MODULE 3

International Communication and Globalization: Contradictions and Directions

The globalization of communication implies the freedom of movement of ideas, information, images, and

reporters. It follows economical and military globalization:

McLuhan’s predictions, which state that because of technological advancements,

An argument in favor of this remark is the fact that globalization is based on communication, but it is not

equally accessible to everyone.

90% of internet users are Westerners; in 2004,

USA, there were 195 million internet servers, in Europe 22 million, Africa only 300,000;

Globalization is a process that influences and is influenced by many aspects of contemporary life, including

the economy, international relations, society, politics, and religion.

Communication is also an integral part of these globalization processes.

Several scholars, including Anthony Giddens, David Harvey, Roland Robertson, Emanuel Wallerstein,

and Malcom Waters, have developed theories of globalization.

1. Time and space compression.

2. Global consciousness and reflexivity.- Robertson (1992) and Giddens (1990, 1991, 1994)

Reflexivity represents the idea that “knowledge spirals in and out of the universe of social life, reconstructing

both itself and that universe as an integral part of that process

3. Disembeddedness.

symbolic tokens, which “media of interchange which can be passed around” (Giddens, 1990, p. 22) and,

therefore, used to connect people across large distances.

the expert systems. Expert systems consist of people with specialized knowledge and special expertise in the

use knowledge.

International Communication

Waters (2005), however, suggested that communication and symbolic processes play an even more important

role.

Dynamics of globalization- in three central arenas of human activity: the economy, the polity, and culture.

These observations lead to three interrelated and interesting theoretical claims:

a. material exchanges localize,

b. political exchanges internationalize,

c. and symbolic exchanges globalize

Contradictions and Directions

As Giddens (2004) said, “Globalizing influences are fracturing as well as unifying, create new forms of

stratification, and often produce opposing consequences in different regions or localities” (p. 81). Likewise, it is

important not to view globalization as a universalizing process. As Robertson (1992) observed, “we are, in the

21st century, witnesses to—and participants in—a massive, two-fold process involving the interpenetration of

the universalization of particularism and the particularization of universalization” (p. 100). Further, “Globalism

does not necessarily imply homogenization or integration.

Globalization merely implies greater connectedness and de-territorialization”

(Waters, 1995, p. 136).

MODULE 4

Language and Globalization: Its Implication in the Workplace

Globalization, according to Thomas Friedman (2000) is the inexorable integration of markets, nation-states

and technologies to a degree never witnessed before- in a way that is enabling individuals, corporations and

nation-states to reach around the world faster, deeper and cheaper than ever before.

Relationship of Language and Globalization

1. Language contributes to the formation of culture.

2. Languages are the essential medium in which the ability to communicate across the globe develops

3. Knowledge of one or several languages enables us to perceive new horizons, to think globally, and to

increase our understanding of ourselves and of our neighbors.

4. Allowing languages and their cultures to spread and dominate on a global scale
leads to the extinction of other languages and cultures.

languages are, then, the very lifeline of globalization: without language,

there would be no globalization; and vice versa, without globalization, there would be no

world languages.

Globalization has influenced the evolution of the English language the most,

according to Dr Maria Leedham. Over the past 100 years it’s globalization – accelerated by new technology

– that has had the greatest impact on the English language. English is a world language now, the dominant

language of science, computing and academia in general.

As such with the following observations (Johnson, 2009):

● English-speaking workforce can help economies integrate and become more competitive on the world

market

● proficiency in English has become something of a commodity, valuable both because of its utility

● many firms have changed their corporate languages to the common tongue of English in efforts to

streamline communication and avoid leaving team members “out of the loop”

The Globalization of English Language

As Hjarvard (2003) pontificated, over the past two or three decades, English has come to occupy a singular

position among languages. What was previously only one among several dominant European languages, on a

par with French or Spanish, is today a world language,

that English has become the lingua franca of the global network: where the TCP/IP protocol secures

technical communication between computers via the internet, English is the “protocol” for oral and written

communication across national frontiers.

For Green (2011), the English language has been in widespread use around the world for well over a century,

starting with the days of the British Empire, and continuing as the United States became a political and cultural

superpower.

