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SOCI310 Intercultural Communication- Dr.Fares

Identity Paper
Omar Kasti

11-November-2020

Rafik Hariri University

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Abstract

In this paper, I will be informing the reader how my culture shaped my communication,

behavior and attitude.

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Contents
Introduction...............................................................................................4
1.Communal Identity................................................................................4
1.2 Hofstede’s Indices...............................................................................6
Individualism vs collectivism................................................................6
Uncertainty Avoidance..........................................................................7
Power Distance......................................................................................7
Masculinity.............................................................................................8
Long Term Orientation..........................................................................8
2. Social and Relational Identity...............................................................8
3. Personal Identity...................................................................................9
Conclusion..............................................................................................10
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Introduction

           We all have a certain image of ourselves, how we look, how people see us, this image

could be fake or deluded, but every person needs to realize their identity so that he or she

understands why they act in a certain way and what influences there decisions. As human beings,

we are quick to identify ourselves using our circumstances, how others perceive us, our

behaviors, or our positions in life. It could be when someone discovers their own identity that

they become a better human being, you as a person must always be the most criticizing and

critiquing person you know. 

            In this paper, I will be talking about myself Omar El Kasti, my communal identity, social

and relational identity, and personal identity. However, this will not be my biography but rather a

study of my culture, attributes, values, and behavior. 

1.Communal Identity

I am Lebanese, this country is middle eastern Arabic surrounded by Syria and Palestine,

Lebanon is a special country with a unique culture influenced by many cultures. The influence of

Arab culture is clear in the Lebanese culture, as a child I was raised to be helpful, responsible,

and generous. Generosity is an important quality integrated from the Islamic backgrounds of this

culture as Muslim’s emphasized helping each other, I will talk more about Islam in my social

and relational identity part of this paper. The male has a certain image in the Lebanese culture

that has been the same for many generations, a man is responsible for the family, he should

provide for his children and wife and carry any burdens along the way. The golden generation

some say, others say it is the technological generation, I was born in the year 2000 the first

generation of the 21st century. As I grew up, I realized how fast things are changing, but still

also grounded by the fact that I am experiencing the changes unlike how older generations view
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my generation which is spoiled and have an easier reach for information, I had the same

technologies as a 90s child in the U.S due to the time it took a new console or television to reach

the stores in the middle east. This globalization does have its benefits, I learned English mostly

from videogames and TV, shows and movies were now viewed at home rather than cinemas

which result in a change of perspective especially from my parents’ generation, it is okay for a

woman to be in the workplace, it is acceptable to marry in later age and many other western

ideologies. I come from the Lebanese middle class which is the class of Lebanese people who

stayed in the country after the civil war and started rebuilding again. Middle-income families

want the effort they put to reach this status to be even increased with their children, which means

the expectations are high and mistakes are not allowed, these families will risk all their positions

to provide education in elite institutions, because eventually, the children will be a source of

income to them, in most cases when they leave Lebanon and send money back. This is very

common in my generation and it is a disadvantage when you have educated people moving out

of the country. The state of uneasiness that every parent is living in daily, to see his or her

children become successful is a struggle in this country or region, a region described as a ticking

clock waiting to explode. 

To sum up what all this contributes to this is what identity is, beliefs, attitudes, behavior.

I am Lebanese raised by a middle-income parent who taught me to always survive, try harder, be

responsible, and achieve my best.    

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1.2 Hofstede’s Indices

Individualism vs collectivism

           Family comes first, love each other, sharing is caring, these were the phrases that I

remember hearing the most from my grandparents. Thursdays are family days we visit both my

grandparents, and we are joined by my aunts, uncles, cousins. It's important to greet everyone

this shows respect for the elders and children, also in my family, it's common to kiss the hand of

the elders. Respect and discipline are fundamental in my culture, elders have more experience

and are usually the ones who resolve family issues. This unfortunately comes with a lack of

privacy, if something unpleasant or outstanding occurs, you would expect the whole family to

know and news spreads fast in Lebanese households. Also, success is shared in the family’s

parents like the praise of having successful children, also families celebrate every milestone,

graduation, marriage, new-born babies, and new opportunities. Families also mourn together, its

tradition for all members to reunite for 3 days and remember the person, talk about them, and

wish them a happy afterlife. This isn’t only limited to my family it's very common in Beiruti

(from Beirut) families and varies slightly from one Lebanese family to the other.

