Intercultural communication examines how people of diverse cultural backgrounds communicate with one another and explains the effective communication and problems that arise in such settings. To build trusting connections and avoid conflicts, the ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries is a must for anybody operating across international or regional borders. The Somali people have moved from the Ethiopian highlands to northern Kenya. They then traveled long north, populating the Horn of Africa (Lewis 27). Most Somalis embraced Islam, which was brought to Africa by Arabs. They partnered with the Arabs to battle against Ethiopian Christians. There are similarities between Somali and American cultures, such as the role of parents, but some distinctions, such as bride price payment, exist; respecting other people’s customs is essential.
Islam heavily influences Somalians’ core beliefs, social mores, and gender norms. Girls and younger boys in traditional Somali clans care for sheep and goats, while men and older boys look after camels and livestock (Evason). Unless they embrace the sacred path, Somali males are automatically labeled as warriors. All male adults in the household are required to participate in the clan council. The women of a nomadic clan are the primary caregivers, cooks, and transporters of the family’s tent. Farming communities often strongly emphasize the roles of women and girls in caring for and feeding children, cultivating the family’s crops, and rearing livestock. Women in American society are expected to be primary caregivers for their families, while males shoulder the responsibilities of breadwinners, protectors, and family leaders (Marsden 68). The more I understand Somali culture, the more I can resist assumptions about its people and their ways of life. As a future teacher, learning about Somali culture has helped me appreciate its many facets and find points of connection with my own.
Most Somali families prioritize food, schooling, and housing when it comes to providing for their children. They are also concerned about their children’s security, health, and happiness. It is known that many Somali families include five to ten members (Evason). When it comes to raising their children, Somali parents prioritize providing them with a secure, loving environment in which to grow up and flourish. Parents in Somalia are very concerned with their children’s growth and development, and they take steps to ensure that their children are generally progressing through the various phases of childhood. Somalis have their distinct perspectives on the importance of emotional well-being. As a cultural phenomenon, American parenting aims to instill a healthy respect for authority in children while fostering a positive home environment (Marsden 78). In this approach, parents establish strict guidelines and never deviate from them. Understanding this cultural concept advances my career as it can help me identify the growth phases in children regarding their cultures.
Women in Somali culture are obligated to respect male authority and to carry out traditional roles as daughters, spouses, and mothers. They do not hide their identities under the Muslim veil but avoid interacting with males in public (Evason). It is true that urban Somali women, particularly those who have received education outside of Somalia, dress and act more like Western women. Women in the post-civil war in Somalia, where they had finally won the right to vote, quickly became involved in politics and took leadership roles in the administration and the People’s Parliament. The barriers that have prevented women in American society from attaining parity with males have been largely dismantled. It will help in my career advancement as I will recognize the role of gender equality in the modern world.
Clinicians in Somalia should approach the family rather than the patient about a dismal prognosis since there are no privacy regulations in the country. If the relatives of a Somali patient are not told the patient’s prognosis, they may become suspicious of the medical staff (Evason). Somalis believe it is crucial to inform close relatives of a terminal diagnosis first so that they may unite and provide support for the victim. Also, they could try to shield the patient from hearing a poor prognosis that might lead them to give up hope and ultimately die. The right to privacy and secrecy is fundamental to the American healthcare system. It will help advance my career as I will respect my student’s cultures and not discriminate.
Using sophisticated medical equipment may frighten and raises questions about its reliability. When possible, Somali patients may feel more comfortable talking to a healthcare provider of the same gender and certainly value thorough explanations of drugs and procedures (Eklöf et al. 515). The chance to gain the patient’s and their loved ones’ confidence to discuss treatment options presents itself here. In the American culture, the patients may also need an explanation from the medical practitioner before a procedure. By reflecting on Somali culture, I may improve my ability to recognize and appreciate cultural differences and prioritize my work accordingly; this will help me become a better teacher. I recognize that one component of my heritage is fundamental to my identity. It would hurt my feelings if someone else appropriated it without properly appreciating its significance.
