American vs. Chinese Culture

Psychological anthropology is the study of individuals and their personalities and identities, within particular cultural contexts (Miller, 2007). Although American and Chinese people atomic number 18 raised in different cultures, their cultures argon somewhat similar. Even though individuals are raised thousands of miles apart, is it possible to possess some of the same personality traits? In the American culture, treat showers are held to celebrate the impending birth of a baby. Family and friends bring many necessities needed for the new baby, such as, clothes, money, bottles, stroller, car seat, and or diapers. erstwhile the baby is born it is the American culture to separate babies by gender. It is everyday for boys to be dressed in blue and girls to be dressed in pink. As they grow, boys are promote to bout with trucks, action figures and guns to promote forcefulness and power. Whereas, girls are encouraged to play with dolls, cook with toy stoves, and play house to prom ote nurturing. As the child grows into adolescence, this is reinforced in the chores delegated to them. Boys are expected to cut the grass, scud out the trash, and help out with any another(prenominal) handyman jobs.Girls are expected to wash dishes, do the laundry, sweep and mop floors. Hence, the stereotyping begins. This stereotyping is evident in adulthood. work force are labeled as providers, protectors, and head of the household. Men are expected to work to support their families. Men are often pressu carmine to assert their masculinity and strength within in that respect jobs and at home. Today, men are beginning to take on more responsibilities within the home. Women are labeled as mothers, housekeepers, and nursemaids, to name a few.Many years ago, women were not respected in the workforce. Their job selection was very slim, mainly secretaries. However, during World War II women took the place of men in the workforce showing they could perform the jobs just as well as th e men. Today, women are highly accredited in the workforce and hold high powered positions within companies and even own their own businesses. Once men and women reach their senior years, they halt achieved their social status. They are afforded the opportunity to retire from the workforce.In doing so, they are able to travel or just enjoy life at their leisure. They no longer have to pay taxes and imbibe their social security benefits as their compensation for working. Unlike the American culture where there is no animosity over the gender of babies, Chinese culture is different. Boys are considered treasured, so much so that years ago infant girls were killed. In doing this China has created an imbalance in the male to female ratio. In the Chinese culture, a babys birth is not celebrated until the infant is one calendar month old.The family holds a red egg and ginger party. This is the clip when the parents introduce their baby to friends and family, who bring gifts for the ba by boys receive lucky money and girls receive expensive jewelry. Parents present each guest with a dyed red egg to symbolize happiness and the renewal of life. Traditionally, gender roles in China are similar to the ones in the United States. The man goes to work, the woman is a housewife. This is changing, especially with the one child policy in China.Women are not needed at home as much to take care of children since families are altogether allowed to have one child. In some cases, a family is allowed to have two children. For example, if the first born is a daughter, they may be permitted to have another child. There is a lot less social outdistance among Chinese people compared to Americans. It is a collectivist culture people depend on each other and take care of each other. Chinese people spend a lot less time alone than Americans do. One example of this is the family unit is very close in Chinese culture.It is very parking area for three or more generations to belong to gether because a lot of people still live with their parents when they have established their own families. Chinese people are more reserved when it comes to physical tangency or showing public display of affection, especially in romantic relationships. Chinese people enlightened physical contact very gradually compared to Americans. Premarital sex is a lot less viridity in China than in the United States. Both cultures show traits of openness by allowing individuals to explore their peculiarity of the world and show their emotions.They also allow for individuals to be conscientious of their actions, to be self-disciplined, and to be cooperative towards others. Although two cultures are different it is possible for individuals to share the same traits. ? REFERENCES Chinese Culture. (n. d. ). Retrieved February 3, 2010, from English in Taiwan. com http//www. englishintaiwan. com/foreigners/chinese_culture. php sexuality Gender Roles and Stereotypes. (2010). Retrieved February 3, 2010, from Marriage and Family Encyclopedia http//family. jrank. org/pages/686/Gender-Gender-Roles- Stereotypes. tml Miller, B. D. (2007). Cultural Anthropology. Boston Allyn & Bacon. Olsen, A. (2009, April 10). Chinas Population Laws Threaten Baby Girls, Favor Boys. Retrieved February 3, 2010, from The Huffington Post http//www. huffingtonpost. com/2009/04/10/chinas-population-laws-th_n_185626. html Therese Hesketh, P. , Li Lu, M. , & and Zhu Wei Xing, M. (2005, September 15). The Effect of Chinas One-Child Family Policy after 25 Years. Retrieved February 4, 2010, from The New England Journal of medical specialty http//content. nejm. org/cgi/content/full/353/11/1171