However, for Crystal (1997), other reasons for the spread of the English language include that it has become

the language of international relations, having been made official language in approximately 85 percent of the

12,500 international organizations listed in 1995-1996 Union of International Associations’ Yearbook; it is the

language of the press, advertising and broadcasting;

 MODULE 5

Impacts of Globalization in Communication

As Imhonopi and Urim (2010) contend, the transformation of the present era of human existence, which is

characterized by the twin concepts of globalization and the information economy is both sweeping and total in

many dimensions. For them,globalization has introduced overt changes into modern society, impacting every

sphere of life including social, economic, political, technological, educational and cultural processes

and institutions and affecting nearly all of the world’s people,creating tremendous challenges and

opportunities in its wake.

Globalization and employment

Communication skills development has always been an important factor of success in business, but the

influence of globalization and cross-cultural interaction in recent decades has impacted the types of

communication skills needed in dramatic ways.

Virtual Interactions

Globalization has introduced virtual communication and collaboration as a major part of workplace dynamics.

Modern entrepreneurs need to understand the strengths and limitations of different communications media, and

how to use each medium to maximum effect. For example, communicating via email to distant team members.

Cultural Awareness in Speech

The need for cultural awareness is a major impact of globalization on the required skills of effective

communicators, resulting in the evolution of communication skills development programs. Modern

entrepreneurs and employees need the ability to catch subtle nuances of people's manner of speech when

communicating across cultures.

Cultural Awareness in Body Language

Modern training programs teach students to understand acceptable speaking distances, conflict styles, eye

contact and posture in different cultures, accepting that the physical expressions of their own culture are

not universally accepted.

 Time Differences

The advent of global collaboration introduces another new dynamic to communication skills -- the need to

communicate and share information with people across several time zones.

Information Sharing

Many ethnic groups prefer to communicate indirectly. They ask questionsreluctantly, for fear of damaging

relationships or appearing incompetent.

Time Management

Some cultures treat time as limited. For example, employees in the United States typically view tasks as linear

and sequential.

Relationships

According to cross-cultural researcher Geert Hofstede’s theory of cultural dimensions, five dimensions can be

used to explain differences between cultures: power distance, individualism, uncertainty avoidance,

masculinity, and long-term orientation.

Indulgence

Multicultural workers may differ in their approach to the importance of happiness at work. According to

sociologist Michael Minkov, in a culture that values indulgence, a higher percentage of people declare

themselves happy. Work-life balance is important to these people.

MODULE 6

Intercultural Communication

Thinking About Culture

What does it mean to belong to a culture, and when you identify yourself as a member of a larger group, such

as us culture, to what exactly do you belong (Duck &McMahan, 2009)? We usually think of a culture or society

as basically geographical or ethnic – the East and the West, the majority and the minority. Significant

differences, of course, exist between societies indifferent parts of the world, and it is true that they speak

different languages; dress differently, and use different nonverbal systems.

Say, for example,

... in an international conference, different participants and presenters could apparently exhibit various

presentation skills including both verbal and nonverbal codes. However, a better way to see the relationship
 between culture and language is that culture does not create different communication but different

communication creates “culture”. Culture, therefore, in relation to communication cannot be viewed as

something represented by a particular group of people from a specific region or location that has exclusive

rituals, lifestyles, attitudes, beliefs and customs.

From this standpoint, doing or speaking different cultures can happen even within the same nation because

communication creates communities and cultures, and many subgroups of people have identifiable ways

of communicating differently from other people in a nation. Cultures are created through communication;

that is communication is the means of human interaction through which cultural characteristics, whether

customs, roles, rules, rituals, laws or other patterns – are created and shared.

To understand the implications of this communication-culture relationship, it is necessary to think in terms of

ongoing communication processes rather than a single communication event.

For example,

... when a three - person group first meets, the members bring with them individualthought and behavioral

patterns from previous communication experiences and from other cultures of which they are, or have been, a

part. As individuals start to engage in communication with the other members of this new group, they begin to

create aset of shared experiences and ways of talking about them. If the group continues to interact, a set of

distinguishing history, patterns, customs, and rituals will evolve. Some of these cultural characteristics would be

quite obvious and tangible, such that a new person joining the group would encounter ongoing cultural “rules”

to which they would learn to conform through communication. New members would in turn influence the group

culture in small, and sometimes large, ways as they become a part of it. In a reciprocal fashion, this reshaped

culture shapes the communication practices of current and future group members. This is true with any culture;

communication shapes culture, and culture shapes communication.

