Social life – American vs Asian Culture

The differences between Asian and Western cultures can be quite broad in many aspects. In todays world most major western cities are cosmopolitan, offering an array of cuisine, clothes, electronic goods, alternative religions and much more, giving us a taste of exotic destinations. Because of the competitive nature of most airline carriers we can now visit these destinations quite cheaply and the very reason why we want to experience the magic of Asia is because it is absolutely completely different to Western culture.

In social science, a social relation or social interaction refers to a relationship between two, three or more individuals (e.g. a social group). Social relations, derived from individual agency, form the basis of the social structure.

Based on social relation, culture between Asian and Western culture is quite different. We can see the differences from some aspects which are in treating family, respecting the older,  greeting friends, and believing religion.

Treating extended family

Family is extremely important in Asian cultures with much importance being placed on the elderly members of the family. The elderly are much revered in Asian society and it needs to be said that we don't show the same respect to the elderly in Western culture. Asian has close family ties. They love to stay together in one roof. Even if they are already married and have kids, their parents and other siblings will love stay with them . There are times that some relatives will join with them too. We call it extended family but they enjoyed living together. When parents and grand parents are already old, children and grand children will take care of them personally. They will not take them to the nursing homes. In western culture, older and sick people will be brought to the nursing homes under the care of the nurses and care givers. They have no time to take good care of their old people in their own homes. While individualism is highly valued in the US and the West, collectivism is highly valued in the East and Asian countries. It is much harder to commit a crime against your neighbor in Asia considering the shame and embarrassment it causes your family than in the US.

Respecting the older

Showing respect to the old people is one cultural values of the people in the Asian countries. In the Asian culture the young showed respect to the older folks by calling them uncle or auntie even if they are not related to them by blood as long as they are older, the young will not call them by their names. In western culture, the young people will just call the old ones by their names. I feel very uncomfortable hearing little kids calling the adults by their names. In our country, even the side walk vendors whom we do not know  who they are,  we still call them, ate, kuya, manong or manang as a sign of respect if they are older than us. In the Western culture, the sons and daughters in law just call their parents in law by their names. In the Asian culture sons and daughters in law call their parents in law the same as what their spouses call them.

    Greeting friends

     Another difference is in Greeting a friend. In the Asian culture, they greet their friends by shaking hands or patting the shoulder. Western people hugged and kissed to greet their friends. They don't care whether men or women as long as they were friends, they will hug to greet each other when they meet. The Asian people don't hug and kiss to greet each other. Since they are conservative people, they considered it indecent  act  hugging their friends in the opposite gender.

    Believing religion.

From the very first religion has separated the east from the west. Coupled with their strange and different religious styles plus distance geography once it was thought east and west would never met. We have and both sides like what is seen. Together we now have more experiences, better understanding and a future that holds great promise.

First, the Western world is primarily Christian while the Asian world is dominated by Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism. The rituals and beliefs between these religions vary greatly and underlie the two cultures whole world view. For the Christian West, monotheism is espoused and rituals observed, while the Buddhist and Taoist focus on meditation and release from the problems of life. So, for Christians it is much more about worship of an entity, whereas for Buddhists and Taoists it is about contemplation and spiritual freedom without a Creator God.

The Asian culture place a lot of emphasis on religion. Not only do they incorporate a God, whether they be Chinese, Japanese or Indian, but some of their religions incorporate a way of life and betterment. Western culture follows the belief systems stipulated in the bible, and although we have the ten commandments they don't include spiritual enlightenment as does Buddhism.