something by myself. In this way, I have absorbed American style. I can use the
American style when I am thinking about things. On the other hand, however,
when I am dealing with big and important things, I will ask my parents for
their opinions. I do this to show respect to my parents and because I don’t
think I have enough life experience, so I welcome their input. In this way I
display collectivism. Because of my experience with both American and Chinese
culture, I show both individualistic and collectivistic tendencies.
When I power
distance compares two individuals or groups in terms of relative respect, honor
and authority. It can be thought of as which person has the greater face.
“People in small power distance cultures tend to value equal power
distributions, equal rights and relations, and equitable rewards and
punishments on the basis of performance” (4). My roommate thinks low
power distance means that people are equal, and both get respect for their
ideas. The peer response groups which contain students from different cultural
backgrounds can demonstrate this principle very appropriately. I think the
American students should show they value low power distance.
My roommate gave me
an example of low power distance. In one of her classes there are some Chinese
students. She thinks Chinese students should think their English is poor or
lower than American students because they also don’t understand some rules
about the English language. And American culture that was not very clear to
Chinese students. They seldom share their ideas or opinions in class. Instead,
my roommate doesn’t think about those things and doesn’t think the Chinese
students should either because American students are representative of low
power distance cultures. They use direct and practical words to
express themselves. They should give a good answer to everyone in a group. They
don’t care about others’ mistakes. Whether the other students’ comments or
opinions are bad or good, they accept all of them and respected them; in this
way, my roommate shows me something about American value of equality. Power
distance can also be related with informality. By contrast, “people in large
power distance cultures tend to value equal power distributions, equal rights
and relations, and equitable rewards and punishments on the basis of
performance” (4). In cultures that give high power distance to
teachers or others, students are without confidence to give comments to the
high-power people. In China, students should call teachers professor or begin
with Mr., Mrs., Ms. or Miss. If anyone speaks to a teacher, he or she should
use the titles to show more respect to teacher. But my roommate calls her
teachers or professors directly only by their first names, and she never uses
the title for professors. In addition, the title is most only used in formal
situations.
“For small power distance cultures, equality
of personal rights represents an ideal to strive toward in a system” (4). My roommate’s family has lower power distances. Everyone in their
families has equal rights, no matter whether it is a young child or old person,
that individual should have a power in this family; and no matter of how old or
of what generation in the family. All the family members can talk together and
share many ideas or opinions; people can take the advice from their elder
family members or not take the advice and can use their own ideas by
themselves. For example, my roommate goes back home every weekend because she
is a transfer student. She was homesick when she took a far distance school
which was in Los Angeles. However, she just wants to spend more time with her
family members, which is what she thinks is more important. That’s why she
transferred to Gorger Fox University; she thinks this was a good school and a
Christian school. She talked with her families and told them about her opinion
of transferring. Her parents at first will talked together about this thing;
and gave some ideas, and then the family was fine with her idea and helped her
to transfer. I think her parents gave her equality in her family.
Another
point of family values is power distance. Power distance in my family and Ibrahim’s family is different. “For
large power distance cultures, respect for power hierarchy in any system is a
fundamental way of life” (4). In my family, high power means
older age and higher generation in a family. China has a long history about
traditional manners; elder people in the family must be respected and have the
most power. Parents respect older people who know a lot of things, because they
want to learn knowledge from other people and books. Parents also think the
elder people must have more experiences, and they should have much knowledge.
For example, in my family, I have to listen to my parents’ idea. My parents
want me to have a good future. The child doesn’t want to go, but the parents’
force their child because learning more knowledge is helpful for the child to
go to a good school. Then the child cannot give her or his own opinion; the
child should follow parent’s opinion about life. If child disagrees or says no,
that is different and such familiarity should be considered disrespectful to
people of such higher power distance. This thing should show large power
distance in this family.
In my roommate family, power distance is
lower. “For small power distance cultures, equality of personal rights
represents an ideal to strive toward in a system” (4).
Everyone in American families has equal rights, no matter whether it is a young
child or old person, that individual should have a power in this family; and no
matter of how old or of what generation in the family. All the family members
can talk together and share many ideas or opinions. People can take the advice
from their elder family members or not take the advice. They can use their own
ideas by themselves. For example: my roommate told her parents about her
decision to come to the United Kingdom to trip here. At first, she parents said
they will talk about this together and gave some ideas. Then the family was
fine with his idea. I think his parents gave her equality in her life.
Those
two countries have absolutely different cultures. In the aspect of family, it
seems especially evident. But if we compare those two kinds of cultures, there
are no good cultures or bad cultures for a country. There are just suitable
cultures and unsuitable cultures for countries. Chinese have high power
distance, so elder people there can be respected by young people. It is good
for family harmony. Americans have lower power distance, so people in a family
can get along with each other comfortably. Chinese families are more
collective, so people can get more help from their families. It is good for
people get success, which is then available to help other family members.
Americans families are more individual, so people can make decisions by
themselves and do not have any other obstruction. It is good for making
personal decisions which may lead to personal success.
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