Marriage in Somali culture has always been seen to unite not just two individuals but also two families or clans. Traditional Somali weddings included an older, more financially secure man and a young lady he wanted to marry. Some rural communities may still adhere to these traditions (Liberatore 17). A bride price is a dowry given by the groom to the bride’s family. Weddings are happy celebrations; however, it is a usual practice in Somalia for the bride to get some property settlement in the event of a divorce. The American wedding custom of having the bride and groom and their attendants walk down the aisle to begin the ceremony is long-standing. In the United States, there is no regular payment made to the bride’s family in exchange for her services as a wedding bride, and wedding costs may be covered in various ways. Expanding my research has helped me advance professionally as I understand cultures better. I now have a more comprehensive understanding of appropriate social conduct, how my actions shape who I am, and whether they may surprise a person of a different culture.
The nuclear family in Somali culture consists of the husband, his wife, and their children. A family may choose to have an elderly relative or a relative who is still single move in with them (Brown and Carpenter 350). When there are several wives in a household, the father and the husband often spend time with each set of children in their own home. The man is regarded as the head of the family unless a woman is divorced or widowed. Every person in the family, both immediate and extended, plays a vital role in the upbringing of a child in Somalia, contributing financially and emotionally. Comparable to the Somali way of life, the traditional American family consists of a nuclear unit with extended members living in their own homes. The more I learn about and interact with people of another culture, the more I will enjoy and succeed in my future career. Listening to their experiences, processing the meanings behind the facets of their culture that pique my interest, and applying this knowledge to my research will help me get a more proper perspective on Somali life.
Somali parents shower their children with affection and instill in them the values of hard work and discipline. Somali children are well-known for their resilience, optimism, and contagious laughter, despite facing severe challenges in their daily lives (Evason). Children are encouraged to think for themselves and to take a keen interest in their surroundings. When members of a Somali family are affected by difficulties or tragedies, they rely on the love and support of their extended and immediate relatives. Instead of relying on a community, Somalis go to their own family for assistance. Somali families rely on one another and their community for help with matters of family and work. The United States of America promotes social support inside the family, including sharing financial and emotional resources between immediate and extended relatives. It is often said that the greatest approach to learning about other people’s cultures is to evaluate one’s own critically your culture and then of the other one, so I have done just that with the American culture. The study of the Somali culture has helped me advance my future career as I have developed more respect for other peoples’ cultures. Therefore, it will be important in the future as I will easily tolerate my students’ cultural backgrounds without discriminating against them.
A majority of Somalis believe that their religious leaders have the power to either bless or curse the nation. Among nomads, the title of wadad is often given to a revered man in authority or religious adherent (Evason). He is responsible for leading prayers and conducting ceremonial sacrifices at religious festivals and special occasions. There are mosques in all the major cities and towns in Somalia, while the nomads have their religious services wherever possible. Somalis have a strong cultural bias against organ donation because of the traditional belief that the corpse should be buried whole. American culture does not have any objection to organ transplants as they advocate for such in lifesaving events. The time I spent learning about Somalia’s culture has benefited my professional life by improving my capacity for cross-cultural communication. As a result of showing gratitude and talking to others, I may improve as a teacher by learning about new people and sharing what I know about the world.
In conclusion, Islam profoundly shapes faith, gender roles, and societal mores in Somalia. When caring for their children, most Somali families focus on three main areas: food, education, and shelter. In contemporary American culture, women are supposed to be the primary carers for their families, while men are expected to be the breadwinners, defenders, and leaders of their households. Most Somali families focus on three main areas for caring for their children: food, education, and shelter. Women in Somali society are expected to uphold gender norms such as subordination to male authority and the traditional roles of daughter, wife, and mother. Since there are no privacy restrictions in Somalia, doctors are advised to talk to the patient’s family rather than the patient themselves when delivering bad news. In the United States, patients have a fundamental right to confidentiality regarding their medical records.
Works Cited
Brown, Joshua R., and Benjamin Carpenter. “Heritage Somali and identity in rural Wisconsin.”Journal of Language Contact, vol. 11, no. 2, 2018, pp. 348–371.
Eklöf, Niina, et al. “Factors Related to Privacy of Somali Refugees in Health Care.”Nursing Ethics, vol. 27, no. 2, 2019, pp. 514–526.
Evason, Nina. “Somali Culture.”Cultural Atlas, 2019.
Lewis, Ioan Myrddin. A modern history of Somalia: Nation and state in the Horn of Africa. Routledge, 2019.
Liberatore, Giulia. Somali, Muslim, British: Striving in securitized Britain. Taylor & Francis, 2017.
Marsden, George M. Fundamentalism and American culture. Oxford University Press, 2022.