Island identities: ritual, travel and the creation of difference in Neolithic Malta

2001 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Robb
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Cultural Difference ◽  
Chaco Canyon ◽  
Regional Culture ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Common Heritage ◽  
Identity Based ◽  
Megalithic Temples ◽  
Cultural Similarity ◽  
The Temple

Malta's Neolithic megalithic ‘temples’, unique in the Mediterranean, provide a striking challenge to the archaeological imagination. Most explanations have employed a simple functionalism: the temples resulted from Malta's insularity. Such explanations lack the theoretical grounding provided by studies of agency and meaning, and they do not sufficiently account for Malta's pattern of integration into and differentiation from a central Mediterranean regional culture. I argue that: (a) contextual evidence suggests that the temples created settings for rites emphasizing local origins and identity; (b) even in periods of greatest cultural difference, the Maltese had contacts with nearby societies, and Maltese travellers probably recognized cultural differences in important ritual practices; and (c) when ritual practitioners began reinterpreting a common heritage of meanings to create the temple rites, they also created a new island identity based on these rites. In effect, after two millennia of cultural similarity to their neighbours, the Neolithic Maltesecreateda cultural island, perhaps in reaction to changes in the constitution of society sweeping Europe in the fourth millennium BC. The result was an island of cultural difference similar in scale and, perhaps, origin to many other archaeologically unique settings such as Val Camonica, the Morbihan, Stonehenge, and Chaco Canyon.

scholarly journals Broadening the Scope of Diversity Management : Strategic Implications in the Case of the Netherlands

2005 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 698-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Folke Glastra ◽  
Martha Meerman ◽  
Petra Schedler ◽  
Sjiera de Vries
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Ethnic Minorities ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Cultural Difference ◽  
Diversity Management ◽  
The Body ◽  
Organizational Dynamics ◽  
Contextual Approach ◽  
Challenging Tasks

An analysis of theories and practices of diversity management, as illustrated in the case of the Netherlands, shows that they are too narrowly focused on redressing imbalances experienced by ethnic minorities and bridging cultural differences between majorities and ethnic minorities in the workplace. Agencies in the field of diversity management have fallen back on a limited and standardized stock of methods that ignore the specificity of organizational dynamics and largely operate in isolation from existing equity policies. The influence of diversity management has thus remained quite superficial. A contextual approach would broaden both the body of thought and the repertory of methods of diversity management, and strengthen its political and social relations. Such an approach would respond to its most challenging tasks: fostering social justice, enhancing productivity, and breaking the circle that equates cultural difference with social inequality

Outside the Head and Outside Individualism-Collectivism

2011 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marika Lamoreaux ◽  
Beth Morling
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Cultural Difference ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Uncertainty Avoidance ◽  
Cultural Products ◽  
Cultural Traits ◽  
Meta Analyses

Cultural differences and similarities can be documented not only at the level of the psyche (people’s motivations, beliefs, emotions, or cognitions) but also via shared, tangible representations of culture (such as advertising, texts, architecture, and so on). In this report, the authors present the results of some exploratory meta-analyses of cultural products. Data were sufficient to analyze a variety of cultural traits: positivity, modernity, high (vs. low) context, uncertainty avoidance, and power distance, as well as other dimensions. Thus, this article documents cultural products that measured traits other than individualism-collectivism, the trait the authors analyzed in an earlier article. The data reinforce the value of studying cultural products and fit with recent calls to branch out from the familiar, individualism-collectivism construct into new axes of cultural difference.

Cultivating Cultural Differences in Asymmetric Power Relations

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 339-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sierk Ybema ◽  
Hyunghae Byun
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Cultural Difference ◽  
Cultural Distance ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Specific Power ◽  
Work Relations ◽  
Organizational Settings ◽  
Japanese Firms ◽  
Intercultural Encounters ◽  
Asymmetric Power

In this article we integrate findings from interviews and ethnographic case studies to explore issues of culture and identity in Japanese—Dutch work relations in two different contexts: Japanese firms in the Netherlands and Dutch firms in Japan. It is suggested that cultural identities do not carry a pre-given meaning that people passively enact, as is sometimes assumed, but become infused with meaning in organizational actors’ interpretations that are embedded in specific social contexts. The research contribution this article makes is twofold. First, it illustrates how, in different organizational settings, cultural differences are enacted differently in people’s identity talk, underlining the context-dependent and constructed nature of culture and cultural distance in intercultural encounters. Second, it highlights the particular relevance of a power-sensitive understanding of claims of cultural difference by revealing small, but significant differences in organizational actors’ cultural identity talk that are intimately related to the specific power asymmetries within our research participants’ organizations.

