Culture is a factor that significantly influences people’s behavior, perspective, views, and even outcomes in life and cannot be avoided. It is usually passed from generation to generation, from parents to children, and is interrelated with the concepts of ethnicity and society. Yet, culture does not stay unchanged; instead, it is constantly experiencing external impacts which enable it to add or remove certain aspects. Essentially, culture constitutes a social construct that becomes subject to reformation on the part of different actors, especially people, but also of times and various contexts (Ganassin, 2019). Individuals are immersed in a cultural environment from the moment of birth, and often they do not notice certain traditions, norms, and practices that they espouse because of their unique culture. That is why it is of great importance to analyze one’s cultural experiences and family traditions to determine how exactly they affect one’s conduct and beliefs. Comparing one culture to another can help facilitate this process and discover how exactly cultural influences function. My Haitian heritage shaped the way I act in life and think, and it is interesting to conduct a comparative analysis of cultural elements of Haitian, American, and French cultures.
Haitian culture is special and extremely diverse since it incorporates numerous elements of other cultures, particularly French and African, which makes it welcoming to other peoples and nations. Religion plays a major role in the lives of Haitians; as of 2018, half of the country’s population was Catholic, twenty percent were Protestant, and ten percent did not have any religious beliefs (United States Department of State, 2018). The majority of my relatives and I are Catholic, and the norms and principles associated with this Christian denomination affect my actions and the way I view the world around me. For instance, Catholicism teaches believers to be respectful of others and show humility to people in need, especially the poor and the most vulnerable members of society. This principle is valued in my family, and I always try to give money to charity and participate in different volunteer activities in the church. Additionally, some of my relatives also practice voodoo and are convinced that there are so-called “Iaw,” or spirits that are unseen to people whom they have to serve. Despite our religious differences, we, as parts of one family, do not have any conflicts and demonstrate absolute respect for each other’s beliefs.
It is evident that the Haitian culture promotes religion as a crucial element in the life of every human being, the one which often predetermines their values. This approach is quite similar to the American culture, where religion is also seen as important and where numerous denominations exist and seventy percent of the population espouse the Christian worldview (Pew Research, n.d.). The situation is quite different in France, where secularism and religious non-affiliation are perceived as normal and integral to its society. The French government even passes laws that limit the religious freedom of members of other religions, such as Muslims. For example, in 2010, the country ruled a ban on full-face coverings such as burqas and niqabs (Silverstein, 2020). This shows that the Haitian culture is closer to the American one since the latter upholds the right to religious freedom.
Family is another essential factor in the life of every Haitian since we tend to have extended families where many relatives live together or at least interact with one another on a daily basis. Equality in the family is not as popular as in western countries, and generally, members in the family have roles according to their gender and age. Men are always in charge and have to make the main decisions concerning family, and their words must be perceived by others as orders which should not be contested. Nevertheless, currently, there is a trend in the community for a more equal and fair distribution of authority within family units while the aforementioned model becomes a relic of the past. For example, I asked my grandmother who had more power in her family, and she said that her father was extremely authoritative and she perceived it as a norm. As a result, when she married my grandfather, she acted as an obedient wife, a model she adopted by watching her own mother’s behavior.
As was mentioned earlier, the Haitian approach to family roles is slightly different from the western one because of its patriarchal nature. Despite the fact that in the American and French cultures, patriarchy has always been prevalent, the recent decades show a rapid transition towards equality. According to the latest polls, in the U.S., the women who describe themselves as feminists constitute sixty-one percent, while in France, the number is sixty-eight percent (Barroso, 2020; Statista Research Department, 2020). Personally, I also identify as a feminist, but due to my family’s traditions, I view certain roles such as cooking as mostly female-specific.
Elderly people are respected in the Haitian culture, which is also characteristic of my family and our perspective on how a senior person has to live in society. As in most cultures worldwide, the younger generations are expected to treat the older ones with reverence and listen to what they have to say. In the Haitian community, when an elderly individual becomes unable to function on their own, the responsibility of their family is to ensure that this person has the support and assistance they need. Generally, it means that grandmothers, grandfathers, and other senior members of the family start living with their children where they receive care. This particular type of relationship is also relevant for my family since my grandparents live with us. Moreover, the older generation is often tasked with raising children when parents are at work. For example, my grandmother often spends time with me when I was a child because my mother and father had their careers. Such interactions between different generations also facilitate the process of passing wisdom and knowledge.
The situation with the treatment of the senior generations in the western countries also differs from the Haitian approach. In the U.S. and France, families often decide not to let their older relatives live with them and send them to residential facilities instead. For instance, the population of nursing homes in the U.S. constitutes more than one million people (Centers for Disease, n.d.). While in France, this number is more than seven hundred thousand (Alliance Vita, 2018). This scenario would be unacceptable for our family and me personally; it would be disrespectful towards a senior individual. My Haitian culture plays a major part in my views of the role of the younger generation with respect to the older ones. When my parents require assistance, I will immediately let them move in with me and will provide them with care and support.
It is also interesting to talk about taboos in the Haitian culture, which exist to this date and affect the lives of the members of the community. One of the main taboos is homosexuality, and people who engage in a relationship with individuals of the same sex tend to keep such matters private. Often, they even fear talking about it with their parents because they may face punishment. Some members of my family are homophobic, but I am a tolerant person who is accepting of other people’s lifestyles and preferences. My views are more influenced by the western perspective on the topic of homosexuality. For instance, in France, more than eighty percent of the population perceive homosexuality as simply another way of “living one’s sexuality” (“French more accepting,” 2019). While in the U.S., sixty-seven percent of people believe that same-sex marriages have to be legal (McCarthy, 2020). This shows a significant difference in the perception of the three cultures, yet, there is definitely a trend within the Haitian community towards improved inclusivity.
I am Haitian, and my native culture is diverse, yet to understand how exactly it affects me, it is necessary to compare it to other cultures and their traditions. Religion plays an important role in Haitian culture, and it impacted my worldview. As a member of a Catholic family, I am certain that living according to God’s will is essential. Another factor affecting my worldview is family relations. Haitian families respect their elders and never let them remain alone or without support, especially senior parents whom Haitians never send to nursing homes. The majority of Haitian families espouse a patriarchal model, where the husband has absolute authority in terms of major decisions. There are also taboo topics such as homosexuality which are not discussed and kept a secret within the community.
References
Alliance Vita. (2018). Nursing homes in France: Both the elderly and their caregivers are suffering. Web.
Barroso, A. (2020). 61% of U.S. women say ‘feminist’ describes them well; many see feminism as empowering, polarizing. Pew Research Center. Web.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Nursing Home Care. Web.
French more accepting of LGBT people but clichés persist, survey says. (2019). France 24. Web.
Ganassin, S. (2019). Understanding intercultural communication: negotiating a grammar of culture. Language and Intercultural Communication, 19(5), 441–443. Web.
McCarthy, J. (2020). U.S. support for same-sex marriage matches record high. Gallup. Web.
Pew Research. (n.d.). Religious landscape study. Web.
Silverstein, J. (2020). France will still ban Islamic face coverings even after making masks mandatory. CBS News. Web.
Statista Research Department. (2020). Percentage of individuals defining themselves as feminist in France in 2014 and 2018, by gender. Web.
United States Department of State. International Religious Freedom Report for 2018. Web.