The Culture Of The Family When You Were Growing Up
The Culture Of The Familywhen You Were Growing Up Did Your Family Eat
The prompt asks: When you were growing up, did your family eat dinner together? How were stories, routines, and rituals used to communicate a sense of your culture? It also asks you to reflect on parenting practices across cultures, particularly how your parents' practices regarding punishment were influenced by their cultural background. Please reference key concepts from Chapter 7.
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Growing up, family dinner routines played a significant role in fostering a sense of cultural identity and connectedness. Regular shared meals provided an opportunity for family members to communicate, reinforce values, and uphold traditions. In my family, dinner was not merely a daily routine but a culturally significant ritual that reinforced familial bonds and cultural heritage. During these meals, stories about ancestors, cultural history, and personal experiences were shared, instilling a sense of belonging and cultural pride in younger family members. These stories functioned as a way of transmitting cultural norms and reinforcing values such as respect, collectivism, and resilience.
Routines and rituals, such as passing dishes or saying traditional prayers before meals, further solidified our cultural identity. These rituals fostered a sense of community and continuity, linking generations through shared practices. According to Chapter 7, routines such as shared meals and rituals serve as communication mechanisms that reinforce cultural norms and social cohesion within families (Chapter 7, p. XX). They act as symbolic acts that communicate cultural values without explicitly stating them, embedding them into everyday life.
Cultural influences on parenting practices, particularly regarding punishment, vary widely. My parents' approaches were informed by their cultural backgrounds, which emphasized respect for elders, discipline, and educating children through correction rather than harsh punishment. For example, in my family, discipline often involved verbal correction and natural consequences rather than physical punishment. This aligns with the concept in Chapter 7 that different cultures have distinct disciplinary strategies based on their values, such as authoritarian versus authoritative parenting styles (Chapter 7, p. XX).
My parents' practices reflected cultural values that prioritize harmony and the avoidance of shame, often resorting to reasoning and discussions to correct behaviors. This approach is rooted in collectivist cultures that emphasize family cohesion and social harmony (Triandis, 1995). In contrast, some Western cultures may favor more individualistic approaches, emphasizing personal autonomy and independence, which might include different disciplinary methods.
Furthermore, the use of stories and rituals in our family served as indirect disciplinary tools, teaching children about cultural expectations and behavioral norms. These practices also fostered an environment where respect for authority and social harmony was cultivated gradually through storytelling and routine rituals. This aligns with the concept that cultural values shape parenting practices, influencing whether discipline is expressed through physical punishment, verbal correction, or reasoning (Hofstede, 1980).
In summary, my upbringing centered around family dinners, storytelling, and rituals that communicated cultural identity and values. The disciplinary practices were influenced by cultural norms emphasizing respect, harmony, and education through non-violent means. These practices exemplify how culture influences parenting strategies, communication, and the transmission of values across generations.