I agree, to some extent, with Benedict’s declaration that we are
“creatures of our culture” and that our habits, beliefs, and impossibilities
are shaped by our culture. However, I also believe that our physical
environment, parents, social economic status, education and other factors
contribute a significant measure of input into our individual culture.
I believe collectively as a specific society we are shaped more
according to Benedict’s philosophy; and that it is possible to be individually
shaped by a litany of other factors, the likes of which some are previously
mentioned.
Take for example, a 20-year old native Californian, college girl who lives with her
parents, was home-schooled, and attends a traditional conservative American
church. Her peers are dating, going to parties, camping with friends, taking
road trips during school breaks and all the other activities that are
culturally acceptable and expected of college students in our modern society. Meanwhile, she finds nothing abnormal
about her parents forbidding her from joining in her friends’ activities, and
requiring she keep them apprised of where she is at all times, while she is not
allowed to date, go to parties, or on camping or road trips without her family.
Because of her sheltered home environment, overly protective care of her
parents and her ultra conservative education, she never considers challenging
her parents’ strict rules and if anyone suggests she should, she defends their
behavior because even though it is not the cultural norm for America
I think you've actually proved Benedict's point. While I myself don't agree with it, to that college student, the culture that was raised in wasn't that of the cultural norm for America. But then again, what is? In this country we have many different cultures based on ethnicity, religion, and even politics. We have regionally based cultures as well where her parent's behaviors are a societal norm. It also needs to be considered that because she was home schooled, society, to her, is probably a much smaller group of people that are of like beliefs to her parents. The bigger question is how she adapts to the differences in college culture, and her home culture.
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