Integrating Insights- Reflecting on Culture and Interactions Through TED Talks and Course Material
What the Speaker’s Experience Means To Me
The video of choice for the reflection is the TED Talk titled “The danger of a single story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The speaker talks about how individuals tend to take one aspect, in most cases a negative one, of an individual or even a whole community, isolating that aspect so that it is the only thing that is associated with the said group, then perpetuating it from one generation to the next. In America, these aspects are linked to race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and other attributes that make people different. As such, there is a lot of discrimination based on these aspects, which results in inequality, oppression, violence, and other adverse effects. The speaker’s experience with the danger of a single story resonates with me because, living in a country with many diverse communities, we are plagued with single stories. Get in touch with us at eminencepapers.com. We offer assignment help with high professionalism.
Significant Theories and Concepts in Understanding My Experiences
One major theory that helps me understand my experience is the theory of symbolic interaction. The symbolic interaction explains how one’s social interaction influences not only our behaviors but also our thoughts and decisions (Oktarina & Yaqin, 2021). One of the foundations of humanity is how people treat each other as humans, and as much as people would wish to believe that they will treat each other fairly, this is not the case. Since birth, how humans treat each other is highly influenced by the information they consume about that other person. People’s behavior towards other people is influenced by what they think they know about other individuals. These are otherwise known as stereotypes. They could be either implicit or explicit. The symbolic interaction theory explains that behavior is based on the meaning people attribute to others, and this meaning is built on the social interaction they have with those people.
In addition, the theory also adds that the more people interact with each other, the more they reevaluate and reinterpret their knowledge of each other based on the interactions they have (Aksan et al., 2009). The speaker clearly explains the experiences of people who have been subjected to the single story, making it a perfect example of how symbolic interactions affect people’s behaviors towards each other. Not interacting with a certain community and only being exposed to stories about them creates an imbalance, leading to stereotypes. For example, when that community is viewed only from one point of view, most Mexican stories I have seen on the news are about illegal immigration, labor workers, and drug cartels. As such, other people only view Mexico using these lenses. This is dangerous because the meaning given to drug dealers and illegal immigrants in society is not favorable.
Another significant theory that helped me understand my experience is conflict theory. The theory argues that society comprises the haves and the have-nots, whereby individuals are competing for limited resources. Accordingly, the theory states that these resources are evenly distributed, which means that there is a group that has wealth, power, and unlimited resources while the other group is left with little to no resources (Ferrare & Phillippo, 2021). Further, the theory also proposes that this division is based on race, gender, social class, and ethnicity. Numerous studies have demonstrated that resources are distributed evenly among the diverse cultures in America. There are a lot of resources in schools in high-income neighborhoods, while others in poor neighborhoods are allocated the least or useless resources. In addition, neighborhoods with a high population of a certain race, like African American or Latino, are not as highly valued as those with a majority of white people.
Further, there is a significant pay gap between men and women in workplaces, and white people earn more money than other races. In trying to understand all these inequalities that people face based on things they cannot control, theories like the conflict theory help me understand my experience. Accordingly, some people are bound to suffer based on things they cannot control, like their sex, sexuality, and race.
Another concept that helped me understand my experience is the cultural perspective. This concept states that people are shaped by the environments in which they are raised, as well as cultural and social factors. Individuals often judge people on their actions; however, few rarely understand what caused that behavior. Most people automatically assume that a person should know what is wrong and right. In this quick judgment, they overlook the causes of that person’s behavior, which are a major factor. For example, a person who does not believe in women’s rights, like equality in places of work, abortion, gay rights like the right to marry, or the rights of disabled people, may have been raised in an environment that contradicts these issues. As such, sometimes, instead of condemning that person’s perspective, it is better to try to expose them to different environments to help get rid of the single-story point of view.
Another significant theory that helps explain my experience is the theory of cultural imperialism. It is also referred to as cultural colonialism, whereby a dominant culture imposes its ways on the lives of other individuals from different cultures (Danail, 2022). Most colonized countries have suffered from cultural imperialism, and they have been forced to abandon their own ways and embrace foreign ways in the name of civilization. Subsequently, this explains how some people from different cultures seem to share some ways of life. For example, fairy tales like Cinderella and Snow White, which originated in America, have become embedded in most cultures globally. In turn, the stories and fairytales from these cultures have been abandoned and forgotten.