Are fashion sketchbooks racist?

2021 ◽  
Vol 00 (00) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Tanveer Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Cultural Difference ◽  
Fashion Design ◽  
Design Tools ◽  
Initial Sample ◽  
Time And Space ◽  
Design Students ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Cultural Hierarchies

Drawing on scholar Marc Augé’s concept of non-place, this article contributes to growing studies that focus on the ways in which fashion produces racism. Recent years have shown a rise in the scrutiny by social media of racist fashion garments and campaigns that problematically stereotype, appropriate and Other marginalized cultures. However, less attention has been given to how racism is constructed through design practices in education and curricula, such as through the different activities and techniques that constitute the fashion ideation process. Indeed, few studies to date have examined how commonplace design tools such as sketchbooks, measuring tapes or mannequins reinscribe forms of Othering. This article sets out to critically examine representations of Othering in fashion design sketchbooks and discuss the role this ubiquitous fashion tool might play in encouraging racist fashion representations. The sketchbooks of undergraduate fashion design students were chosen for this study due to the importance of fashion education as a catalyst for future fashion cultures. From an initial sample of seventy sketchbooks, twelve sketchbooks showed representations of cultural difference through an over-reliance on excessive imagery, with limited text. These strategies showed a pattern of reproducing ahistorical static ideas which reinforce cultural hierarchies. Marc Augé’s concept of non-place is used in this study to refer to how time and space are mobilized using various design techniques and employed within sketchbooks. Such techniques show paradoxical representations of cultural differences, which lack context-specific histories and identities. The study identifies two key strategies used within fashion sketchbooks: firstly, the de-contextualization of cultural difference, and then the re-contextualization of cultural difference. Combined, these strategies show how using collaging techniques in sketchbooks in the fashion design process erases meaning by compressing time and space.

Cultivating Global Citizens

2020 ◽  
pp. 492-506
Author(s):  
Jenna Andrews-Swann
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Cultural Difference ◽  
Standpoint Theory ◽  
Cultural Relativism ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Global Citizens ◽  
Science Courses

This chapter presents the author's experiences working with international content in the higher education classroom to explore successful examples of intercultural material that can benefit students pursuing a degree in any field. The author explores how social science courses in general, and anthropology courses in particular, that work from a foundation of cultural relativism and standpoint theory can equip students with important knowledge and skills that promote tolerance and respect of cultural difference. Finally, the author demonstrates that students finish courses like these with a better understanding of and appreciation for the cultural differences that exist all around them.

Cross-Cultural Differences in the Valuing of Dominance by Young Children

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 256-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rawan Charafeddine ◽  
Hugo Mercier ◽  
Takahiro Yamada ◽  
Tomoko Matsui ◽  
Mioko Sudo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Cultural Difference ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Japanese Culture ◽  
Developmental Research ◽  
Cross Cultural Differences ◽  
Cultural Research ◽  
Cross Cultural Research ◽  
Dominant Individual

AbstractDevelopmental research suggests that young children tend to value dominant individuals over subordinates. This research, however, has nearly exclusively been carried out in Western cultures, and cross-cultural research among adults has revealed cultural differences in the valuing of dominance. In particular, it seems that Japanese culture, relative to many Western cultures, values dominance less. We conducted two experiments to test whether this difference would be observed in preschoolers. In Experiment 1, preschoolers in France and in Japan were asked to identify with either a dominant or a subordinate. French preschoolers identified with the dominant, but Japanese preschoolers were at chance. Experiment 2 revealed that Japanese preschoolers were more likely to believe a subordinate than a dominant individual, both compared to chance and compared to previous findings among French preschoolers. The convergent results from both experiments thus reveal an early emerging cross-cultural difference in the valuing of dominance.

scholarly journals Ethnic Entrepreneurs and Political Mobilization: Exploring a Case of Tharu-Pahadi Conflict

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 191-208
Author(s):  
Ishwari Bhattarai
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Cultural Difference ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Political Mobilization ◽  
Electoral Behavior ◽  
The Other ◽  
Leadership Position ◽  
Ethnic Mobilization ◽  
Ethnic Entrepreneurs ◽  
Society Today

