Cultural Imperialism

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Cultural Imperialism

It is important to maintain culture and some people have managed to do this for many years. However, the more the world becomes a global village and more people become exposed to the western cultures, the more people from different cultures are willing to embrace the western ways. They are willing to abandon part of their cultures, such as foods, clothes, and language, for the adoption of the western way of life. Cultural imperialism occurs when a predominant culture forces its own beliefs and lifestyles into another. It has benefited some people in significant ways. For instance, it has led to awareness in the way certain classes of people are treated by the society. Women’s rights and freedoms are debated world over. Not all cultures share the concept of giving women certain rights because they hold an inferior position and prohibiting them from doing some things is the only way of ensuring that they maintain their place.

Many people who advocate for the preservation of culture fail to distinguish between the people and the culture. It is possible to maintain different aspects of culture while at the same time enabling people to transform and learn concepts that are different from their own (Kwame). So long as people are benefiting from the new cultures and are willing and ready to accept it, then they should have the freedom to adopt it. Women should not continue living in oppression or experiencing different forms of injustices just because they are practicing their culture. Culture should benefit everybody. The majority of people should embrace the new culture and not feel like they are being forced to do something that is against their will.

People have a way of making choices when it comes to cultural values. Although they will adopt some aspects of a new culture, they will also retain the beneficial aspects of their own. For instance, globalization has affected most parts of the world. People are exposed to many aspects of the western culture. This is mostly because of the internet and popular media such as television programs and movies. However, even in areas where people have access to such media, they do not copy everything they see. They still want to be unique and differentiate themselves from other cultures. Moreover, the way their interpretation of the message is different (Kwame 1). They will interpret what they see based on their understanding, which is largely influenced by their culture. The consideration of women’s experiences is crucial when determining their rights. Women are not a collective group. They come from different cultures, each of which is unique (Steiner, Alston and Goodman 542). One woman’s experiences will differ from another. What one woman perceives as a violation of a right may not mean much to another

There are many diverse aspects of a culture. Advocating for women’s rights does not constitute a violation of the convention of cultural diversity so long as people are still able to retain different elements of their culture. In many cases, cultures have defined human rights, and this involves treating women the right way. However, due to the patriarchal nature of some societies, some people end up mistreating women as a way of ensuring they retain their power and prestige, and they choose to ignore the existing human rights. Any harmful cultural practices that violate women’s rights should be banned (Avnon and De-Shalit 68).

Works Cited:

Appiah, Kwame A. “The Case for Contamination.” The New York Times. 1 Jan. 2006. Web. 22 April 2014

Avnon, Dan and Avner De-Shalit. Liberalism and its Practices. New York, NY: Routledge, 2012. Print

Steiner, Henry J. Philip Alston and Ryan Goodman. International Human Rights in Context: Law, Politics, Morals. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print