Cultural Autobiography: Influence of Culture on Personal Life

This report delves into the concept of cultural autobiography and its significance in understanding the influence of culture on personal life. It includes two cultural autobiographies, one of the author and another of someone else, highlighting the differences in upbringing and cultural backgrounds. The report also discusses the Hofstede's Six Dimensions of Culture.

Cultural Autobiography

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
Questionnaire...............................................................................................................................4
a) Cultural Autobiography of me.....................................................................................................4
b) Cultural autobiography of someone else....................................................................................5
c) Cultural differences between me and John Michelle..................................................................7
Hofstede's Six Dimensions of Culture ........................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Cultural autobiography explain the way in which culture influence people life such as the
role it plays in upbringing of anyone. There are number of way which motivate as well as affect
persona's life which are related to background, race etc. Report highlight about autobiography of
scholar as well as different person and then explain difference in it.
Questionnaire
Please answer following questions
 Age:
 Gender:
 Religion:
 Social-economic status:
 Marriage status:
 Education level:
1. What is the country where you complete most part of your present age?
2. How you influence from culture and the way in which it impacts on your upbringing?
3. What is your lifestyle?
4. What language your native place have and that you speak often?
5. What are your political and cultural opinion?
6. What is the aim of your life?
7. Explain one lesson that your culture has given to you?
8. How success value to you?
a) Cultural Autobiography of me
Of Above question I am giving answer below.
I am 21 year old boy that follows Christianity and impacted from British culture. My
family is middle class and hence have to work hard to earn for living as well as surviving. I
completed my graduation from United kingdom and non-married yet. There are many things
which I gain from my culture such as the way in which lifestyle important and a big fan of
traditional cuisines that serves in our houses. From the childhood we taught that money is
important for survival as living life is not easy as it seems to be. At the age of 18 I started
working in a restaurant which give me good experience as employees in it belongs to different
culture. I am more fast-fashion lover and my native language is language which are use in

conversation all around the country. I am liberal in political views and support people which
focuses on economic development with sustainable development. I believe that every culture
plays important role in human beings' life such as Japanese gives sonless of nationality, British
more concentrated towards traditional values and royalty still exist in our country. It is very said
that British are good in leadership that's why in the past they ruled over most of the part of world
(Danso, 2018). I want become successful business and hence wealth matters to me more than in
the early ages I suffer for various types of necessary things such as I want to purchase a car but
because of financial problem my father not supported me. From the beginning I thought to save
money and else invest in right way. Most of my investment now supporting me for my future
endeavours. British is class family and if you are not in high class then it will impact on your life
and create number of challenges (Cunningham, Devine and Snee, 2017). For me success is
everything and hence I focused and do all effort to achieve it. However, sometimes people call
me selfish as well as self-centred because of my greed to earn money and become rich. I have
less friend, but they are good and always supporting me whenever I need. There are number of
lesson that I learn from my upbringing such as no one in my relations born with golden spoon
but many of die with it because of their wish to be success. At the end I believe that until you are
not financially strong you cannot support anyone in their future endeavours and hence money
matters to in every aspect of life.
b) Cultural autobiography of someone else
Frome the above question writing someone else biography.
John Michelle born on 17, November 1990 in Pakistan and after some year his family
shifted to London. He follows Islam but black in race which differentiate it from other Britishers
which known for white skin. John's Father run small shop in South Ealing and earn as much as
they can feed their children and hence he suffered in terms of getting education as well full-fill
basic need. He belongs to low middle class family and hence lifestyle was very simple and at the
age of 14 giving tuition to neighbour which generate his pocket money and support in his
academic life. John completed MBA from Oxford university and presently running a big chain of
Hotels in United Kingdom and marital status is single. In the initial days of his life face racism as
he was black and people in United Kingdom take it as symbol of inferiority but on the contrary it
makes him good man which value every religion and hence supported diversified culture in his
organization. Takes very less interest in politics but support Labour party in the country.

However, life taught him various lessons and hence living life simple life valued more than show
off. Large amount which John generated from business make him in upper class but his initial
days suffering for money inspire him to support people which face racism, poverty etc. and
hence large amount of funds provided voluntary organization which can help others. Aim of
Michelle life is to become richest in the world and support people that have capability to rise and
help others. From the starting John has focused on excellence rather than on success and hence
most of his work are inclined towards it. His native language was Urdu but has knowledge of
others to such as German, English, French, Italian etc. Simple life style of him inspiring
generation and it will positively impact on other people of his society. There are number of times
when he fails to prove himself but constant work and great effort change his behaviour and
become optimistic. In the very young age lost his mother and father done all right things to give
him good lessons which supported him throughout of life. Many try to defame him because of
continuous growth, but he remains alert and good six sense created a path which was not break
and able to overcome from it easily. He was invited by queen herself when he came to know
about the way in which a poor kid become billionaire and hence positive impact on his life.
Throughout his journey believes that inspiration comes from within, and he do-sent make anyone
ideal but now there are multiple people which follow him because of his view towards society as
well as success. John provides large amount of money for orphans and have his own NGO which
regulate it. Money makes business man but Good human being makes a person that can will be
respected by society and hence wealth important but positive outlook for society also important
(Foks, 2018). Suffering makes you down but optimistic nature rise you again told by John in an
interview taken by BBC. He always thanks Allah for his success and worship him a lot and
focuses on creating a world which respect everyone. Most significant impact that has made from
his upbringing can be seen in his organization where he recruited diversified culture and support
all for their personal as well as professional growth. In an event organized by his firm John told
workforce that I do not believe in hiring slave I want people who are liberal and have their own
mind set. He follows transformational leadership which increase innovation as well as creativity
skills of employees and positively impact on workers (Foyster, 2018). John's worship Allah and
always focus on helping others and hence try to improve image of his culture which was
affecting by some people. Standing in front of people for the wrong even it was against of