Nepalese society today is witnessing an unprecedented sharpening of ethnic boundaries. In the last couple of decades or so, there have been growing instances of inter-ethnic conflict and clashes. The clash among the Tharus and Pahadi (Bahun-Chhetri) communities that took place in the month of May, 2012 in the Nawalparasi district is one such example. Borrowing the conceptual idea from Fredreick Barth (1995) who critically engages with the question of culture, ethnicity, and contemporary nature of ethnic mobilization, this paper seeks to explore how such conflicts are an epiphenomena of tactical moves carried out what he calls as ‘middle echelon politicians’. Through the qualitative data collected with the help of open-ended interviews and couple of other illustrations, this paper argues that, the contemporary character of ethnic mobilizations in some way or the other, are manipulated by ethnic entrepreneurs who politicize cultural differences, ethnic sentiments, and collective backwardness which often result in violent confrontations. Despite the Tharus being diverse and sharply divided in terms of political allegiance and electoral behavior, the leaders or activists use politics of cultural difference, and attempt to mitigate internal differences, to present a consolidated picture of ethnic unity. Through such actions ethnic leaders or activists selectively mobilize ethnic sentiments and symbols in order to motivate members of an ethnic group and also assume leadership position at both local and national levels.

scholarly journals Children in Asian cultures say yes to yes—no questions: Common and cultural differences between Vietnamese and Japanese children

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mako Okanda ◽  
Shoji Itakura
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Cultural Difference ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Response Tendency ◽  
Japanese Children ◽  
Cross Cultural Differences ◽  
Asian Children ◽  
Familiar Condition ◽  
American Children ◽  
Different Response

We investigated whether children's response tendency toward yes—no questions concerning objects is a common phenomenon regardless of languages and cultures. Vietnamese and Japanese 2- to 5-year-old ( N = 108) were investigated. We also examined whether familiarity with the questioning issue has any effect on Asian children's yes bias. As the result, Asian children showed a yes bias to yes—no questions. The children's response tendency changes dramatically with their age: Vietnamese and Japanese 2- and 3-year-olds showed a yes bias, but 5-year-olds did not. However, Asian 4-year-olds also showed a yes bias only in the familiar condition. Also, Asian children showed a stronger yes bias in the familiar condition than the unfamiliar condition. These two findings in Asian children were different from the previous finding investigated North American children (Fritzley & Lee, 2003). Moreover, there was a within-Asian cross-cultural difference. Japanese children showed different response tendencies, which were rarely observed in Vietnamese children. Japanese 2-year-olds and some 3-year-olds showed a “no answer” response: they tended not to respond to an interviewer's questions. Japanese 4- and 5-year-olds also showed an “I don't know” response when they were asked about unfamiliar objects. Japanese children tended to avoid a binary decision. We discussed the cross-cultural differences.

scholarly journals The Political Salience of Cultural Difference: Why Chewas and Tumbukas Are Allies in Zambia and Adversaries in Malawi

2004 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 529-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIEL N. POSNER
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Cultural Difference ◽  
Natural Experiment ◽  
Political Competition ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Coalition Building ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Arena ◽  
Political Coalition ◽  
Large Groups

This paper explores the conditions under which cultural cleavages become politically salient. It does so by taking advantage of the natural experiment afforded by the division of the Chewa and Tumbuka peoples by the border between Zambia and Malawi. I document that, while the objective cultural differences between Chewas and Tumbukas on both sides of the border are identical, the political salience of the division between these communities is altogether different. I argue that this difference stems from the different sizes of the Chewa and Tumbuka communities in each country relative to each country's national political arena. In Malawi, Chewas and Tumbukas are each large groups vis-à-vis the country as a whole and, thus, serve as viable bases for political coalition-building. In Zambia, Chewas and Tumbukas are small relative to the country as a whole and, thus, not useful to mobilize as bases of political support. The analysis suggests that the political salience of a cultural cleavage depends not on the nature of the cleavage itself (since it is identical in both countries) but on the sizes of the groups it defines and whether or not they will be useful vehicles for political competition.

scholarly journals NO CROSS-CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN THE GETTIER CAR CASE INTUITION: A REPLICATION STUDY OF WEINBERG ET AL. 2001

Episteme ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minsun Kim ◽  
Yuan Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Strong Evidence ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Cultural Difference ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
East Asians ◽  
Replication Studies ◽  
Cross Cultural Differences

AbstractIn “Normativity and Epistemic Intuitions” (NEI), Weinberg, Nichols and Stich famously argue from empirical data that East Asians and Westerners have different intuitions about Gettier-style cases. We attempted to replicate their study about the Gettier Car Case. Our study used the same methods and case taken verbatim, but sampled an East Asian population 2.5 times greater than NEI's 23 participants. We found no evidence supporting the existence of cross-cultural difference about the intuition concerning the case. Taken together with the failures of both of the existing replication studies (Nagel et al. 2013; Seyedsayamdost 2014), our data provide strong evidence that the purported cross-cultural difference in intuitions about Gettier-style cases does not exist.

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