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Week 6: Individualism vs. Collectivism 27 May 2020
Week 6: Individualism vs. Collectivism
27 May 2020
Dear friends,
In this post, I am going to discuss cultural individualism and collectivism and how they can affect a multicultural classroom.
Firstly,
to understand the two ideas, we need to take a look at the bigger concepts,
“atomism” and “holism.” Atomism gives priority to the individual parts of the
whole, whereas, holism prioritizes the wholeness and considers that its parts
are all interconnected. Based on these ideas, we can build an understanding of
how cultures can differ in this aspect. Collectivism dominates in most
cultures, nowadays (Asia, Hispanic cultures, the Middle East, Africa, etc.)
Other countries, such as the US and Canada, are known to follow individualism.
In collectivism, everything and everyone is interrelated. People do things that
benefit the group, the whole family, or society. They do what fits the local
norms and fulfill expectations, as well as try to not stand out. Meanwhile,
individualism encourages and praises self-expression or the one who sticks out
with something different and new.
Secondly,
individualism and collectivism affect people in various aspects of their life.
In a traditional family, where collectivism is followed strictly, children obey
the elderly family members’ will about their education, work, marriage,
everyday activities, etc. On the contrary, individualism lets people express
their will and make decisions on their own. These descriptions are about the
extreme ends, of course. In many countries, people take advice from their
parents and relatives, but still make their own decisions. I also have to
mention that both of these cases may lead to unexpected results. One who
unwillingly follows a parent’s advice may end up making the best decision of
his/her life. Another person, who always practices self-expression and
individuality, may end up failing over and over. Therefore, none- of these
ideologies guarantees a high success rate.
The third thing I want to discuss is that people should not be quick when
judging others’ actions. In other words, what people are doing might not be
what they want to do. Someone who lives within the collectivist culture might
have to do things only to please the society or family. Another person, who
seems to have much freedom of choice and seem the luckiest in that aspect,
might not know how to use that freedom in the right way. So, what people see is
not always what they think it’s like.
While
watching this video, I gained some insights about how teachers can better
address the students' needs in a multicultural classroom. I think teachers
should try to keep a balance and not focus on just one ideology. They can reach
harmony in this aspect if they understand that students come from different
backgrounds, and families, even those who come from the same country, may
follow a different belief. So, teachers should not give in to bias. They can
consult with the parents or conduct personal interviews with the students to
get to know their background better.
Some
conflicts that may arise could be between the teachers and the parents because
of what the student experiences. For example, many immigrant families, who
believe in collectivism, do not want their children to integrate into the new
collectivist culture. Hence, this may cause family problems. Parents might get
in a conflict with teachers and schools for teaching their children new norms,
or asking them to do something that would not be approved in their culture,
etc.
In
conclusion, collectivism, and individualism both work and they both have
advantages and disadvantages. People usually follow the one they are raised
with. However, here is a question I have been considering. Can a balance be
achieved between collectivism and individualism?
Hi, I never realized that sometimes the things that we do may bring conflict with the parents and to the culture that the students follow. I will surely remember to be careful so that this situation can be avoided.
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