5/28/2019; Week 6: Response to Emotional Expressivity.
This week continues our section on cultural differences. Our first topic concerns 'Emotional Expressivity.' Professor Ivers lectured at BYU-I on this topic (circa 2015), which covers the way various cultures express emotion in public. On the low end would be Asian and Scandanavian countries: They tend to show less emotion in public. On the high end would be Hispanic and Middle Eastern countries, who tend to easily and often express emotion in public.
Even within countries, such as the USA, there can be considerable differences from one area of the country to another. Ivers specifically mentions differences between the Northeast (more expressed emotion) and the South (less expressed emotion.) Since Iver's class is set in Idaho, USA, he threw in some Intermountain Mormon as well, which he considered on the less emotional expressivity end.
I discussed some provincial differences in my blog post of 5/21/2019. I mentioned my own experience moving to Texas, both as a child, as an adult, with the emphasis on the 'culture shock' of moving to the South in the USA.
Let me now go the other direction. I have lived in Texas for many years now, and acquired an accent that others consider Southern,( but is considered vaguely Western with a touch of Southern to Texans). I have noticed some interesting aspects of how Southerners are judged by the rest of the USA. First and foremost: Racist. All white southerners are considered racist. Period. A life of civility and kindness to others will not suffice; you must actively prove - somehow - that you are Not racist.
Next, that southerners are both welcoming and close-minded. I believe this stems from a misunderstanding of the culture. It is considered polite to make 'small talk' with everyone - the grocery store clerk, the person standing next to you in a line etc.- whether you know them or not. It is acknowledging the other person's existence and value as a human being. By the same token, it is expected of men to show their own personal good manners to open doors for females, and for everyone to help the aged and infirm. It is not acknowledging weakness in others, but showing consideration for others.
Some non-Southerners mistake this culture of friendliness to others as a willingness to change long-held opinions for new ones. For example, when a Southerner is perfectly willing to chat with the Mormon missionaries and wish them all the best, but have zero interest in the LDS church per say.
When this happens, Southerners are written off as close-minded. (How else could anyone that open be unwilling to listen to the gospel ?) This may also be why white Southerners have to prove they are not racist; people from other areas cannot tell the difference between basic politeness and a true feeling of brotherhood with all people - or a true interest in learning more about Mormonism.
Spreading this difference out to areas with even further gaps in emotional expressivity - such as an English as a Second Language class with a mix of Asian and South American students, it seems difficult to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome. Since I intend to teach adults, it might have value to note those differences early on in the classes, with an appeal to each person to make an effort to understand each others cultures.
Even within countries, such as the USA, there can be considerable differences from one area of the country to another. Ivers specifically mentions differences between the Northeast (more expressed emotion) and the South (less expressed emotion.) Since Iver's class is set in Idaho, USA, he threw in some Intermountain Mormon as well, which he considered on the less emotional expressivity end.
I discussed some provincial differences in my blog post of 5/21/2019. I mentioned my own experience moving to Texas, both as a child, as an adult, with the emphasis on the 'culture shock' of moving to the South in the USA.
Let me now go the other direction. I have lived in Texas for many years now, and acquired an accent that others consider Southern,( but is considered vaguely Western with a touch of Southern to Texans). I have noticed some interesting aspects of how Southerners are judged by the rest of the USA. First and foremost: Racist. All white southerners are considered racist. Period. A life of civility and kindness to others will not suffice; you must actively prove - somehow - that you are Not racist.
Next, that southerners are both welcoming and close-minded. I believe this stems from a misunderstanding of the culture. It is considered polite to make 'small talk' with everyone - the grocery store clerk, the person standing next to you in a line etc.- whether you know them or not. It is acknowledging the other person's existence and value as a human being. By the same token, it is expected of men to show their own personal good manners to open doors for females, and for everyone to help the aged and infirm. It is not acknowledging weakness in others, but showing consideration for others.
Some non-Southerners mistake this culture of friendliness to others as a willingness to change long-held opinions for new ones. For example, when a Southerner is perfectly willing to chat with the Mormon missionaries and wish them all the best, but have zero interest in the LDS church per say.
When this happens, Southerners are written off as close-minded. (How else could anyone that open be unwilling to listen to the gospel ?) This may also be why white Southerners have to prove they are not racist; people from other areas cannot tell the difference between basic politeness and a true feeling of brotherhood with all people - or a true interest in learning more about Mormonism.
Spreading this difference out to areas with even further gaps in emotional expressivity - such as an English as a Second Language class with a mix of Asian and South American students, it seems difficult to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome. Since I intend to teach adults, it might have value to note those differences early on in the classes, with an appeal to each person to make an effort to understand each others cultures.
Comments
Post a Comment