The aim of this paper was to help develop a critical
understanding and awareness of our own perspectives of culture and society. I
have developed these understandings through certain key concepts, which are
human rights and families and communities. These key ideas have widened and
enhanced my view on certain elements such as values, beliefs, cultural and
social identify, which have changed the way I perceive my individual self and
how I express my views and understandings of society today.
We chose to do the concept of human rights for our
presentation, which is an important segment of culture and society because it focuses
on individuals and their rights. Regardless of our nationality, place of
residence, gender, ethnic origin, colour, religion, or any other status we
should all be treated equally and receive equal human rights (United
Nations Human Rights, 2010). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
seeks to achieve certain goals in relation to this ideology. For example the
declaration states that they want to achieve problems of an economic, social,
cultural and humanitarian character by promoting and encouraging respect for
human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to
race, sex, language or religion (International Human Rights Framework, 2010). I
had very basic knowledge about human rights before this paper; however this
paper has made me realize the issues that surround human rights and the unfair
justices that several cultures and ethnic groups have in relation to receiving
fair human rights around the world. Individual human rights collide with each
other because everyone has different levels and expectations of their rights as
oppose to others. For example Judy McGregor’s lecture where she spoke about a
man trying to open up his sushi store in Auckland city was a clear example of
this issue. The issue was that homeless people were in the way of the entrance to
his store so he had to ask them to move, at the time the homeless people were
trying to sleep so in order for him to open he had to disturb them. This is a
clear indication that a storeowner and homeless people have very different aims
and rights (the need to receive income and the needs to sleep) that collide and
impact each other. I was able to understand and become more aware of what other
ethnic groups have and what they are entitled too through this lecture. In
relation to Edward T. Halls cultural iceberg model we can say the cultures that
do not experience fair human rights are the ones at the bottom of the iceberg (Hall,
1989). This part is hidden beneath the water, which represents
the beliefs, and values that underlie behavior within certain ethnic groups. Within
my culture I believe that I have raised the iceberg in relation to my knowledge
of human rights within New Zealand and how society should be organized so it
delegates fair human rights across the country through this paper However I
believe that these significant issues of human rights need to be broadcasted
positively through the media. In relating sociology to this media issue we can
say that the extent of the human rights issues within society are only
minimally portrayed which need to be more highlighted so that we are more aware
about the significant issues different ethnic groups face due to their human
rights (Anderson, Logio & Taylor, 2015). I wouldn’t have
been aware of these issues if I hadn’t of chosen this paper, so I’m very grateful
that I have been able to research and gain knowledge about these significant
issues regarding human rights.
The next theory that I have gained more knowledge in during
this course is families and communities. This ideology is a key aspect of
culture and society because families are the basic, foundational social units
in all human communities around the world, and healthy individuals within
healthy families are at the core of a healthy society (NebGuide, 2008). It is
in everyone’s best interests to help create a positive environment for all
families. Community is defined in terms of a group of people who share certain
factors that bind them together. Sorts of factors could be a physical location
(geographic or spatial community), or social-cultural issues such as heritage,
common experience or common visions, values and expectations (Chile,
2007). Families are a crucial ideology to ones life because it
shapes individuals culturally, physically, spiritually and socially by teaching
them ways to live a happy and positive life within society. The aspect of
families relates to culture and society because we learn our culture through
the way in which our parents raise us within society. However there are aspects
of society that can hinder our personal development for example, negative
influences such as involving oneself in criminal acts which can have a
destructive influence on ones wellbeing. This can change the way in which
people act according to how they have been harmed psychologically or physically
according to the crime(s) that they have committed. I can relate this to my own
experience, because when I was younger (14-15) I went through quite a
rebellious stage. I got in with the wrong crowd at school, which landed me in a
lot of trouble. I can now see a relationship as to why these issues occurred.
My mum was a single parent and I felt her emotional and financial stress, when
she was upset or mad about either thing I would just keep clear of her and distracted
myself with negative influences. This has enhanced my understanding of my
personal experiences because through this paper I have gained knowledge on
single parent families and how the child/children can be affected by certain
influences. I have stated the way in which society can impact ones life and the
consequences of it however a positive aspect of culture is the way in which hospitality
links to families and communities. We can say that food and traditions are
shared around and between individuals within a community. Lynch,
Molz, Mcintosh, Lugosi & Lashley (2011) state that the use of hospitality
can bring people and their cultures together within one community which can
provide a positive interaction with these different ethical groups within
society. Even though my family live overseas my mum made friends within our
society who were in the same position as us. We would all spend every Christmas
and birthday together. There were four other families, two that were nuclear
and two single parent families, including ours. This meant that were one big
happy family, even though we weren’t biologically related. It also meant that
we were able to adopt other cultural traditions. The food brought us together
culturally because we were able to experience other forms of food. Families
are important because they define who we are as people today, which is
important for our human development throughout our lives.
To conclude, this paper has given me a broader understanding
of human rights and that everyone should have equal entitlements regardless of
the colour of ones skin. Family formations are what make up society; there are
numerous ethnic cultures, which make every community special in there own way.
I have learnt by interacting with different cultures within society that it
helps shape who I am as an individual today. I have been able to become more
confident in speaking with other ethnic groups due to the notions I have learnt
within this paper.
Anderson,
M. L., Logio, K. A., & Taylor, H. F. (2015). Sociology: the essentials (8th ed). Melbourne: Cengage Learning.
Chile,
M. L. (2007). Good practice in community development work. In L. Chile (Eds.), Community development practice in New
Zealand (pp. 21-34). Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland University of Technology.
Hall, E. (1989). Beyond culture. London, England: Anchor Books.
International
Human Rights Framework. (2010). Retrieved from
http://hrc.co.nz/files/4914/2388/0498/HRNZ_10_International_Human_Rights_Framework.pdf
Lynch,
P., Molz, J., Mcintosh, A., Lugosi, P., & Lashley, C. (2011). Theorizing
hospitality. Hospitality & Society,
1, 3-24. doi: 10.1386/hosp.113_2
NebGuide.
(2008). Creating a strong family. Why are families important? Retrieved from
http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/live/g1890/build/g1890.pdf
United
Nations Human Rights. (2010). Your human rights. Retrieved from http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Pages/WhatareHumanRights.aspx
