Saudi Arabian Culture and Interaction with Other Cultures Essay

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Introduction

The culture is always an interesting topic for discussion. It is a set of rules and traditions that have formed over the years under the influence of different factors. The culture of my country, Saudi Arabia is truly fascinating, and it has been changing over the years.

Culture of Saudi Arabia

Islam plays the most important role in the culture of this country. The clothing is a necessary part of the tradition, and it reflects the values of the people. Etheredge states that “to preserve the country’s purist religious position, many proscriptions of behavior and dress are enforced” (36). This means that the culture and beliefs are imperative for the country. Saudi Arabia is known for its unique climate that has had a tremendous impact on the culture (Ham, Shams, and Madden 165).

Privacy is crucial for Saudi people, and sometimes it may be hard to get any information from them. However, they are extremely generous and offer help to everyone who is in need. Zuhur states that “social and linguistic expressions in Arabic are defined by the values of generosity, courage, and honor” (256). In other words, etiquette is a necessary part of the culture. The honor of a family is the most important part of the life of everyone who was born in the country.

Oil is a crucial part of the culture, and it is often described in poetry and literature since it was discovered (Haykel, Hegghammer, and Lacroix 126). The topic of thirst is also often discussed because there are problems with the supply of water in some regions (Wynbrandt 323). They are numerous traditional dishes that are also paramount for the culture. However, some strict rules are enforced. The consumption of pork and alcohol is strictly prohibited. Unique architecture and art are also important for every culture. Paintings and monuments are used to by Saudi people to express their emotions and creativity. It should be noted that their style is very unusual because the artists are very religious. There are many examples of fascinating architecture in the country such as the House of God.

Interaction with Other Cultures

There are numerous ways in which one culture may interact with others. Some traditions of Saudi Arabia are not understood by other people and are hard to accept. However, one needs to fathom that there are different rules and norms in some regions. For example, women’s rights in Saudi Arabia are still limited. They cannot vote and participate in politics. It is the only place on the globe where females are not allowed to drive cars and other vehicles.

The veil is an essential part of every woman’s dress (Janin and Besheer 56). What is also interesting is that a man may repeat a simple phrase three times if he wants a divorce. However, gender discrimination is not as harsh as it used to be, and the situation is getting better with every year. The use of young servants is also very common in the country. Any misunderstandings should be avoided, and one should not be biased towards other cultures.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the culture of Saudi Arabia is very interesting and unique. It has been formed by religious traditions and intense history. Overall, every individual must understand and respect the traditions and culture of other nationalities in modern society.

Works Cited

Etheredge, Laura. Saudi Arabia and Yemen. New York, NY: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2011. Print.

Ham, Anthony, Martha B. Shams, and Andrew Madden. Saudi Arabia. Melbourne, Australia: Lonely Planet, 2004. Print.

Haykel, Bernard, Thomas Hegghammer, and Stephane Lacroix. Saudi Arabia in Transition. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2015. Print.

Janin, Hunt, and Margaret Besheer. Saudi Arabia. 2nd ed. 2003. Singapore, Singapore: Marshall Cavendish. Print.

Wynbrandt, James. A Brief History of Saudi Arabia. New York, NY: Infobase Publishing, 2010. Print.

Zuhur, Sherifa. Saudi Arabia. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2011. Print.

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IvyPanda. 2020. "Saudi Arabian Culture and Interaction with Other Cultures." August 11, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/saudi-arabian-culture-and-interaction-with-other-cultures/.

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