Personal Artifacts

Wearing deodorant is something that is seen as mandatory in my culture for social acceptance.  Small children do not wear deodorant, but once children hit puberty, it is expected by the middle class culture of the United States that deodorant will be worn as a part of personal hygiene practices.

In the Unites States, having shaved legs and armpits is a cultural norm that is expected to be followed by the majority of women.  While there are no laws against women not shaving, many people simply expect women to shave because it has been so integrated into our culture.  

Even though not all citizens have the income to support the cellular plans and data plans needed for smart phones, smart phones have become an accepted part of our culture and it is often assumed that the majority of United States citizens have them.  

This image is representative of the implied need for women to wear makeup.  Again, there are no laws in our culture that state that women must wear makeup, but it is an implied cultural phenomenon that in order to be perceived as beautiful and hygienic, women must wear makeup.  

In the Mormon culture, men are expected to maintain a well groomed appearance that includes short hair and a clean-shaven face.  This cultural artifact is a little more unique to BYU campus, but people often assume that men on campus with beards or long hair are not as active in their church attendance because they have neglected to uphold the image associated with men in the Mormon culture.  

Brushing one's teeth twice a day is something else that is considered a cultural norm in the majority of the United States.  If someone neglects to take care of their teeth in this way it may not be immediately apparent in the appearance of their teeth, but having bad breath is something that is seen as culturally unacceptable.  

Shoes are also seen as a cultural norm; whenever one is outside or entering a public place, shoes must be worn.  If someone chooses not to wear shoes into a public place, they are often looked down upon or even asked to leave.  

This artifact demonstrates the importance of having straight teeth in my culture.  In other areas of the world such as Europe, straight teeth are not viewed as a necessity or something that is a necessary part of physical attractiveness.  

Hugging is another part of my culture and is viewed as a sign of affection, love, and friendship.  Hugging is viewed as appropriate as a greeting, a farewell, or even a spontaneous moment of affection.  

Holding hands is another acceptable sign of public affection in my culture.  Sometimes small children hold hands or people who are related to each other, but it is most often viewed as a sign of affection between couples when both people holding hands are adults.  

This artifact is a representation of my culture's norm of wearing a swimsuit to public beaches.  In European cultures, many swimsuits do not require wearing a swimsuit and many people choose not to wear anything as a result.  

In my culture, shaking hands is a very common way to greet people in more formal settings or when meeting them for the first time.  Other cultures employ alternative methods of greeting such as kissing people on the cheek.  

Eating food with utensils such as a fork, knife, and spoon is a common practice in my culture unless the food being eaten is specified as "finger food."  

My culture also uses paper, disposable napkins most commonly as a part of eating rituals.  Cloth napkins are reserved for fancy restaurant settings and are rarely seen in homes.  

Funerals are a somber event in my culture and it is assumed that all who attend funerals will wear black clothing as a sign of mourning.  

Traditional marriage proposals in my culture look a lot like this: the man down on one knee holding an open ring box with an engagement ring.  Not all marriage proposals must be completed in this format in order to be viewed as valid, but the majority of marriage proposals in my culture are completed in this way simply because it is a cultural expectation and an expectation that women of the culture often hold as well.  

The action of putting one's hand over their heart as the United States National Anthem is sung is a gesture that has been an integrated part of United States culture for many years.  

Knocking on the door of someone's private residence before entering is also a common practice in my culture.  If someone is familiar enough with the resident they will often walk in without knocking, but this a case-by-case situation.  

Bedtime stories are also an important part of my culture.  I was read to very often before bed as a child and this allowed me to practice my reading skills and discover my love for reading at a very young age.  

Back to school shopping is another part of my culture that is an annual fall event.  Many stores in have bought into this cultural tradition that has emerged over the last decade and as a result many families have made back to school shopping a high priority every year before sending their children back to school.  

This was an extremely interesting exercise for me to explore many of the unspoken traditions and practices of my culture.  It's very common to view what is familiar to us as uncultured and to view foreign cultures as more "cultured" than the practices we are accustomed to, but the reality is that every individual participates as a member of a culture on a daily basis.  Almost all of the cultural artifacts I gathered can have implications in classroom settings.  For example, if a student was never exposed to bedtime stories as a part of their culture as a child, they may find the idea of reading for fun or enjoyment as foreign and be reluctant to read in their free time.  In school cafeterias, all students are expected to use forks, spoons, and knives that are provided when eating certain foods.  If a student was not accustomed to using these utensils when they ate, then many students would judge them because of their "lack of manners."  I also realized that many of the cultural artifacts I gathered concerning personal hygiene could also affect how individuals are perceived by their teachers and peers at school.  If an adolescent boy is part of a culture that values longer hair, many people who do not view this as acceptable within their culture will look down on him just because of his physical appearance.  Since I have been raised with all of these things and I have come to perceive them as cultural norms, I must be careful as a teacher that I do not discriminate against or judge students who do not adhere to these implicit and explicit expectations.