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SHM 1023 - Cultural Identity Paper

My Culture, Bengali, Its Values, Beliefs and Norms


Having come from a culture which has shaped my worldview, beliefs and values in
unique patterns, I have felt curiosity to research in depth of Bengali culture and all its aspects
from its roots. Therefore, this paper not only demonstrates the cultural patterns oriented with
Hofstedes, Strodtbecks and Halls indices, but also discusses the cultural norms, social and
personal identities that Bengali culture and its people possess.
Firstly, looking into Hofstedes value dimensions, it says to consider four identified value
dimensions (Individualism/collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, power distance, masculinity/
femininity) while describing cultural patterns. However, Bengali culture prefers collectivism.
Though a wind of modernization has blown inside the culture, it did not yet become a
individualist culture. People in Bengali culture are well concerned of relationships. In any
problem, conflict or solution they rely on each other and seek for others to get supported and
protected. Besides, Bengali is a low-uncertainty avoidance culture which is strongly tolerant of
the unusual, concerned with few rules, flexibility and much risks. For example, people in
Bengali culture is mostly business and agriculture oriented; they like to take initiatives on their
own and flexible in hardworking for respective jobs regardless of risks. According to Hofstedes
third value dimension, Bengali culture is High-power Distance oriented. Since the era of ancient
Dynasty (thousand years ago) Bengali culture accepts power as part of society. For example, the
more the hierarchy of a person is in a village government or a company would surely be bossy
than the lower one and try to control all of them. Therefore, the power distance is more in among
Bengalis. Furthermore, Bengali is a masculine and male-dominant culture gives priority to male

SHM 1023 - Cultural Identity Paper


over female and does not concentrate on gender equality. Bengali people believe man as chief
and woman as care-taker of the family.

Fig 1: Bengalis sharing views in tea-stalls.

Secondly, the definition of cultural patterns by Strodtbeck and other anthropologists have
introduced five questions which determine value orientations with cultures.

For example,

answering the first question by Strodtbeck where he inquiries on the character of human nature,
Bengalis believe human is greedy, romantic, ego-centric, slanderer and traitor. Since we have the
history of infidelity during Mughal Empire and so the fall of the empire held in Bengal. The
second question was about human beings subject to nature. In the point of view of Bengalis,
nature is beyond the control of human being. As Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism are the three
main religions in Bengal region, naturally the belief goes to birth, death and a life-cycle that is
controlled transcendentally (more exactly by the creator of nature). Bengalis also believe nature
is for human pleasure and protection from natural disasters. Furthermore, according to the third
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SHM 1023 - Cultural Identity Paper


question, Bengali is a past oriented culture who always remember the golden history of their past
and think past as a guide for making decisions and determining the future. For example, the
nation has faced difficulties at past while trying to get independent. The memories and lessons
from revolution, procession, strike, war and courage made Bengalis to go for further
development after the independence. According to fourth question, Bengali culture is being and
being-in-becoming oriented. As Bengalis like entertainment, joy and share with people their
ideas, personal life and stories; they have many days and occasions of celebration living the
tribal and Bengalis in harmony. In case of low-context or high-context which has been asked to
consider in question five, Bengali is a high-context culture. People in Bengali culture prefer deep
relationship with family members, relatives, friends and others. They understand each other in
such way that if an elderly man looks at a young boy with big eyes, it is understood that in that
situation something is not appropriate to be done by the young boy.
Thirdly, Hall explained cultural identity as indicators of either Communal,
Social/Relational or Personal identity. Firstly, looking into communal identities of Bengal
people; they have unique worldview, beliefs, values and norms which consists of lots of
superstitions and influence of Hindu-Muslim mixed cultural characteristics. For example,
Bengalis perceive the world as there is an end of everything like human and animal death. They
believe there will be a life after death either in Heaven/Hell or in the Earth (depending on
Muslim/Hindus point of view). They also believe there is punishment for bad deeds and reward
for good deeds and all the deeds will be or have been done before are written by Almighty
Creator. So they rely on fate when it is gone beyond the control of human hands. The verbal and
non-verbal norms are spread out all over the culture whether in occasion or in informal activities.
For example, if somebody say I will slap you in Bengali culture would be a verbal norm but a
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SHM 1023 - Cultural Identity Paper


raising hand would easily remind of a upcoming slap. Moreover, they believe in superstitions
like if somebody calls you from backside while you are on the way to somewhere, it is bad to
look back; otherwise something bad will happen.
Bengalis also possess unique national, ethnic, regional, gender, religious and political
affiliations. We the Bengalis are purely nationalistic minded and proud of our nations. Our
national identity is we speak in same language, have same flag and stay in same region which
also goes with our regional identity. Our gender identity has been mentioned at the section of
Hofstedes value dimensions before in this paper. Furthermore, we do not consider equality
among man and woman. Man is always dominant over woman and it is a constant belief that
Bengali nation is carrying on for ages. Regarding ethnic identity, Bengalis are from Aryan or
Dravidian races; though there is a conflict between opinions, we consider ourselves as unique
ethnic groups mixed with Arabian, Afghan, English, Mughals, Punajabi and Greek ethnicity.
Furthermore, politically Bengalis are prone high-power. Though we have been ruled over
centuries and years, sometimes being independent, sometimes being oppressed, the tendency of
sitting on throne of power did not demolish yet. The democracy is still going on under political
turbulence in Bangladesh.
Finally, regarding my personal beliefs and views, I believe in an independent lifestyle
being a person of superstition-free, conscious, thinkable perception. Being a follower of Islam, I
have got moral and ethical lessons that I try to follow in my lifestyle even though the different
Bengali culture may affect my values and norms. I enjoy travel across countries and learn their
own values and beliefs. I am completely open-minded and like open minded people to talk with.
I like the marriage ceremony and Eid celebration in my county than other places as it is more

SHM 1023 - Cultural Identity Paper


entertaining, gorgeous and enjoyable there. I am agreed with our Bengali view that we should
respect the elderly people and care the youths and children. Thus being a person to accept and
access other cultural view, values and norms makes me a cosmopolitan.

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