Second, we think of culture as something that other people have – unusual clothes,strange foods, or

odd customs like wearing French berets or Japanese geisha clothing,doing strange things with coconuts or

tulips, and featuring typical building (bamboo huts,Roman temples, Chinese pagodas) or landscapes (deserts,

swamps, the bush).

Believing that your culture is the benchmark of all others is called ethnocentric bias: Your own cultural way of

acting is right and normal, and all other ways of acting are only variants of the only really good way to act

(yours).

Culture as Geography or Ethnicity

Let’s start by looking at “culture” as a structure, place, and national identity that identifies.

This way of seeing culture focuses on large-scale differences between nation’s styles of religion or belief,

ideas of national dreams and goals, or preferred ways of acting. These value systems clearly differentiate, say,

“East and West” and the communicative differences they display. Usually referred to as cross-cultural or

intercultural communication, this type of understanding culture has a long history.

Cross – cultural communication generally compares the communication styles and patterns of people from

very different cultural/social structures, such as nation-states

intercultural communication deals with how people from these cultural/social structures speak to one another

and what difficulties or differences they encounter, over and above the different languages they speak,

When you start to look at “cultures” as identifiable racial, geographical, or national groups and to search for

their identifying features, you rapidly notice some important points: First, multiple “cultures” exist in one

society or national group. Second, multiple social communities coexist in a single society and talk

amongst themselves as part of their conduct of membership.

Transacting Cultures

The defining element is that you belong to a set of people who share meanings and styles of speaking, system

of beliefs, and customs. You live your life in the context of a communicating set of individuals who

transact a universe of thought and behavior that makes possible certain ways of treating other people.

For example,

goths’, punks’, and emos’ use of symbols like hairstyles, body piercing, cutting and self-harm along with a

relevant music genre and vocabulary transacts their identity and collectively forms the goth, punk and emo

culture.
Drivers and public transport operators in an organizations, athletes, or members of business organizations

could all be considered members of a unique culture. Students and instructors could even be considered two

interacting and integrated but separate cultural groups. Viewing societies and cultures as unique meaning

systems provides an opportunity to go beyond traditional structural views of cultures.

The major elements of culture are symbols, language, norms, values, and artifacts.

Language makes effective social interaction and possible and influences how people conceive of concepts and

objects.

Characteristics of Culture

1. Culture is learned. It is not biological; we do not inherit it. Much of learning culture is unconscious. We learn

culture from families, peers, institutions, and media. Enculturation is the process of learning culture.

2. Culture is shared. Because we share culture with other members of our group, we are able to act in socially

appropriate ways as well as predict how others will act. Despite the shared nature of culture, that doesn’t mean

that culture is homogeneous (the same).

3. Culture is based on symbols. A symbol is something that stands for something else. Symbols vary cross-

culturally and are arbitrary. They only have meaning when people in a culture agree on their use. Language,

money and art are all symbols. Language is the most important symbolic component of culture.

4. Culture is integrated. This is known as holism, or the various parts of a culture being interconnected. All

aspects of a culture are related to one another and to truly understand a culture, one must learn about all of its

parts, not only a few.

5. Culture is dynamic. This simply means that cultures interact and change. Because most cultures are in

contact with other cultures, they exchange ideas

Level of Subculture

Subcultures are groups with distinct patterns of learned and shared behavior (ethnicities, races, genders, age

categories) within a larger culture.

Super culture is a collection of cultures and/or subcultures, which interact with one another, share similar

characteristics and collectively have a degree of sense of unity. In other words, superculture is a culture

encompassing several subcultures with common elements

1. Class. It is a social category based on people’s economic position in society. Not all societies exhibit class

differences; ones who do not are called egalitarian

2. Race. It is the socially constructed meanings assigned to the perceived differences

between people based on physical traits (skin color, facial features, hair types). What differences we recognize

and the meanings we assign those differences are all culturally determined and not biologically created. These

physical features do not determine a person’s actions or explain their behavior.

3. Ethnic Group. It refers to people who identify themselves as a distinct group based on cultural features such

as common origins, language, customs and beliefs. Just because people choose to see themselves as

members of a specific ethnic group doesn’t mean that all members of that group are the same or share beliefs

and values. Ethnicity because it is a marker of group membership, can be used to discriminate.

