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Cultural Differences: US, China, UAE Power Distance Essay

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Introduction

The national cultures of the United States, China, and the United Arab Emirates differ in many ways, and this can be seen in their respective power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation, and indulgence.

Culture

The term power distance is how people within a society conform to norms and authoritative figures. The level whereby the less powerful individuals accept their low social class and that specific people are mandated to remain in power is reinforced in this idea. The extent to which people in a culture must prioritize others’ needs over their desires in the community is a measure of individualism (Hofstede Insights, 2022a). Talking about masculinity is a cultural indicator of a society’s emphasis on male dominance, aggressiveness, and material success.

Uncertainty aversion is another cultural metric that assesses an individual’s tolerance for nebulous ideas and the gray area between certain things (Hofstede Insights, 2022a). Long-term orientation is a cultural dimension that measures the relative importance of long-term values over short-term values. The other aspect of cultural analysis is indulgence, which examines how individuals tolerate behavior that is not constrained by social norms and is often associated with a lack of discipline.

Culture Comparisons

Country Comparison Value: The US compared to China and the United Arab Emirates
United States (US)ChinaUnited Arab Emirates (UAE)
Power DistanceLowHighExtremely High
IndividualismExtremely HighLowExtremely Low
MasculinityHighHighAverage
Uncertainty AvoidanceLowLowHigh
Long Term OrientationLowExtremely HighLow
IndulgenceHighLowLow

Figure 1 – Country Comparison Value: The US compared to China and the United Arab Emirates (Source: Hofstede Insights, 2022a).

The United States has a low power distance, meaning there is much less tolerance for inequality. China has a much higher power distance, reflecting its society’s highly hierarchical nature. The UAE has an even higher power distance, which reflects their traditional values and the importance of social status (Hofstede Insights, 2022a).

The United States is highly individualistic, meaning individual rights and freedoms are highly valued. China is much more collectivist, meaning the group is valued over the individual (Hofstede Insights, 2022a). The UAE is slightly more individualistic than China but strongly emphasizes group effort.

Various aspects of a country’s cultural context are examined when addressing the issues related to its cultural context, including its masculinity score. Despite the country’s contemporary lifestyle, the United States has a higher degree of masculinity than China or the UAE. Issues related to gender disparity are high in the US, reinforcing this masculinity factor (Hofstede Insights, 2022b).

Additionally, uncertainty avoidance is an integral cultural measure highlighting how different countries respond to unprecedented situations. The data presented illustrate that the UAE has a higher rating than the US and China, indicating that people from the Middle East are more comfortable with risk and uncertainty than their counterparts.

Long-term orientation is another significant cultural aspect that indicates how a country is prepared to meet its objective. As highlighted in figure 1 above, China has a higher rating than the United States and the UAE, suggesting that the country is focused on achieving its long-term objectives (Hofstede Insights, 2022b). Lastly, indulgence illustrates how people accept gratification of their impulses and desires. Under this measure, The United States has a higher rating than China and the UAE, indicating that Americans are less restricted by ethical principles, which makes them more outgoing.

Culture Application

Over the centuries, China has developed a deep and varied culture. It is one of the world’s earliest cultures and has profoundly affected civilizations all over East Asia and the rest of the world. Values of family, reverence for elders, and firm adherence to customs are often held up as defining features of Chinese culture (Countries & Languages, 2023).

Similarly, UAE society is based mainly on traditional values and customs. Respect for one’s elders is essential in the UAE culture, and people are expected to show respect for their elders in public, which is reinforced by the Islamic religion (Countries & Languages, 2023). This aspect is reflected in how people dress, which tends to be more conservative than in other countries, making them unique.

China

The Confucian principles in Chinese society are one of the foundational bases of the people’s culture. The reason is that the principal values family relations, deference to elders, and diligent practices. These ideals persist in modern Chinese society and can be observed in everyday interactions (Rowley & Oh, 2020).

For instance, respect for authority is also highly valued in Chinese culture, reflected in how people publicly address one another. When meeting or passing another person on the street, it is customary to show respect by bowing or nodding the head (Countries & Languages, 2023). This communication style is a respectful way to address someone, and it is imperative when speaking to someone in a higher social position or gender. This idea reinforces the concept of masculinity, which is high in China, indicating that patriarchy is part of the cultural system in the culture.

Another defining factor is religion and food, which highlights the origin of the community in a representative way. China mainly comprises Buddhists, but a larger population comprises individuals with unaffiliated religions (Rowley & Oh, 2020). The ethnic groups include the dominant Han Chinese, followed by the Zhuang and other minority communities, including the Hui, Manchu, and Dai.

The country is industrious and engages in various development schemes, including incorporating traditional medicine and contemporary health strategies (Rowley & Oh, 2020). Rice is a staple food in China, served with other native delicacies. All these cultural aspects are integral in enhancing cultural awareness and interactions.

The United Arab Emirates

Another state that continuously competes with the US is the UAE. The UAE has a diverse culture that is promoted by its religious and cultural practices. The state is home to various fascinating cultures influenced by Sunni Islam, supporting practices such as conservative dressing (Gaweesh & Al Haid, 2018). Traditional events celebrated in the United Arab Emirates include National Day, Ramadan, and Eid al-Fitr. Residents and visitors of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) gather annually for National Day to celebrate the country’s independence with parades, fireworks, and other festivities (Gaweesh & Al Haid, 2018). This factor indicates that the cultural practices in the UAE are inspired by religion.

Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, and on Eid al-Fitr, they break the fasting together. The culture supports stoicism and exploration, promoting a bustling commercial center and ostentatious display of wealth (Gaweesh & Al Haid, 2018). Gender stereotypes are still an issue as the society is a patriarch, which supports male dominance (Countries & Languages, 2023). However, this masculinity does not prevent women from venturing into business and has promoted the community’s growth.

Conclusion

The culture matrix serves as an essential guide for understanding the cultural dynamics of a specific community. For instance, some countries, such as the US, are highly indulgent, making them socially active. Some are conservative, and all these traits balance to promote the distinct characteristics of the country.

References

Countries & Languages | CultureReady. (2023). Web.

Hofstede Insights. (2022). National Culture. Hofstede Insights. Web.

Gaweesh, K., & Al Haid, A. (2018). . 64, 1–41.‎ Web.

Rowley, C., & Oh, I. (2020). . Asia Pacific Business Review, 26(1), 1–8. Web.

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IvyPanda. 2024. "Cultural Differences: US, China, UAE Power Distance." October 11, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/cultural-differences-us-china-uae-power-distance/.

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