Why is the important to be sensitive to the needs and atittudes of different cultural groups?

Answer 1

It is important to be sensitive to others cultural views, because you may offend the other person. Differences arise between humans in areas such as culture and specific environmental adaptations. What is considered beautiful in one culture (small feet in China, many beads in Africa, male daintiness in Wajabe culture) may be ugly in another. Nonverbal forms of communication also serve to distinguish one culture from another. For example, in Western societies, a smile indicates happiness or friendship, but in Asia it may be interpreted as a sign of mischievousness. Greetings differ, such as a bow versus a handshake, and it is important to be sensitive to such cultural differences in order to avoid offending someone with a different cultural background. Different beliefs, religions, rituals, values, and ways of life create drastic differences between people across the world. Multiple marriages would not be acceptable in American culture, which also tends to stress the importance of the wedding ceremony, whereas polygamy is common in societies such as the !Kung of Africa. Likewise, experimentation with sex as a child would be outrageous in Western society, but it is accepted in the !Kung tribe. Another example is the importance of Chinese table manners, particularly the mixing of all dishes together, common plates for everyone, and other specific traditions regarding mealtime. Table manners, especially in Chinese culture, are very sensitive and can convey to a host many important things about the guest, whether one realizes it or not. Although there are differences in humans and cultures across the world, people are fundamentally the same as members of the human race