4. Indigenous People. These are groups who have a long-standing connection with some territory that

predates colonial or outside societies prevailing in the territory.

5. Gender. It refers to the cultural meanings assigned to the biological differences

between the sexes.

6. Age. It is both a biological fact as well as being culturally constructed. While we can

reckon how many years old an individual is (biological age), what that means in

terms of rights and responsibilities are culturally constructed. Think of driving, drinking, and voting.

Communication as Path to Cultural Understanding

Cultures are what make countries unique. Each country has different cultural activities and cultural rituals.

Culture is more than just material goods--- that is the things the culture uses and produces. It is also the beliefs

and values of the people in a certain group. It is a word for

People's way of life and their meaning of the way they do things.

Exchange students, just like any visitors to a foreign country, also deal with cultural differences and make

adjustments.

Stages of Cultural Adjustment.

Cultural adjustment has four stages. According to UAZone, a travel website, the first stage of cultural

adjustment is, foreign students feel enthusiasm and excitement upon knowing that they will be going to other
country. In this stage the individual is very positive about the culture, overwhelmed with impressions, finds the

culture exotic and is fascinated by it and largely passive, and doesn't confront the culture. When foreigners

begin to interact with the culture of the host country, they find the behavior of the people unusual and

unpredictable. This is the stage when they feel withdrawn and experience loneliness. In the re-emergence

and adjustment stage, they begin to understand more of the behavior of people, feel more comfortable living

in or encountering the culture, feel isolated and regain they sense of humor. The last stage is achievement

and enthusiasm. In this stage the individual enjoys being in the culture, functions easily in the culture, prefers

certain culture behavior to that of his/her own culture and adopts certain behaviors

Concept of Culture Shock. More often, the cultural adjustment is accompanied with culture shock. There are

different symptoms of culture shock. These are homesickness, boredom, lethargy, withdrawal and irritability,

hostility toward local people, irrational anger, and excessive sleeping. Culture shock happens when a certain

culture is challenged by another way of thinking or doing something, which is part of the process of cultural

adaptation.

Culture shock also consists of several different stages.

The first stage is called the honeymoon period. This is the time when the foreign students still find everything

to be new and exciting. Sejal Mehta cited in his thesis dissertation entitled, ‘When the Fog Dissipates: A Study

on Cross-Cultural Adjustment of International Students’, the newly arrived students experience curiosity much

like a tourist. The emotions experienced are typically excitement, stimulation, and curiosity and hence the

behaviors in this stage are also guided by curiosity, interest, and self- assurance.

The next stage is the frustration or disintegration stage. Here, students may withdrawinto themselves,

thinking, “it is my fault, I am unable to adapt here”. A sense of confusion and disorientation with differences

between home and host culture become very noticeable. The students may experience an acute sense of

profound loss and disorientation regarding what can be expected of others and what others expect of them.

Students in this stage experience pain and helplessness.

Next is the autonomy stage. Mehta (2000) said, this stage is marked by increased sensitivity and

understanding toward the host culture. The students who emerge from the detachment of the first stage, the

self-blame of the second stage, and the hostility of the third stage are now in a position to build a new

perspective on their former identity and the new host culture.

The final stage is the process of adaptation. It is important to note that cultural adaptation does not follow any

clear timeline. The different stages may last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. The stages may

overlap or repeat themselves.

Factors affecting cultural adjustments. According to A. T. Church in his article entitled ‘Sojourner

Adjustment’ there are indices of adjustment needed to be distinguished: (a) extent of social interaction with

host nationals, (b) attitudes of the individuals towards home and host cultures, (c) home culture

patterns.

MODULE 7

Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity

Cultural Awareness is knowing that there are multiple different cultures – based on religion, ethnicity,

nationality and other factors – that have different attitudes and outlooks.

It is simply about helping us understand how we can best adapt our approaches, thoughts and decisions to

ensure we create positive outcomes in cross-cultural interactions. It is about respecting others’ cultures as

well as our own.

Cultural Sensitivity involves accepting those differences without insisting your

your own culture is better, or that everyone should do it your way. Cultural sensitivity skills are

sometimes called Cultural Competence (Sherman, 2018)

Sherman, 2018 has mentioned about Cultural Competence. So, what does it

mean?

