The Cultural Differences Between Europe and United States Research Paper

Outline

Culture can be defined as ways in which a certain society lives and undertakes its daily chores. It therefore occurs that there can be as many cultures as the existing societies. Hence, the European society has a different culture compared to that of Americans which is portrayed by their ways of life. These differences are mostly found in their social lives, where differences are portrayed by the different kinds of food they consume, ways in which they relate to each other, sports they engage in, their interest in religion, customs practiced by each society, perception of distances and education systems. Hence, each of these societies, that is, the European and the American societies has different ways of carrying out cultural practices hence their variation.

Introduction

United States and Europe have been found to be different in several ways among them being culture. Culture is the way in which human beings conduct their lives where people living in the same society share a similar way of life otherwise known as culture. “Differences between Europeans’ culture and that of Americans is expressed through their different behavior concerning time, cars, date, systems of measurement, distances, schooling, holidays and religion” Banner (1983 p.13).

Religion

It has been found that Americans value religion more than Europeans as they integrate aspects of religion in almost all their day to day lives. Therefore, there are more church goers in America than they are in Europe as Americans consider churches as major socialization grounds. However, this is not the case with Europeans who consider religion as some outdated practice and is therefore left to the old. “Europeans are found to engage themselves in religious practices during some special occasions like Christmas festivities and wedding ceremonies” Blair (1988 p.36). On the other hand, recognition of religion in America is not limited to any specific occasion or category of people as even politicians have been found talking about God during their political campaigns. Such a thing is unheard of among Europeans where a mixture of the two is not allowed and is considered a taboo. However, there are a few European countries that are more religious than others though their level does not exceed that of America. Due to the value allocated to religion by the Americans, it is assumed that most of the Americans are religious and therefore it’s rare to find Americans confessing of their unbelief in religion which is not a big problem in Europe.

Political Correctness Differences

America has a great variety of religions as well as ethnicity which has led to the development of correctness of politics so as to reduce disagreements from occurring between different American groups. Therefore, Americans are found to avoid ethnic divisions and it’s therefore hard to hear them associating themselves with their origins. “However, things are quite different in Europe where Europeans are noticed to like associating themselves with their culture as well as language” Breen (1990, pp15-16). European cultures are upheld with great respect and people are not allowed to joke around with them. However, since they do not value religion as such, Europeans do not find it awkward to joke about religious groups which is the reason as to why political correctness have not being developed in Europe.

Food

This is another important aspect of culture which portrays differences between the two societies. Europeans are found to consume their traditional foods more that they consume fast food. This is because; they like observing balanced diets in their meals which are also quite varied. Some types of dishes are considered to be only available in specific regions in Europe and not in others. Europeans are also found to have a wider consumption of beer, wine, cheese and yoghurt more than their American counterparts. On the other hand, Americans’ diet is mostly comprised of fast food which makes it hard for them to watch the balance of their diets. “They also like taking sweet food which accounts for the great percentage of fast food sold in American supermarkets. Due to very tough laws on the consumption of alcohol in America, Americans take less alcoholic drinks than Europeans” Camp (1978p.55).

Marriage and Relationships

Marriage is considered to be very important among Americans than it is with the Europeans whose options of staying single are quite common. The value accorded to marriage by the Americans can be associated to their value of religion as the two are connected. However, the high number of marriages results to more break ups and divorces. European countries have legalized gay marriages but this has not received much attention as they are not very religious which cloud be grounds on which such a practice would be debated upon. “Gay marriages have received substantial opposition in America which according to them is against religious teachings.Wedding ceremonies have also been found to be regarded with much importance in America than in Europe. They are also organized in a more formal way in America where church weddings are very common” Caplan (2000 pp.13-14). However, Europeans conduct their wedding ceremonies in very informal ways where most weddings are only attended by family members and a few relatives. Although marriage is not given much attention in Europe, there exist differences in the traditions of marriage which vary between countries as well as families. In America, people like taking unique things to wedding ceremonies which range from old to borrowed ones, which is not the case in Europe. Ways in which the two societies relate while dating their spouses is different. “The trend followed by Americans is orderly and is strictly observed by dating couples. Purchasing of expensive gifts and ways in which partners propose to each other are also considered as very important among Americans. However, Europeans carry out their dating processes in very informal manners which are not in the least standard as they vary between regions as well as individuals” Coulby (1997 pp.33-34).

