Society is presumed to consist of both dominant and subordinate figures who cooperate to establish social norms, yet the imbalance of power between the two entities suggests otherwise. Dominants posses the resources needed to configure the world according to their inclinations, while subordinates do not, contriving the question of who composes the authoritative society that dictates culture and ethics. Dominants are able to use their power to establish social norms, create traditions, and spread ideologies that maintain their power. These ideologies become ingrained into our culture and become further supported by social subordinates. Consequently, these dominant ideologies become an irrefutable aspect of everyday life. Jean Twenge, the author
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Dominants and subordinates ought to seek to understand one another in order to establish a productive coexistence. An important facet of productive dominant-subordinate relationships is understanding diversity. It is easy to develop a provincial view of the world based on one’s upbringing, however; it is important to discern differences in class, culture, and cultivation. Globalization has left Westerners with the ideal that their processes are not only right but also boundlessly applicable. America, notably, has an issue with generalizing issues by assuming that what applies to one category of people will automatically apply to another, and with self-declaring themselves a dominant nation. According to American society, everyone needs antidepressant medication, everyone needs love, and everyone needs high self-esteem. These self righteous dispositions serves as a blockade to understanding what is truly valued in other civilizations. While American depression is believed to be treatable with medication, the Japanese experience of depression, utsubyô, is described as a rare diseases that impairs one’s ability to live a normal life, and cannot be treated with medication (Watters 516). Experiencing sadness is even commemorated in Japan since it makes someone appear more aware and empathetic. In fact, “Feelings of overwhelming sadness were often venerated in television shows, movies, and popular songs,” while in American culture, feelings of unbearable sadness warrant mental illness diagnoses, and are not venerated (Watters 522). Although they understood that differing cultural perspectives were holding up sales, GlaxoSmithKline persisted with marketing depression in Japan. Instead of respecting the Japanese culture, they decided to infect Japanese society
Dominants and subordinates ought to seek to understand one another in order to establish a productive coexistence. An important facet of productive dominant-subordinate relationships is understanding diversity. It is easy to develop a provincial view of the world based on one’s upbringing, however; it is important to discern differences in class, culture, and cultivation. Globalization has left Westerners with the ideal that their processes are not only right but also boundlessly applicable. America, notably, has an issue with generalizing issues by assuming that what applies to one category of people will automatically apply to another, and with self-declaring themselves a dominant nation. According to American society, everyone needs antidepressant medication, everyone needs love, and everyone needs high self-esteem. These self righteous dispositions serves as a blockade to understanding what is truly valued in other civilizations. While American depression is believed to be treatable with medication, the Japanese experience of depression, utsubyô, is described as a rare diseases that impairs one’s ability to live a normal life, and cannot be treated with medication (Watters 516). Experiencing sadness is even commemorated in Japan since it makes someone appear more aware and empathetic. In fact, “Feelings of overwhelming sadness were often venerated in television shows, movies, and popular songs,” while in American culture, feelings of unbearable sadness warrant mental illness diagnoses, and are not venerated (Watters 522). Although they understood that differing cultural perspectives were holding up sales, GlaxoSmithKline persisted with marketing depression in Japan. Instead of respecting the Japanese culture, they decided to infect Japanese society