Cultural Competence refers to an ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures and socio-

economic backgrounds, particularly in the context of human resources, non-profit organizations, and

government agencies whose employees work with persons from different cultural/ethnic backgrounds. Cultural

competence is a key practice in the learning frameworks, and the notion of cultural competence is embedded

throughout.

Cultural competence comprises four components:

1. Awareness of one's own cultural worldview,

2. Attitude towards cultural differences,

3. Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews,

4. Cross-cultural skills.

How to recognize your cultural competence?

● Indicators of cultural competence:

● Recognizing the power and influence of culture

● Understanding how each of our backgrounds affects our responses to others

● Not assuming that all members of cultural groups share the same beliefs and practices

● Acknowledging how past experiences affect present interactions

● Building on the strengths and resources of each culture in an organization

-Acknowledging how past experiences affect present interactions

-Building on the strengths and resources of each culture in an organization

According to Dabbah (2017), the idea behind cultural sensitivity is very straightforward. Cultural Sensitivity

refers to a set of skills that allows you to learn about and understand people whose cultural background is not

the same as yours, but what does that really mean?

According to Sherman (2018) observes that communicating in a diverse, multicultural environment can be

awkward.

Communicating Gender Sensitivity as Culturally Defined

● Growing up, boys and girls are often segregated, restricting them to socialize solely with individuals of

their own gender, learning a distinct culture as well as their gender norms.

● Gender exerts a powerful influence on all facets of human communication and raises many profound

social issues.

According to Odine O. De Guzman of University of the Philippines’ Center for Women’s Studies: Gender,

recognizes that prevailing gender stereotypes and women’s less valued social roles, control over and access to

material and non-material resources.

-Gender Sensitivity refers to the aim of understanding and taking account of the societal and cultural factors

involved in gender based exclusion and discrimination in the most diverse spheres of public and private life.

-Gender-Sensitive Language is the realization of gender equality in written and spoken language.used for

more inclusive and equitable representations of both genders. For instance, some suffixes can reinforce the
notion that women are subordinate or leading different jobs than men. As such, some words and suffixes

should be avoided to perceive men and women equally.

-Gender Equality is a core development objective in its own right. It is also smart economics. Greater gender

equality can enhance productivity, improve development outcomes for the next generation, and make

institutions more representative.

-Gender Equality in Language is attained when women and men and those who do not conform to the binary

gender system are made visible and addressed in language as persons of equal value, dignity, integrity and

respect.

-A. Gender-Sensitive Language

Sexism in language is the use of language which devalues members of one sex almost invariably

women, and thus fosters gender inequality. Gender Sensitive Language is not simply terminology and rules

which should be carried by a gender-sensitive speaker or writer. It shows that a person respects all persons,

favors social equality and equal opportunity and helps avoid ambiguity.

EXAMPLES OF GENDER-SENSITIVE LANGUAGE

1. Occupational References

2. Role References

3. Group References

4. Other Stereotypes

5. Turns of Phrase

6. The use of Ms., Mrs., and Mr.

7. Addressing salutation in a letter

8. Stereotyping roles-Stereotyping roles mean when certain jobs are presumed to be performed only by

men and women, giving rise to gender-biased terms.

9. Gender attributes - Attributes means usage of certain words which underline stereotypic gendered

attributes.

Communicating Effectively through Gender Sensitivity

-If you have proper communication, it brings proper achievements. It can be oral or written., but written one is

the most important as it is not just a set of words but reflection of your reasoning, attitudes, and knowledge.
-It can be erased easily and the impression it gives to readers can damage or advance your reputation.

Attention to gender sensitivity in writing is one-way to demonstrate relevance, erudition, and culture.

Importance of gender equality in the society is the key to the social development of the country. And these

are not just words, there is a meaning behind it. Providing women and girls with equal access to education,

healthcare, labor market and representation in political and economic decision-making is not about stealing

men’s opportunities or making them inferior.