Uncertainty Avoidance 

           The Lebanese culture could have a high uncertainty avoidance or a low one, this shows

how the Lebanese are very diverse, if we consider the Lebanese culture as a religious culture we

could see how it’s of high uncertainty avoidance, a person could refer to their religion or a

religious figure and resolve that uncertainty and the rules that are set by said religion decrease

the occurrence of uncertainty. However, the other side of Lebanese culture especially with the

newer generations is to bend the rules and try to accept and feel comfortable in unstructured

situations or changeable environments and try to have as few rules as possible. 

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Power Distance

           Lebanon would rank high on the power distance dimension, people accept hierarchical

order where every person has their place and responsibilities, these roles do not require any

justification it is preferred to just move on rather than judge the system. These roles are usually

inherited from one generation to the next. Also, we see this inheritance deep into the culture,

when a person passes away his or her family inherit their company, house, money… This moves

up the power ladder, many families are still in power for hundreds of years, the rich of the 1900s

are still rich and the poor keep on getting poorer, the gap increases every year which shows why

Lebanon ranks high on this dimension. Furthermore, some Lebanese people may see themselves

as superior to others, the Kafala system shows how most Lebanese essentially are paying for

foreigners to work for them, some people treat these workers as slaves, basically taking their

passport, phone, and personal belongings. The Wasta (Arabic word which translates to 'who you

know') system is another product of this hierarchy, Wasta is a way of life you need it to get to

work, to get promoted at work, to enter certain places, to get you a place at university or even a

hospital bed. 

Masculinity

           My culture is driven by success, everyone wants to be the best, some people use a certain

profession or education based on money and titles, rather than what a person likes. In Lebanon,

people live to work, and if they are providing for their children any job is acceptable. Besides

that, men are usually the ones in power and have higher positions, in many family’s priorities of

education is given to the man and opportunities are much more available for males. 
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Long Term Orientation 

           I was always told to think about my future for every poor grade I received, an

unacceptable decision I took, and the choice I had to make this is what I had to think about.

When your culture believes in good and bad destiny, you should always consider acting well to

achieve the best outcomes for the future. I was always independent, and I knew long ago the

track I wanted to follow in my life and my choices are based on this goal I want to achieve. If we

live in the past we would be just going backward instead of forwards, learning from our parents'

mistakes is important, and knowing what they went through for being too indulged in the present

motivates our generation to do better. The elders tell us to not commit the crimes and violence

they did, and because my culture is respectful to elders, we learn from their mistakes for our

future. 

Social and Relational Identity       

   I am the middle child, I have three brothers, two younger than me and one older, being

the middle child didn’t affect my childhood or how anyone in the family treated me. As I grew

up my parents started depending on me more like the responsible son, I never minded that, it has

improved my leadership skills.

  I am Muslim, I was raised on the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet, Islam is a very

deep religion which focuses on being a good person, helping the poor, discipline, and dedication.

I always had an open mind to religion, people think my religion is correct and all religions are

false, but my spiritual journey showed me that every religion has some characteristics that attract

people to it.

In school I was not in a diverse environment, my school was very strict about discipline

and grades which put pressure on me during my school experience. When I started making
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friends outside school from all over Lebanon, I started learning how diverse the culture is. In

addition, my behaviors and attributes were the same as my friends although we come from

different backgrounds and religions the Lebanese culture is special in this aspect. 

I started working as a volunteer at a young age, it is important to work together for the

benefit of people in need, it was encouraged to always help others. My other jobs were with

children in summer camps, professional experience shows how the Lebanese culture is very

precise, hardworking, and that the best outcome is a success. I started playing football at 8 at a

local football club, we were from different schools and backgrounds, I learned teamwork and

that losing is acceptable if you put the effort in. 

3.Personal Identity

           Meeting new people and searching for new hobbies changed my perspective on life, my

religious self is private, and I try to treat everyone like friends even by just smiling or praising

someone it would be enough. 

           I am a new person every year, my past experiences good or bad help me in learning what

to do, loving myself, and encouraging myself to achieve my best is difficult sometimes. In a

culture where everyone is seeking success; I seek fun and happiness. My ambitions are many,

money however is never what I aim for, it may just be a good consequence of my hard work. 

           I believe that life gets better and whatever situation I am in right now I will look back

someday and say that I went through that with a positive attitude. Looking at the light at the end

of the tunnel even if the tunnel never ends is key in challenging any obstacle someone faces. 

           We should embrace tradition and religion, it's who we are literally, but try to always have

an open mind to people of different cultures and backgrounds. I have no problem in meeting

anyone in this world there are only two types of people Good and Evil, whatever the personal
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beliefs I will give them my time and effort, you never know who the next person you meet in life

could be. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, I have presented my identity in this paper I hope I read this in 10 years and

see how many people I met, how much I learned, and how much I changed. Identities are us, and

it is very important to learn about yourself.