Social Location: A Self-Reflective Paper on Identity and Cultural Differences

Running head: DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT
EDUC 5040 Assignment-02
On
Social Location- A Self- Reflective Paper
Student Name- Sumedha Bose
Student Number: T00619670
Submitted to: Dr. J Neufeld Patricia
Thompson Rivers University

SOCIAL LOCATION 1
In certain ways, social location is a life-determining factor. It is the expression of a
person’s existence in the social fabric and is powerful because it places us in certain
relationships with the people in the world. Our social location determines our access to power
and privilege. For example, access to jobs and education is often determined through the
categories of social location and identity. White, middle-class/wealthy, men (social locators
of race, socio-economic status, and gender) is given more access to college entrance and
corporate executive employment than to any other person of any other social location. This
paper is being presented to discuss how identity and social location has influenced my life
and educational experiences. A reflective paper will be based on Punjab, India as my social
location in order to identify my values, beliefs, and traditions shaping the work life. Besides
this, I will explore the changes I experienced while moving from one country to another that
is from India to Canada.
Culture is said to be the tradition, norms, and values that influence the way a group
member classically observes, thinks, interrelates, performs and makes judgments. Cultural
competence is the capability of the person to interact properly with people of diverse cultures
(Meyer, 2016). This capability is based on the consciousness of one’s own cultural,
understanding of different cultural practices, accepting attitudes due to cultural differences,
and cross-cultural skills.
Belonging from the Indian Punjabi culture, moving to Canada resulted in drastic
cultural as well as social changes for me. Being a Punjabi woman I feel really different from
the Canadian girls. In our society female is generally dominated by males. Females are
considered timid, shy and have to follow certain rules of the society. Punjabi woman doesn't
have the freedom to roam freely, has to dress up according to what their society wants to see
them. Sometimes, girls are forbidden to give education too. Drinking alcohol and smoking is
considered as a taboo for girls in our culture, which is entirely different from Canadian
culture. This is because Indian women are the facade of numerous roles that are expected by
the community. In my country, religious and cultural barriers confine a woman to express her
comforts and desires in open, because of which she put her maximum efforts to prove herself
a Bharatiya Nari.
Traditions of Punjab
Blood relationships perform a major role in the tradition and customs of people of my
country. Every person in my family has been assigned with a different type of

SOCIAL LOCATION 2
responsibilities, which comprises daily life, funerals, marriage and birth ceremonies, and
other occasions that must be complied strictly. Most of the natives in my state believe in the
system of joint family. When there is any festival or special occasion, everyone positively
participates in the event. This collectivism has shaped my social values to give major priority
to the relationships and group conformance by valuing group decisions and procedures. The
customs of gift exchange is said to be the traditional practice in Punjab because according to
the beliefs this support in maintaining good relations with the family and friends in the
society (Holidify, 2019).
Beliefs in Punjab
Ethnic Relations in India
"Ethnic relations" refers to attitudes and behaviors toward people of other ethnicities
or races. Ethnic relations in India have historically been complex because it is diverse
ethnically, with around 2,000 ethnic groups. Besides this, in India, there is diversity within
the regions, and every region has its own mixture of culture, traditions, and ethnicities.
India is extremely diverse ethnically, with more than 2,000 different ethnic groups.
Furthermore, within India, there is also significant diversity within regions, and almost
every province has its own distinct mixture of ethnicities, traditions, and culture. Throughout
the history of India, ethnic relations have been both constructive (as with mutual cultural
influences) and destructive (as with discrimination and ethnically-based violence). Usually,
people in different regions respect each other's cultures and traditions. According to local
sources, unity in diversity has been growing in India, making the country more tolerant.
However, there are many incidents of racism or discrimination prevailing in different parts of
India. As an instance, northeastern parts of people are discriminated from others because of
their different facial features and short height and considered an inferior group of people.
Being a woman, I do experience discrimination at my workplace in terms of salary. As the
salary of a man employee is more in comparison to my salary package irrespective of the
same experience and skills.
Superstitions
In Punjab state, there is a belief that the natural power control is the possession of the
saints, and consequently numerous of the powers have been linked with every saint. Stories