Lessons Learnt from My Experience and Moving Forward
From my experience, I have learned just how crucial multicultural competency is. Multicultural competency can be described as one’s ability to interact, understand and appreciate individuals from cultures that are different from mine. As mentioned before, it is not enough for people to make assumptions about people that they do not know based on what they have heard. Instead, one must seek out their own experiences with other individuals. Consequently, this will play a major role in stopping stereotyping, discrimination, and prejudice. Moving forward, I will make it a priority to be multiculturally competent. One way to do this is to develop an awareness of my own cultural biases and values. Secondly, I will learn how to value other people’s standpoints and learn a set of culturally proper interpersonal capabilities (Berry, 2005).
Impacts of My Experience on My Thinking and Practice
Through multicultural competence, I will be more open-minded about other people’s worldviews and be able to understand where they are coming from. In addition, in my practice, I will be able to improve how I communicate and encourage conversations with other people. I can ask questions, correct or be corrected on any misunderstandings, and build trust with other individuals.
Applying the Ideas in the Future and Opportunities for Future Growth
Such practices will be useful not only in my school but also in my career and my social life. Moreover, one opportunity for future growth will be making local connections. I will find local venues or organizations like advocacy groups or social clubs in my area that work with people from different cultures and try to engage with them. Secondly, I will attend diversity-focused conferences that provide formal training on diversity-related research and practice issues. Lastly, learning about my culture and myself will help me learn the pervasive role my culture plays in my life (Weigl, 2009).
References
Aksan, N., Kısac, B., Aydın, M., & Demirbuken, S. (2009). Symbolic interaction theory. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 1(1), 902-904.
Berry, J. (2005). International Journal of Intercultural Relations. Acculturation: Living successfully in two cultures, 29, 697-712.
Danail, A. E. (2022). The Role of Literature in Challenging Cultural Imperialism. Cihan University-Erbil Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 6(1), 35-39.
Ferrare, J. J., & Phillippo, K. (2021). Conflict Theory, Extended: A Framework for Understanding Contemporary Struggles over Education Policy. Educational Policy, 08959048211042567.
Oktarina, R. A., & Yaqin, M. A. (2021). SYMBOLIC INTERACTION OF ARAB ETHNICITY AS A CULTURAL IDENTITY IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Wasilatuna: Jurnal Komunikasi dan Penyiaran Islam, 4(2), 142-154.
Weigl, R. C. (2009). Intercultural competence through cultural self-study: A strategy for adult learners. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 33(4), 346-360.
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Question 
For this assignment, you will write a reflection paper on one of the following TED talks. In the Self Reflection assignment, examine the effect of course material on your assumptions and knowledge about the role of culture or your everyday interactions with others from a different culture, religion, or socio-economic group. While the reflection is subjective, the paper should integrate your experience and the course readings.
Integrating Insights- Reflecting on Culture and Interactions Through TED Talks and Course Material
Adichie, C. (2009, July). Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story
Pariser, E. (2011, March). Eli Pariser: Beware online “filter bubbles” [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_online_filter_bubbles
Rosling, H. & Rosling, O. (2014, June). Hans Rosling and Ola Rosling: How not to be ignorant about the world [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/hans_and_ola_rosling_how_not_to_be_ignorant_about_the_world
Association for Psychological Science. (2015, January 29). Transgender kids show consistent gender identity across measures. Retrieved from https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/transgender-kids-show-consistent-gender-identity-across-measures.html
enlightenedAfter referring to the TED talk, respond to the following questions.
What does the speaker’s experience mean to you?
What 5 theories or course concepts help you to understand your experience?
What have you learned from the experience?
How might you move forward from this point?
How might the experience affect your thinking and practice?
How can you apply these new ideas in the future?
Identify 3 opportunities for future growth or engagement.
The reflection paper should be formatted in APA style, and include 3 scholarly references. The paper should be between 1000 and 1500 words.