community make him a man honour. There are several times when people told him not to behave
like liberal and remain on one side but it cannot make change in his life.
c) Cultural differences between me and John Michelle
There are number of difference that has been between two culture such as in the first
person belong to Christianity as well as have native language which help in adjusting in British
society. John on the contrary follows Islam and migrated from Pakistan and hence adjusting in it
takes longer times. Lifestyle of first one is more luxurious while later one emphasizes on living
simple if money is high. It can be seen that people and social structure always make changes in
person's personality in both the case persons belongs to low middle classes family but because of
different background and social structure make changes in their upbringings. John was black in
race and in white people suffer at various stages but because of optimistic view focused on
continuous growth. There are number of other difference in both culture such as in first part
worship is of Jesus while in later stage Islamic gods comes into existence. In first case person
have knowledge of English and which help in getting work while on the later one native
language is Urdu and hence effect on accent which sometimes create communication problems.
John do not drink and not fond of party culture which was learned from his family but on other
side class gathering attract the person in first case as British is class base society. Christmas is
main function in first cultural autobiography while later one has number of Islamic function such
as Eid, Morham etc. and hence multiple festival matters to person in second case. Both
completed studies in English but way of business is different such as in first study individual
more willing to give job to white skins as racism is common in British culture. Both the culture
has common goal of serving society but tradition and customs are different such as in Islam
women are less allowed to work outside and on the contrary Christian are liberals to women in
terms of giving freedom (van Tilborgh, 2018). In Islam Hijab and other attires are common while
in Christianity there is no restriction on wearing. John comes from a country where people are
conservative as well as orthodox while in first case person is Britishers which are open-minded
and liberal in their ideology (Knott, 2018). In second case person have less interest in politics
well in the previous one individual support labour party.
Hofstede's Six Dimensions of Culture
The Power Distance Index (PDI) refers to degree of inequality that is accepted between
people with and without power (Kristjánsdóttir, Guðlaugsson, Guðmundsdóttir and et.al., 2017).

Society with unequal, hierarchical distribution of power leads to high PDI score. Non –
acceptance of unequal distributed power leads to low PDI score.
Individualism Versus Collectivism (IDV), refers to ties with other people in community.
Weak interpersonal connection leads to high IDV and less responsibility of others actions is
considered. In collectivist society, people are loyal to group and take responsibility of one
another.
Masculinity Verses Femininity (MAS) refers to distribution of roles between men and
women. Role of men and women overlap less in masculinity society, and they behave
assertively. Overlap of male and female roles is more in feminist society and decency is virtue.
The Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI), describes how well people can cope with
anxiety. Societies that score high, are unable to control their own lives and are called
“mañana”(Beugelsdijk and Welzel, 2018). In countries having low UAI score, people are more
relaxed, open and comprehensive.
In Long Versus Short — Term Orientation, it refers to the time zone society displays.
Countries having long — term orientation are genuine and thrifty. In short — term oriented
countries, people emphasize on principles and consistency being typically religious and
nationalistic.
Indulgence versus Restraint (IVR) is defined as, countries with high IVR score encourage
people's emotions and desires. Society with low IVR score, there is more emphasis on strict
norms and regulation which are to be followed by people.
CONCLUSION
It can be evaluated from the report that culture plays important role in everyone's life. In
mine case belong to Christianity and follow class culture while John comes from Pakistan and
his religion is Islam. Former one remain simple in lifestyle and has remained out of politics and
focuses on supporting people.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Beugelsdijk, S. and Welzel, C., 2018. Dimensions and dynamics of national culture:
Synthesizing Hofstede with Inglehart. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology.49(10).
pp.1469-1505.
Cunningham, N., Devine, F. and Snee, H., 2017. A Classless Society?. Making Sense of
Inequalities in the Contemporary United Kingdom with the Great British Class Survey',
in David Fée An# x000E9, pp.77-100.
Danso, R., 2018. Cultural competence and cultural humility: A critical reflection on key cultural
diversity concepts. Journal of Social Work.18.(4).pp.410-430.
Foks, F., 2018. the sociological imagination of the british new left:“culture” and the “managerial
society,” c. 1956–1962. Modern Intellectual History.15.(3).pp.801-820.
Foyster, E., 2018. ‘Fear of Giving Offence Makes Me Give the More Offence’: Politeness,
Speech and Its Impediments in British Society, c. 1660–1800. Cultural and Social
History.15.(4).pp.487-508.
Knott, K., 2018. Muslims and Islam in the UK: A Research Synthesis.
Kristjánsdóttir, H., Guðlaugsson, Þ.Ö., Guðmundsdóttir, S. and et.al., 2017. Hofstede national
culture and international trade. Applied Economics.49(57). pp.5792-5801.
van Tilborgh, Y., 2018. Islam, culture and authoritative voices in the UK and the US. Zeitschrift
für Religion, Gesellschaft und Politik.2.(1).pp.101-134.
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