MODULE 8

Nation and Culture

Culture is deeply rooted in values, which are learned and acquired when we are young and embedded deeply

in everyday life. (Newman & Nollen, 1996)

Values have helped to shape us into who we are today. Cultural influence could be evidenced by looking at

communication practices: how individuals interact with one another as they communicate in their daily

practices.(Hofstede, 1991) And while some of culture’s knowledge, rules, beliefs, values, phobias and anxieties

are taught explicitly, most are absorbed subconsciously.

Filipino Cultural Practices that Affect Communication

1. Verbal Communication

a. Indirect Communication -Filipinos often communicate indirectly in order to prevent a loss of face and

evoking hiya on either side of an exchange.

b. Communication Style -Filipinos will try to express their opinions and ideas diplomatically and with humility

to avoid appearing arrogant. The tone of voice varies widely by language, dialect and region. A respectful way

of addressing an elder

c. Refusals- Since many Filipinos try to save {face} and avoid hiya in their interactions, many will be overly

polite and seldom give a flat ‘no’ or negative response.

d. Respect -When speaking to those who are older or of higher status, Filipinos tend to use

the polite forms of speech

2. Non-Verbal Communication

Filipinos are fond of non-verbal communications.

a. Physical Contact- Among relatives or friends of the same gender, it is common for Filipinos to walk

hand in hand or arm in arm. This is generally done so as a sign of affection, friendship or if they are shy and

would like someone to accompany them. Filipinos tend to be modest and conservative in their interactions with

their significant other, and public displays of affection

.b. Personal Space- When interacting with people they are familiar with, Filipinos tend to prefer standing at an

arm's length from one another.

c. Laughter- While Filipinos often laugh in conversations, the meaning of laughter tends todepend on the

situation.

d. Pointing-Filipinos may point to objects by puckering their lips and moving their mouths in the direction they

are pointing to.

e. Gestures-They use hand gestures-- putting one’s hands on their hips is a sign of anger. Handshake is

acceptable for both male and female except for Muslim women. So do not be offended if women do not accept

your handshake. They may just smile or vow their head as an acknowledgement. Pursing of lips, raising of

eyebrows and their eyes are other ways to communicate.

f. Beckoning-The common way to beckon someone is by gesturing with the hand facing downwards and

waving fingers towards oneself, the same gesture that would represent ‘shooing’ in Australia.

—-Pssttt

3. Basic Etiquette

Filipinos tend to dress modestly, especially when in public. It is expected that the elderly and those of a higher

social status are treated with respect. Given large family sizes and typically small living quarters, Filipinos are

generally not demanding of privacy. Within one family, possessions are

typically thought to be communal and shared. Thus, it is expected to be open about one’s possessions and

space. Many Filipinos avoid blasphemy and cursing as it may cause themselves to

lose {face}.

a. Visiting =Do not refer to the woman of the house as ‘hostess’ as this has an alternative

meaning in the Philippines that is offensive. It is common practice to remove one’s shoes before entering

someone’s home. The host may offer you slippers to wear inside the home.

b. Eating
Nearly all meals are served with rice. If a meal is not served with rice, it is

normally not considered a main meal but rather a snack.

Many Filipinos eat with their hands or with a spoon and fork. However, they will

often try their best to accommodate for their guests by finding suitable cutlery

for their guest.

c. Gift Giving=Presentation is important, so Filipinos will take considerable effort to make sure

their gifts are well presented and wrapped. Filipinos will often put a lot of thought into their gifts and will give

sentimental, thoughtful and/or practical gifts.

d. Pag-Mano=The common gesture used to greet is known as ‘mano’, often referred to as ‘bless’ in English.

Mano is performed as a sign of respect towards elders and as a way of accepting a blessing from the elder. It is

usually done towards those who are older by two generations or more.

4. Greetings=Filipinos are a very hospitable and friendly people. They always smile no matter how they feel. If

meeting someone for the first time, it would be good to smile at the person before you even start a

conversation. How one greets is determined by the age and relationship of the people.

5. Naming=The Spanish heritage of the Philippines continues to influence the Filipino

naming conventions. The typical naming format is for someone to acquire their mother’s maiden name

as a middle name, whilst their father’s surname is adopted as their surname (e.g. Maria CRUZ SANTOS).

Sometimes the Spanish format of adding a ‘y’ (‘and’) is practiced in formal events (e.g. Maria CRUZ y

SANTOS).

