Oh dear i forgot to click publish until now -_-
Anyway, class this week was interesting! Especially for the videos in the front =).
Singapore is a Low Uncertainty Avoidance country? Nah.
This week we learnt about the different components and representation of cultural systems. It's interesting to see where Singapore was placed in the various categories according to Hofstede's dimensions of cultural variability. The one I disagree the most is that Singapore is a low uncertainty avoidance country. Personally, I feel that most Singaporeans are not big risk takers, even the government had to step in provide incentives for Singaporeans to venture out and become entrepreneurs. I personally don't feel comfortable taking huge risks, especially now since times are really bad. Just a sudden thought: Could certain situations force a country to go against their "pre-existing level" of uncertainty avoidance? For example, in the times of the economic downturn, won't most people be focusing on getting a secure job first rather than risking their family savings to start a business?
Anyway back to my point about Singapore's standing on the "uncertainty avoidance" chart. Based on the slides,
1. I don't think Singaporeans are comfortable in ambiguous situations. Most risks taken are calculated risks.
2. Tradition plays an important role in the rules taught to children. Since young, I was taught that I couldn't do lots of stuff. And the rules were laid very clear to me: No sticking your chopsticks upright in your food (because it looks like joss sticks and considered unlucky), no cursing and swearing etc. Of course, I don't strictly follow it now. I think it's like that for most families, just that some are stricter than others. Whether the children obey the rules is one thing, but for most chinese parents, they are quite strict and firm on what should/should not be done, especially when dealing with a child.
3. I think students in Singapore are more concerned with getting the right answers rather than good discussion. It's a result of the culture being so results and grades - oriented. Take me for example. I really really enjoy the process of studying and doing my projects, interviewing people, analysing stuff. However, most of my classmates are different. They hate the discussions, they hate people beating around the bush, they think doing role plays (which was meant to liven up classes ) is a waste of time. All they want is the correct answer for the question, they go back, memorise the steps, practise practise practise, and tada. CAP 5. Me? lol. Fighting to get honours. It doesn't pay off, does it? (alright i'm sure that there are other factors involved)
4. With my usual coursemates, teachers who say "I don't know" are seen as being weak and unfit to teach. Unless it's a totally ridiculous question, they're expected to know everything, or else they're a bad teacher and they probably don't know what they're teaching and what's in their slides. To me, I do admit I do feel like that sometimes, especially when it is a basic question. However, I'd rather a teacher say he doesn't know the answer and that he'd get back to us later, rather than beat around the bush to escape the question. We know when it happens and that's the end of his reputation.
5. This is one point which I agree that Singapore is a low uncertainty avoidance country. I think the statement that Singaporeans are comfortable feeling when lazy and hardworking only when needed is very true! Most people wouldn't work if they could. Probably it is due to the fact that standards of living are going up and that there is no choice but to work. It is even more so if you have a family. If someone had an abundance of money to retire early, I'm pretty sure he would. It's only when they need to work to kill time that they appear in desperate search for a job.
6. Citizen protests are NOT acceptable to this current Singaporean government. Protests and demonstrations are banned. There is so much red tape before anyone can speak at Speaker's Corner. The only way we can speak up is through the newspaper forums. Even so, lots of sensitive stuff are censored, for example sensitive racial and political comments.
As such, I don't feel that Singapore is really low uncertainty avoidance. One must really ponder about the methodology of this survey, or how outdated the study was.
Is It the White Coat Syndrome or are Asians Simply More Collectivist by Nature?
Just final thought about something pharmacy-related. I did mention in my blog posts previously about the differences between Asian and Caucasian consumers visiting a pharmacist at a community pharmacy. Just a slight recap, it's about how Caucasian customers are more outright with their questions for the pharmacist and are more inquisitive and upfront with their comments and criticisms, while Asians are more obliging and generally accept what the pharmacist says. I also mentioned about the white coat syndrome where patients don't dare to criticise the pharmacist just because he/she is wearing a white coat and is seemingly more in power. Could it be due to the "Western" countries generally being more Individualist and being more concerned about themselves, rather than being concerned about "maintaining harmony" and "avoiding direct confrontations", which are more characteristic of the Collectivist "Asian" countries? Or is it that Asians generally experience the white coat syndrome more?
That's all for now! Have a good e-learning week!
1 comments:
You provided a number of counter examples to show that overgeneralized categories may not be able to describe individual cultures. Very valid reasons, I would say.
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