The Unfamiliar Culture of the Maasai People Essay

Introduction

In Module 4, we have been learning about deviance, and I have researched an unfamiliar culture of the Maasai people. They live in East Africa, practice polygamy, and dress uniquely (Cronk, 2018). The brightly colored Maasai “shukas” and beaded jewelry seem deviant to my culture.

Discussion

The “shukas” are worn as tunics or slung over the shoulder, which might be considered exposing. I additionally perceive men and women wearing beads as an unusual practice. Moreover, the Maasai people value polygamy, which is considered deviant in my culture. They value keeping low-grade cattle in large numbers, which does not happen in my culture. Their wealth status is assessed by the number of cows they have and not their quality. However, I realize that different communities place great importance on different things, and it is essential to understand and appreciate cultural distinctions and subcultures.

Conversely, some of the customs in my culture might seem deviant to the Maasai people. For instance, my culture does not view homosexuality as taboo, while it is not allowed among the Maasai people. Similar to many other African societies, the Maasai believe that marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman, and they do not endorse or tolerate same-sex marriage (Hairsine, 2019). Individuals who engage in such practices may face expulsion from the community. Instead, they prefer engaging in polygamy and other practices rather than homosexuality. The media significantly impacts people’s perception of what is deviant or not. News coverage, television shows, and social media can influence public opinion and reinforce societal norms regarding specific actions or groups as deviant.

Conclusion

However, I have used social media to appreciate and learn more about other cultures. Watching different cultures being practiced helps me develop a positive attitude and accept everyone as part of society.

References

Cronk, L. (2018). From Mukogodo to Maasai: Ethnicity and cultural change in Kenya (4^th ed.). Routledge.

Hairsine, K. (2019). Why Africa is a difficult place for homosexuals? Deutsche Welle. Web.