How To Break Cultural Norms

Culture norms are rules set out by society to differ what is “normal” and what isn’t. There are three different types of norms: folkways, mores, and taboo. Violating a norm can result in receiving a negative sanction, reaction from the people. Society control what would be considered norms and can rage from the right way people should enter an elevator or the way people should eat. Negative sanctions also control society as to the punishment if a norm is broken. For my fieldwork, I decided to break the culture norm of eating with fork and knives, and instead use my fingers.
My partner Jamie and I visited IHOP at 9:30 am in the morning. The atmosphere was lively; there were friends and family eating breakfast together. Once we entered and got settled, we count an approximant 30 people were in our area, many of whom where children and adults between 20-45 years of age and mainly Hispanics and African-Americans. I was very nervous because I was afraid that I would be stared, whispered, or maybe even scorned at for my “rude behavior”. I because even more nervous after placing my order, of an omelet and coffee, knowing that the time was approaching. Once my order came, I began to violet the culture norm. While I ate, my partner casually looked around and had a conversation with me. …show more content…
The more I ate, the more embarrassed I felt. I felt as if everyone is staring at me and were probably whispering about me. I was afraid some older women would come up to me and tell me my mother should have taught me better, or that I was been a bad example for the young children. I started to picture people stop doing what they where doing an turned to look at me, this thought made me feel uncomfortable with myself and become more nervous then I already was. While my partner looks around, my eyes stared to wonder and see just how much people were staring at