Sociology – Assignment I

Cultural Diversity

Syeda Filza Haider 01-154192-066 BS Media 2(A)

Ms. Latafat Aziz Sociology March 27, 2020

The world is made up of over seven billion people who belong to different kinds of cultures. From the
Native Americans in the US to the Mongols in Mongolia, every ethnic group has its own culture. And the
coexistence of these cultures within a society without homogenization or cultural hegemony is cultural
diversity.

What is culture?
Culture is the lifestyle - a way of being – for ethnic groups. For every ethnic group in a race, there are
certain aspects of their culture that define their identity. For example, Muslims in the sub-continent make
halwa on Shab-e-Baraat and dress in shalwar kameez on Fridays; Mursi women from southwestern
Ethiopia have lip plates; the Chinese deep-clean their homes on New Year’s eve; members of the Māori
culture in New Zealand greet each other by pressing their noses and foreheads together.

Culture is a set of unwritten but lasting rules passed down through language from generation to
generation. Sometimes there are certain reasons that support a ritual, but there are also times when people
cannot explain why members of their ethnicity perform that action. This is because people are inclined to
accept their culture as simply the way to exist. Anything else to them is strange and jarring, as evident in
the concept of ‘culture shock’ . 1

Where do cultural practices come from?

A society’s religion and geographical territory (including climate and environment) are what make its
cultures. For example, the culture in Middle-eastern regions involves both men and women dressing in
long, loose garments made with light fabric (tawb for men; abaya for women) because of the desert
climate. They have also been covering their heads even before Islam spread its influence due to the harsh
daylight and cold nights (climate).

Using the example of the Arabs again, their culture includes cooking that uses dates, olives, and lamb a
lot. This is because the most common livestock in that region were sheep and camels and date and olive
trees grew in abundance (environment).

Vegetarian cuisine is extremely popular in India, being an essential part of its culture. This comes from
the Hindu religion, in which meat and some other ingredients are forbidden. And, it is the norm to greet
each other with Salam in Pakistan because it’s a part of Islam. These parts of the culture come from
religion rather than the climate or environment.

1. Culture shock: the effect members of a culture experience when immersed in an entirely different culture. E.g., a rural
Pakistani finding American culture shocking when visiting the US.
Cultural Diversity
The heterogeneity and independence of cultures existing within a single society and/or social group is
cultural diversity. For instance, if a society’s members include African Americans, Indians, Mexicans,
Europeans, Arabs, and East-Asians, as they practice their respective cultures, it will be considered a
culturally diverse society.

The inclusion of members of different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds without social prejudice and
racism is cultural diversity. If a society has members from different ethnic and cultural groups but they do
not/are not allowed to practice their culture, it is not culturally diverse. Instead, such societies are
monocultural due to ethnocentrism. Examples of such societies may include certain communities in the
USA – especially historically – and even the Pakistani society, to an extent.

Cultural Diversity in Pakistan

Pakistan is a heterogeneous country, comprising of many cultures and religions. The ethnic groups in
Pakistan include Baloch, Hazaras, Pashtuns, Punjabis, Pothwaris, Sindhis, Saraikis, Kashmiris, Makranis,
Baltis, Burusho, and Muhajirs, out of many others.

Pakistan’s dominant religion is Islam, however, and that influences the cultures in the country in an
essential manner. From greeting styles to food, weddings, funerals, and naming, the Pakistani society
follows Islam – the Sharia laws and Sunnah – very closely.

And, by association, a considerable part of the Middle-eastern culture (especially Saudi-Arabian), has
been integrated into Pakistan’s culture. The concept of wearing an abaya and naming children with ‘Ibne’
and ‘Binte’ suffixes are examples of Arabic culture being infused in Pakistani society.

There is also significant Western influence integrated into the lifestyles of the pre-Independence urban
societies, such as the ones in Karachi and Lahore, from the era of the British rule in the sub-continent.
Now, due to globalization, there’s also an American influence on Pakistan’s urban societies.

Aside from external influences, there is a significant amount of xenocentrism amongst several cultural
groups in Pakistan. There is also a deep sense of religious exclusivism in the Muslim majority that –
either directly or indirectly – suppresses other religious groups, such as the Hindus and Christians.

