Culture can be approached from a deep and broad perspective when it comes to its shared meaning, site of contestation, and as a resource. As a shared meaning, culture gets to be approached from the perspective of groups in their need to communicate at the deeper and superficial level. It is essentially the shared meaning from one generation to another in the wider scope of making sense, expressing and giving meaning to our lives (Nanda & Warms, 2015). Culture as a site of contestation, it is continuously in the struggle to seek attention, superiority, and recognition from different groups and societies bearing in mind it belong to no one. As a resource, culture defines and derives from deeper perspectives where it can be sold, bought, and capitalized for empowerment and capitalization (Kronenfeld, 2008).
Culture has the inherent power and capacity of positioning almost each and every individual in the society in the different identities that are around us. Personally, I find myself in the mix of culture where my Caucasian heritage distinguishes me from other races I interact with on a daily basis. I am defined by my nationality as an American citizen with rights and freedoms entrenched in the Constitution and take pride in my country. The people around me see and appreciate my capacity as someone with a likable personality and capable of giving a helping hand whenever the situation arises.
My positionality is very important for my overall well-being in the way I view the world and on the various standpoints available for review. I see the world from a wider perspective as opposed from a narrow one common in the high-class societal position I was raised. I want to believe that there is so must injustice that thrives around the world that has the oppressed and subordinated groups under constant exploitation from the capitalists. Racism and discrimination are still prevalent that often guts at my conscience. The good thing is that I have risen from such outdated and unproductive perceptions such that I can engage in intercultural communication with the diverse groups of people. I strive to learn and understand their language in the process of seeing the world from their perspective (Demerath, 2012).
- Demerath, L. (2012). Explaining culture. Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.
- Kronenfeld, D. B. (2008). Culture, society, and cognition: Collective goals, values, action, and knowledge. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
- Nanda, S., & Warms, R. L. (2015). Culture counts: A concise introduction to cultural anthropology. New York: Cengage Learning.
