Cultural Beliefs

Being an American is something that many individuals cherish, but for individuals that have migrated from different countries being an American may be seen as having to dismiss some of your own cultural beliefs and values to fit in. While interviewing a woman from the Philippines I noticed that we are not that different from each other. As women I want to believe that our main focus would be to take care of our families and be successful, but as I interviewed my guest I noticed that we have similar family values, but different cultural values. Discussing and understand how individuals from the Philippines carry out their beliefs, customs and traditions, while comparing her culture with my ethnic and cultural background will help me understand …show more content…
However, my guest made it clear that she does not mind if people think that she is Asian, but she often notice that she had to make individuals aware that she identifies as an Pacific Islander. This information on her ability to fit into other racial groups is important to understanding how other see her, but it is also important to note that my guest is secure with her culture and refuses to be labeled. As an African American woman I feel that same way when individuals try to place me in a box because of my physical appearance. Therefore, discussing and understand how individuals from the Philippines carry out their beliefs, customs and traditions, while comparing her culture with my ethnic and cultural background will help me understand what it really means to be different, or to be seen as a group because of our physical appearances. Treating individuals according to cultural background is something that individuals strive to accomplish daily, however, many individuals fail by thinking that every group that looks alike are alike and this stereotypical thought is what is holding many individuals back from experiencing life from a different