Differences In Recognition Of Distances

Europeans are found to consider a distance of approximately one hundred and fifty kilometers as very long which is a considerably short distance to Americans. This is because; Europe is quite small compared to the size of America hence the differences in perception of distance. “There is also a great difference in how time is perceived by the two societies where Europeans give a longer allowance to the status of things regarding time than Americans. For instance, Europeans would regard an item that has been in existence for fifty years as new while to Americans, such an item is regarded as very old” Hultkrantz (1981 pp.11-13).

Circumcision

“Circumcision is quite common among Americans and is usually done to male boys. This practice started to gain popularity immediately after the Second World War when circumcision was performed at birth to most baby boys” Lovenduski (1993 pp. 62-63). Though its popularity has decreased greatly, since those time studies show that, a large number of American men undergo circumcision. On the other hand, circumcision is not popular at all among Europeans which can also be explained by their low regard of religion. This is because circumcision was a practice believed to have been carried out by religious communities as recorded in religious books such as the Bible or the Koran.

Differences in Schooling Systems and Sports

Europeans are found to give children’s education a lot of attention and value as schooling from primary to the university level is provided free of charge in almost all European countries. To Europeans, getting a university education is very obvious and students are not asked to sit for any test as a requirement for joining universities. On the other hand, university education is very expensive in America and one only gets to join a particular university if he/she attains the minimum points set for that university which is rated using a standard test. “Concerning sports, the types given attention vary greatly between the two societies where Europeans are mostly found to be involved in football otherwise known as soccer, formula 1 and tennis. However, such types of sports are quite unpopular among Americans who are found to be interested in the American football, basketball and hockey which is mostly played on ice during winter” Swann (1992 pp.16-17).

Conclusion

It is therefore evident that Europeans’ ways of life vary greatly to that of Americans as depicted by their different cultures. “These differences can be attributed to their different origins as well as environment. It is therefore believed that for example, Europeans like traveling more than Americans because of the size of their country. Since there are fewer places to travel to in their country, they prefer going abroad for more adventures” Reilly (2001pp. 28-29). Also the Europeans’ love for indigenous food consequently leads to their practice of watching their diets unlike Americans. Americans are mostly found to enjoy fast food which is very tempting and may result to unhealthy eating habits where a balanced diet is not observed. It consequently occurs that one aspect of either European or American cultures leads to another resulting to the great variety of differences between the two societies.

References

1. Banner L. American beauty: Alfred a Knopf Inc, 1983 pp. 12-16
2. Blair J. Cross-cultural perspectives on the emergence of an American way: Greenwood Press, 1988 pp. 34-37
3. Breen T. America, past and present: Pearson Scott Foresman, 1990 pp. 13-18
4. Camp C. Food ways: Greenwood Press, 1978 pp. 54-57
5. Caplan J. The tattoo in European and American history: Reaktion Books, 2000 pp. 12-14
6. Coulby D. Intercultural education in the United States of America and Europe: Routledge, 1997 pp. 33-37
7. Hultkrantz A. Belief and worship in native North America: Syracuse Univ Press, 1981pp. 11-14
8. Lovenduski J. Gender and Party politics: Sage Publications Ltd, 1993 pp. 61-65
9. Reilly C. Language, Ethnicity and the state: Palgrave Macmillan, 2001 pp. 27-32
10. Swann B. On the translation of Native American literatures: Smithsonian Inst press, 1992 pp. 15-18