6. Family=Filipinos have close family ties and always love to talk about their extended family, especially about

their children. So a good conversation piece is asking about their family – which region or province they come

from, whether they have children, their ages and what grade in school they are in. The nuclear family is the

core family unit, however bonds are often tight knit among extended family members. Indeed, people may be

encouraged to have a relationship with their aunts and uncles that is just as strong as the relationship with their

parents.

a. Filial Piety= Filial piety is an important concept in Filipino culture. It is understood as essential in order to

maintain the collective face of the family and to avoid experiencing hiya (see Social Interactions and Hiya in

‘Core Concepts’). Many Filipinos hold the belief that each family member has several duties and responsibilities

they must uphold. Observing one’s duties and responsibilities is important in order to correctly respect others

and to ensure harmony among family members.

b. Household Structure and Transnational Families= In a Filipino household, it is common to find three

generations living together. Often, grandparents play a large role in raising their grandchildren. Extended

families will often live relatively close to one another and will come together during large celebrations. It is

common to find families in the Philippines that have some members who return to their family home during

weekends after spending a week in major cities for work or study.

c. Gender Roles= At times, Filipino society is tagged as patriarchal. This is in part due to machismo attitudes

and the masculine standards of many Filipino men. However, the Philippines is closer to exhibiting a

matriarchal society. The female influence is significant throughout the country, with many women holding senior

roles throughout business and the government.

In the household structure, it is often a matriarch in charge. Generally, the head of the household is usually the

oldest female, often the grandmother (lola). Income from family members are often pooled together, then the

matriarch will look after the family finances.

d. Dating and Marriage =In the Philippines, dating often comes in stages, beginning with courtship. Typically,

a man will try to impress a female by courting her. If the woman considers the man to be a good suitor, they will

continue dating. Individuals have a significant level of freedom in terms of choosing marriage partners, although

the choice of a spouse may be influenced by the preferences of

the family. In some families, it is expected for the prospective partner to gain approval of their potential in-laws.

However, in urban areas, dating and marriage practices tend to be less conservative and are becoming more

influenced by the West.

Cultural Stereotypes About Filipinos

1. Filipinos don’t speak English. “Wow! You speak English so well!” — this is the reaction Filipinos have

become used to when foreigners hear them speak. When tourists visit the country.

2. Filipinos speak Spanish. Contrasting the preceding stereotype, this one is usually held by the Spanish and

people of their previous colonies, like Latin America. Many are of them are surprised that after over three

centuries of being under Spanish rule (and only over 40 years under the Americans), the Philippines has

retained the English language and not the Spanish.

3. Dog meat is normally eaten. No, they do not sell dog meat alongside pork, beef, and chicken in Filipino

supermarkets.
4. All Filipinos share the same culture and traditions. Being an archipelago, Historically, there was no

“Philippines” to speak off. The different groups of islands, being separated by large bodies of water, possessed

their own distinct culture, language, and traditions, and hence, were very regionalistic (a characteristic still

rather evident today).

5. If you’ve seen one island, you’ve seen them all. Another misconception of first- time Philippine visitors is

that all islands in the country are more or less the same, Therefore, going to a few is enough to “experience the

whole country”. This could not be more wrong.

6. Filipinos abroad are only capable of low-income jobs. Overseas Filipino workers are nationally

recognized as the country’s “new heroes”. Their hard work and the monthly remittances they send to their

families back home are largely responsible for the boom in the Philippine economy.

7. The Philippines is a dangerous country. Many travellers avoid the Philippines due to the idea that it’s one

big danger zone. But it should be understood that most things shown on the news are sensationalized. The

media always tends to focus on news of tragedy and misfortune.

8. Filipinos are always late. Some Filipinos may not like this stereotype, but they won’t tell you it’s completely

untrue either. A rather accurate joke among Filipinos is that they run on “Filipino time”,

9. Filipinos are uneducated. This specific stereotype is normally assumed by those who see people of a

certain nationality as “lesser”. So even if they may understand that Filipinos go to school and study, they will

often still assume these schools are of lesser standard than their country’s. While the educational system in the

Philippines can surely be improved, Filipinos are far from uneducated.

10.Filipinos are not familiar with foreign brands. Foreigners are usually surprised to find so many foreign

stores and franchises in the country. The country’s capital of Manila is quite simply a foodie and shopper’s

paradise.