Introduction
France has many distinct ethnicities, and their traditions are essential for the nation. Celtic and Gallo-Roman civilizations, Francs, and Germanic tribes influenced its culture in past centuries. Nevertheless, the word “nationalism” was created by French thinkers during the Enlightenment era, instilling a passion for it in the citizens. This work aims to study a particular aspect of the culture of France, in this case, the area of cultural values.
Main body
To be French means to have French citizenship and to demonstrate the values central to French culture. Many people believe that the French are truly united people based on their attention to equality and brotherhood. Currently, individuals are reconsidering what it signifies to be French, particularly in light of the European Union’s expansion and the flood of immigrants. Nevertheless, there is a widespread belief that France should be the homeland of French citizens. As a result, the government restricts state entities from gathering background information on individuals to prevent religious and ethnic inequalities.
Nevertheless, the uniformity of modern France has become a sensitive issue. Despite an absence of evidence, it is often assumed that the French world has become more varied in the past few decades. For instance, it currently represents one of the largest Muslim societies in West Europe. In France, Muslim populations have made contributions to gastronomy, literature, and the arts. Others feel that immigrants should adapt to the predominant French culture, while some have welcomed the role of different civilizations. Nonetheless, individuals of French culture, especially immigrants, are constantly redefining what it means to be French.
Individualism is prevalent in French society, which means that the needs of oneself and one’s close family take precedence. Usually, suitable engagement is determined by whether or not an individual is in one’s circle of acquaintances. In France, there are numerous subtle social customs that reflect this tendency. From outsiders’ perspective, the French are polite and respectful and present themselves as good friends. In France, it is vital to adhere to societal expectations and maintain suitable formality. A ‘wrong step’ is an awkward or naive deed or comment in a social environment. An instance of a misstep would be addressing a friend by their first name. The French people’s formality and restrained attitude, along with the straightforwardness of the French language, might mistakenly come off as chilly or haughty to a stranger (Lodge et al., 2016). Nevertheless, correct etiquette often relaxes and relaxes in the presence of excellent friends and relatives. After being familiar, a French individual is inclined to demonstrate openness and kindness.
The French have a sense of national pride in their language since it is frequently associated with French nationality. People who seek to become residents of the nation and be acknowledged as members of the French people must be fluent in French. In the wake of globalization and the importation of American culture, the French language is also viewed as a crucial aspect in sustaining a distinct French personality (Sago, 2019). Furthermore, the expansion of the English language produced regret and dissatisfaction among the French as it signaled the demise of France’s global dominance.
Summary
To summarize, the values typical for France as a country and collectively shared by its citizens, regardless of their backgrounds, are somehow related to the unity of people and the unacceptability of discrimination. Despite the challenges caused by the mixture of cultures people bring from their homelands and the resulting confusion, these provisions are essential for addressing societal concerns. They are underpinned by a proper balance between individualism and communities in which the former is emphasized, whereas the latter matters for regulating people’s behavior which appears too formal. These characteristics are complemented by the language, which is at the center of the described system of French values, and external threats to this aspect are perceived as more critical than in any other area.
References
Lodge, R., Shelton, J., Ellis, Y., & Armstrong, N. (2016). Exploring the French language. Routledge.
Sago, K. (2019). Revisioning French Culture. Oxford University Press.