In our interconnected world, cross-cultural interactions are increasingly common. Understanding and respecting social etiquette across cultures is essential for business, travel, or personal relationships. Learn the differences in different world regions and how to adapt your behavior to create meaningful connections and avoid unintentionally offending others. (Estimated reading time: 12 minutes) “Good manners are just…
Race and Ethnicity: Understanding the Distinctions and Celebrating the Diversity within Humanity
Race and ethnicity are often used interchangeably, but they hold distinct meanings. People’s rich and varied backgrounds contribute to the vibrant tapestry of global culture, molding traditions, customs, and artistic expressions. Knowing the difference between race and ethnicity and where they overlap is essential for celebrating diversity and creating an inclusive society. Learn what those…
Surviving Culture Shock: How to Navigate a New Place with Ease and Openness
Arriving in a new country or environment can be an exciting experience, but it can also be accompanied by a wave of culture shock. Culture shock is a psychological and emotional reaction that occurs when individuals move to a significantly different environment. Whether it’s understanding new customs, behaviors, or the local language, it can leave…
3 Levels of Culture That Define Our Identity and How We View Others
The cultures we’re exposed to are important in shaping who we are and our behavior. Most people tend to think about their culture at the most general levels, which can cause us to generalize and stereotype or limit our own identity to what’s accepted in one culture. However, with the rise of globalization, people’s cultures…
6 Life Lessons from Myths and Legends from Around the World
Myths and legends are stories humans have used for centuries to demonstrate human values and virtues. There is a treasure trove of ancient tales that can teach us relevant life lessons that we can still apply in our lives today. These life lessons from six beloved myths and legends will make us braver, kinder and…
Cultural Appropriation vs Appreciation: Why Knowing the Difference Matters
Cultural appropriation or misappropriation happens when a person from one culture adopts something from a cultural group that is not theirs. This contrasts with cultural appreciation, when they respect the symbolism and artifacts of the original culture. You can avoid mixing up the two by learning the difference between cultural appropriation vs appreciation and what…
Why Representation Matters When it’s Done Right
“Representation Matters” is a slogan that speaks to the importance of portraying minority communities on national and global platforms in genuine and positive ways. Every person experiences the world differently – that’s why everyone deserves to feel visible and have their reality, values, and perspective affirmed. However, representation is not always done right. Find out…
Forms of Government: How Being Ruled in Different Ways Shapes Us
Governments are central bodies that monitor, regulate, and provide needed services to protect and meet the needs of their citizens. In an ever-changing world, people are looking for a sense of stability and security in their government. Most people in modern nations believe they can get that in democracies. Yet, there are several forms of…
Linguistic Discrimination: How it Influences Our View On Others
With over 7000 languages worldwide, languages are a hallmark of cultural diversity. Even in English-speaking countries, people speak with linguistic variances and fluency. Yet, many people don’t appreciate this diversity and discriminate against those who don’t sound “normal” to them. Linguistic racism is a term used to describe racism perpetuated against others based on their…
Monotheism and Polytheism: What Are the Differences (and How to Respect Them)?
There is a smorgasbord of religions around the world. Each faith tradition captures our culture, history, and practices that get passed down through generations. If all religions are correctly understood, we’ll see that they are simply different windows we use for looking at higher realms of living and being. By learning about the differences between…