Cultural
Conflict
Intercultural
conflict is a type of conflict which involves two parties having an incompatibility and disagreement base on diametrically opposing views, beliefs
and ideologies. This is brought
about by deeply rooted and ingrained cultural
values clashing with a set of totally different ones from a different culture domain. The following
case study involves
a case of inter-culture conflict, its analysis and recommendations. Abby Lennon is
a typical American girl and a close friend.
She is a resident and studies in New York where she was born and
brought up.
Question 1: Example of inter-cultural
conflict which someone the writer knows has experienced. . It involves one
person from own culture.
Recently, Abby went on a charity mission to Tanzania in Africa and experienced a first-hand intercultural
conflict. The Maasai people she was
working with hold a cultural value
of girls undergoing initiation to be valued as complete women. Abby was met
with resistance and lack of cooperation when she approached
the men to teach
them the dangers of female genital mutilation on their daughters.
They opposed the attack on
their long life cultural practice of initiating girls into womanhood (Delpit, 2013).
Question 2:
Describe the conflict objectively, explaining the factors which led to
the conflict and how it was or was not resolved.
The intercultural due to differences conflict impeded Abby’s mission of conducting a civil education programme about dangers of FGM. The Maasai people were resistive and uncooperative finding it offensive for one to denounce such a strong rooted cultural practice. Abby came from a liberal metropolis in New York where people were more liberal and open minded. She saw no big deal in her taking the campaign mission to their doorstep. This was a norm rather the exception from where she came from. Her intentions and actions were purely to educate the locals about the dangers and effects of FGM). The Maasai saw this as an intrusion and threat to their norms and lifestyle. To resolve the conflict, Abby realised she had to go down a peg and make a few concession. She stood to lose by failing to meet her expected goals set by the mission head. She changed strategy from a direct approach and communal address to a more indirect proxy communication. She talked the area chief and headman, and they agreed to convene a forum where selected community leaders were trained to retrain their peers. She also took a less conspicuous door to door one on one campaign strategy where the men felt less threatened or publicly challenged by the same lady. She also did away with an all-out attack on FGM and acknowledged its cultural importance to them but cautioned and pointed out the negatives of the practice (Delpit, 2013).
The intercultural due to differences conflict impeded Abby’s mission of conducting a civil education programme about dangers of FGM. The Maasai people were resistive and uncooperative finding it offensive for one to denounce such a strong rooted cultural practice. Abby came from a liberal metropolis in New York where people were more liberal and open minded. She saw no big deal in her taking the campaign mission to their doorstep. This was a norm rather the exception from where she came from. Her intentions and actions were purely to educate the locals about the dangers and effects of FGM). The Maasai saw this as an intrusion and threat to their norms and lifestyle. To resolve the conflict, Abby realised she had to go down a peg and make a few concession. She stood to lose by failing to meet her expected goals set by the mission head. She changed strategy from a direct approach and communal address to a more indirect proxy communication. She talked the area chief and headman, and they agreed to convene a forum where selected community leaders were trained to retrain their peers. She also took a less conspicuous door to door one on one campaign strategy where the men felt less threatened or publicly challenged by the same lady. She also did away with an all-out attack on FGM and acknowledged its cultural importance to them but cautioned and pointed out the negatives of the practice (Delpit, 2013).
Question 3: Apply
the worldview theory (innocence/guilt, honour/shame, power/fear) to your
example and try to analyse each person’s perspective. Analysis should
demonstrate your understanding of all three worldviews. Remember to support
your opinions with examples and evidence.
Abby had approached the projected on an innocent/guilt world perspective. She came out with a blunt message that FGM was bad. She tried using deductive reasoning that FGM endangered the woman in giving birth to future. The Maasai, however, held the honour/shame perspective. They believed the initiation process was culturally honourable as a passage of right. One who resisted or denounced it brought dishonour and shame to her family. The Maasai world view also conflicted with the power/fear view Abby and a powerful U.N agency she worked under which to the Maasai was seeking to dominate them. The mission body and Abby in perspective were representing a powerful side imposing their beliefs and culture on the Maasai people.
Abby had approached the projected on an innocent/guilt world perspective. She came out with a blunt message that FGM was bad. She tried using deductive reasoning that FGM endangered the woman in giving birth to future. The Maasai, however, held the honour/shame perspective. They believed the initiation process was culturally honourable as a passage of right. One who resisted or denounced it brought dishonour and shame to her family. The Maasai world view also conflicted with the power/fear view Abby and a powerful U.N agency she worked under which to the Maasai was seeking to dominate them. The mission body and Abby in perspective were representing a powerful side imposing their beliefs and culture on the Maasai people.
Question 4: Using your intercultural intelligence,
recommend a better way to respond to the conflict.
A recommended way of resolving intercultural conflict is by understanding and respecting of others cultures. The first step is in understanding and acknowledging the different views and beliefs held. The second part is to find common grounds of agreement and work towards them. Both parties should be willing to make concessions and avoid rigidity in their stands. Combining aspects of different views to appeal to all is vital. In the end, tolerance and respect should be adopted in dealing with intercultural differences whenever
A recommended way of resolving intercultural conflict is by understanding and respecting of others cultures. The first step is in understanding and acknowledging the different views and beliefs held. The second part is to find common grounds of agreement and work towards them. Both parties should be willing to make concessions and avoid rigidity in their stands. Combining aspects of different views to appeal to all is vital. In the end, tolerance and respect should be adopted in dealing with intercultural differences whenever
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