Although Pakistan appears to be a culturally diverse state, it’s actually an amalgamation of different
cultural and religious groups suppressing others. Urdu is the national language of Pakistan, but many
urban Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun, etc. groups fall into two extremes with the language: they either hate it
and refuse to speak it unless necessary, or they abandon their native languages in favor of blending in
with the historically-urbanized groups in major cities. The same applies to their culture, which results in
cultural attrition (or acculturation).

Now, the majority of the bourgeoisie classes are more attuned to Western cultures instead of their native
identities. The adoption of the American lifestyle - in regards to social relationships, religion, and values -
is evident in nearly all urban groups.

Thus, it can be said that Pakistani society is actually consisting of various pseudo-cultures, set apart only
in physical attire and the ‘secular vs. religious’ differences. There is almost no ethnic group in Pakistan
that is entirely subscribing to its original culture; instead, these groups have been reshaped by Middle-
eastern influences and then Western ideologies.
The cultural diversity that is celebrated in Pakistan is not an acceptance of cultural differences; instead,
it’s surface-level momentary cooperation that’s represented through a superflux of Pashtun pakuls,
Punjabi bhangras, Sindhi ajraks, and Urdu poetry. There is still ethnocentrism that flips into
xenocentrism upon exposure to different cultures prevalent in Pakistan.

Introducing Cultural Diversity in Pakistan

Ethnic groups in Pakistan can celebrate their cultures by accepting them in a way that does not imply
they’re superior over others.

1. Acceptance of one’s own culture: The first step that should be taken in order to make the
Pakistani society culturally diverse would be to accept one’s own culture and values. There is no
shame in being belonging to a culture that’s vastly different from the ones shown in popular
(mostly American) TV shows, or having a mother who’s unable to communicate in English or
Urdu.

2. Respect for differences: Ethnic accents or dressing styles should not be subjected to ridicule, a
pakul is not merely a hat to be worn in cultural festivals, and a saree is not a symbol of
Bollywood influence or Hinduism, it’s a traditional garment worn by the women of many
cultures. The association of cultural pride with daily attires and preferences should be put an end
to. If a person prefers to wear jeans over shalwars on regular days, it does not mean they are
ashamed of their culture. And, similarly, if a person feels comfortable listening to music in their
native language, it does not mean they harbor animosity towards those who prefer Western
music.

3. Recognition of other cultures: An Urdu-speaking family in Karachi is not Hindustani or Sindhi

– they’re Muhajirs, and they are allowed to take pride in the customs of their ancestors that were
practiced in the region that is now India instead of Pakistan. Gilgitis are not the same as
Kashmiris or Baltis or Pashtuns – they have their own identity and culture. Pashtuns are not a
carbon-copy of Afghans, Saraikis are not “hybrid Sindhi and Punjabi”, and not all Muhajirs are
from Dehli or Lucknow.

4. Empowering all cultures: The Pakistani entertainment industry and media should be used to
spread acceptance, through movies, dramas, and children’s programs. A new wave in Urdu,
Pashto, Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi, etc. literature and art should be encouraged, creating stories and
poetry that would attract the modern generation and keep the languages alive.

5. Acceptance through languages: A multilingual society should be promoted instead of

suppressed through Westernized-conditioning. Language clubs and competitions should be
inclusive of all the native languages of Pakistan and not just English and Urdu.

6. Acceptance and diversity from family institutions: Couples that belong to different ethnic
groups should cultivate a culturally diverse environment for their children to grow in. Marriages
between members of different cultures should not be shameful; instead, they should be
encouraged.

7. Valuing cultural heterogeneity: most importantly, it should be established that no culture is

flawless. And that is because culture is not an innately flawless institution. Certain aspects of it
may become redundant, but that does not mean the entire culture should be abandoned.
 Modifying a culture is not mutilating it; it’s a progression that should not be fueled by
globalization.

No change can be brought without the active participation and consent of all ethnic, gender, religious, and
age groups. Comfort with one’s own identity will allow the acceptance of other cultures, so it’s important
to be aware of one’s ethnic and religious values along with a deep respect for those who are different.