Role Play Paper Intercultural Relations Free Essay
In this case, we observe the conflict that occurred between the teenagers of Hispanic Culture – Catholic Religion and Egyptian and Muslim Religion. In our study of cross-cultural communication, we can identify psychological, sociological, and linguistic aspects that result in the effectiveness of interaction.
Firstly, from the sociological part, the above-mentioned intercultural communication was not very effective due to different values and stereotypes manifested in the behavior of people. We consider the behavior of Teresa, who did not understand the reasons for Isis’s being worn with so many clothes on such a hot day and Isis’ reply to this.
From the psychological part, one can explain the reaction of the Egyptian student to the negligent remarks about her culture. First, the impact of cultural differences on the processes of categorization and interpretation as well as the nature of the relevant behavioral patterns influenced the emerging communication process or transmitted through its complex categories – values, motives, attitudes, stereotypes, and prejudices.
There were misunderstandings due to being from different cultures. Isis’s primary reason to dress in this manner is that it is a part of her culture. She likes meeting her cultural expectations and being an active part of her culture. By dressing more moderately and concealing more Egyptian culture states, they are showing respect for themselves and others within their culture.
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Teresa, on the contrary, underlines that there are cultural differences in dress expectations in society for the American culture where people used to wear in the way they like to express their individuality. According to the Egyptian culture, the women, being dressed modestly, not only eliminate unnecessary attention but also keep concealed until they present themselves to loved ones in a more private home setting. Isis has adjusted to U.S. customs, but nothing in these customs informs about the dress and apparel expectations that freedom to be who an individual wants in America gives a right for Egyptian girl to be who she is.
I think that if an unwanted conflict with other cultures still could not escape, and one feels that it was his or her fault, he or she should try to refrain from demonstrating a negative response. Isis reacted very rudely stating that Teresa dressed like a slut. That was wrong for her, but she accepted an apology. However, she still could not understand why girls from other cultures had their bodies for everyone to see. For her, this means disrespecting herself. In Isis’s culture, women should only show their skin to their husbands at home in a private setting.
Teresa, from her point of view, believed that she should not cover her body all up and let people guess what her gorgeous body was underneath that. She was up brought into a society with free opinions, which were constantly opposite to Isis’s cultural values.
In this case, the girls, to prevent misunderstandings, used the so-called “active listening” when they repeated the interlocutor’s words, waiting for confirmation of correct understanding of the statements. However, even that does not guarantee a one hundred percent match between the message and its interpretation, if affected by some extra-linguistic cultural nuances.
After a talk, the two girls exhausted their conflict. They used such methods of conflict resolution as fostering communication among problem-solving, disputants. They drafted agreements that meet their underlying needs and found a win-win solution. They agreed that they should not be fighting over why people from different cultures dressed differently and should learn to accept other people as being special to them and letting them do as they wish. Isis concluded that Teresa had a right to choose whether to display her body to everyone whereas she had chosen to display it only to her husband. Cultural differences are what make this country great, and both girls should learn to live regardless of what people think. Both cultures are different; however, the girls agree that does not mean they cannot share in their freedoms of being in America now and does not mean they cannot be friends.
To conclude, one should underline that differences will always exist in cultures.
The girls would become friends and try to learn more about each history and culture of each other. Perhaps, a trip to Egypt and familiarity with Isis’s family, with their traditions and concepts would help Teresa to understand the essence of the Egyptian culture. Teresa could introduce Isis to her friends. Naturally, each of the girls left to her own opinion, but they could take steps to meet each other.
