Picture your favourite toy that you play with every day. So now, let’s say one day a new toy from another country lands and everyone in your neighbourhood starts playing with it. It is not long before you and your friends start playing with this new toy as well.
This is a simplistic definition of Westernization. When culture, most often from Western countries like the US or parts of (Western) Europe rolls over to other places in: ideas about politics social norms, and ways to do things.
What is Culture?
Before we get into Westernisation, let’s discuss culture. Many pieces make up a big cultural puzzle. These are pieces that include the words we speak, the food we eat, clothes, and holidays. The music we listen to, the stories we tell and the games that help us. All of us have our distinct culture that defines who we are.
How Cultures Meet
Cultures have a way of meeting and sharing themselves. Traveling is how people from different parts of the world do this but we also exchange through books, TV and now in all forms over WWW. Cultures should learn from each other and when everyone mixes, for the most part, it is a good thing. But in some cases one of the cultures becomes more powerful or popular than others, thus making weaker cultures (forced into) change and ultimately removed.
That is where the concept of Westernization comes in when people start following Western culture and become one very popular culture across the world that even many times local traditions or followings become less.
Examples of Westernization
First, to get a better perspective of Westernization let’s have some examples.
Dress: Western clothing is common in many parts of the world, even where traditional dress still exists. People may wear these clothes because they see their favourite actors wearing them on television or in movies.
Below are some example languages that can be used to translate the model (PS: they should use “a grid” words): English word type 1: This is Western and this is popular… Many people around the world learn English at school and use it in business, technology or international communication. This can occasionally lead to other languages being used less often by people.
Food: In the past, an American-style hamburger with appropriate pizza or a Chinese recipe is now almost everywhere in many countries. Although these are flavourful foods, they sometimes substitute for more nutritious and traditional meals characteristic of a country.
Western Music and Movies: Western music and movies are loved by people from all around the world. Sometimes, pop songs and Hollywood movies/TV are more popular in smaller countries than their music/local film.
The Good and the Not-So-Good
Well, westernization is not all bad, right? It makes people from all over the world get together and learn something about another segment of society. One of the best examples is learning English to communicate easily with people who are from another country. Viewing Western films or novels teaches novelty and introduces another different kind of thinking.
But Westernization can also have plenty of downsides. If everyone starts doing it the Western way, what other cultural traditions can be forgotten? Can you imagine your favourite game or holiday was overtrodden by something different, and before long nobody knew how to play it or celebrate anymore? That would be sad, right?
The Impact on the Westernization Process of Identity
Your identity is your being — it’s who you are, what makes You, You. It includes your culture, your language, the traditions of your family and more. This is what we refer to as Westernization and sometimes people need some help with their identity. For instance a native language or certain holidays the longer they move on without speaking in their natural tongue, the less connected to heritage a person might eventually start to experience.
Other times, attempts are made to blend the indigenous with what they perceive is new from the West. It is also known as a blending of cultures. For instance, someone can celebrate a traditional holiday while also liking Western movies. Thus they get to enjoy the best of both worlds!
Keeping Cultures Alive
Although the practice of Westernization is taking place globally, it’s crucial to preserve our roots. Therefore, these levels can be achieved in the following ways:
Honour your history: You need to celebrate your cultural holidays and tell others about them all.
Study and talk in your language: Although you study other languages like English, do not miss speaking in yours.
Indulge in your cultural food: As nice as is to have pizza, and burgers never forget about all of the incredible traditional dishes that come with one’s culture.
Support Our Local Art & MusicListening to your country music and watching movies from Glocal. This encourages the tradition to live on with these younger generations.
A World of Many Cultures
While Westernization has shown that cultural ideas can move between societies, it is a reminder not to forget about the multitude of other cultures in our world with their rich histories and values. When We Learn To Understand And Respect Each Other, We Can Also Teach One Another Many New Things; Making Our World A More Diverse and Colorful Page(document) of Collective Bio Diversity Living Together Side By Site.
It is a good thing to know other cultures, but it gets hard sometimes if that means forgetting your roots. Thus, the beautiful diverse range of cultures is retained and accessible to everyone.
Conclusion
It is said Westernization is a giant hier, flooding our ideas and language to gush out of the minds like habitat. Is ultimately the thing that makes everyone closer but also harder to preserve other cultures. We may not know what it is, but by understanding the concepts we can move with them and enjoy new things without losing sight of our roots. Let us celebrate the truth: that there is enough room in the world for many cultures, and they can all exist together!
