Cultural Diversity Interview Report: Exploring Cultural Differences

This report presents an analysis of an interview conducted to explore cultural diversity, focusing on the perspectives of an Indian student, Rhea, regarding her cultural background and comparing it with Hispanic family dynamics. The report highlights key aspects of Indian culture, such as the significance of family, the patriarchal societal structure, the prevalence of joint families, and the traditional roles of women. It contrasts these aspects with the Hispanic family structure, emphasizing differences in family decision-making, gender roles, and opportunities for women. The interview reveals the impact of cultural experiences on personal life choices, career paths, and the evolving perspectives within Indian society. The report uses Rhea's experiences to highlight the challenges and changes faced by women in Indian culture, and compares them with the experiences of women in Hispanic culture. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of cultural awareness and understanding diverse viewpoints.

Running head: CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Cultural diversity
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Name of the Author:

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Table of Contents
Key points and ideas............................................................................................................2
Comparison of the information............................................................................................3
Appendix..............................................................................................................................4

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Key points and ideas
After the interview, I have come to know that for the Indians family is considered to be
the most critical aspect of their life. As stated by Rhea. "Family is seen as an important
institution which is expected to hold the highest level of value in the life of each individual", the
family seems to be the centre of attraction for the Indians. Rhea is an Indian who has come from
India to study at Florida International University. Rhea has stated that the family of the Indians
takes a significant part of their life decisions. India is a patriarchal society, and the girls are
treated inferiorly. Girls are considered to be the workers of the family, and they are not allowed
to move out of their house. The girls are forced to go through an arranged marriage when the
time comes. I have also come to know that most of the families of the Indians are joint families
in which generally three generations of the family reside together. AS it was stated by Rhea,
"households are usually comprised of joint families of 3 generations are more including
grandparents' uncles' aunts nephews and the list goes on" in this joint family the youngest
generation needs to listen to the oldest generation without any questions. The oldest generations
in the family are considered to be the ultimate decision-makers of the family. In India, women
are not treated with the same respect as men are treated. Rhea stated that "As a woman, this was
exercised tenfold as we are subconsciously seen as inferior with the need to be taken care of
consistently. Whereas a man may be able to get out of an arranged marriage or a specific career
path, it would be ten times harder for me to do the same, or to escape any form of 'advice'." The
only success of the Indian women are measured by the excellent family they are getting married
into. The various achievements of women are not taken into account. Instead, the success of the
men is taken into account by the society. But as stated by Rhea, I have come to know that with
the changing time the thinking of the Indian society is slowly changing and women in the

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country are getting the appreciation which was not received before. I have also come to know
that travelling outside India has allowed Rhea to get jobs quickly as there is the presence of
fewer distractions. I have also learned that the school systems in India are much harder than here
and getting jobs in India and concentrating on a career is tough being in a joint family.
Comparison of the information
Both Hispanic family and Indian family decide the personal life of the children such as
marriage and career goals, but the Hispanic family do not impose all these on their children.
Children of the Hispanic family are allowed to select whatever they want for their future.
Hispanic family and Indian family are both male-dominated families. Although in a Hispanic
family the marriage and the career paths of the children are not decided in accordance to their
gender whereas in Indian family the future of girls is to get married and take care of the family.
In the Hispanic family, both the girls and boys are treated in the same way, which is not same
when it comes to an Indian family. Both the family composition of the Indian and Hispanic
family is almost the same, but in a Hispanic family, there is an absence of aunts and uncles. In
Indian family, all the three generations of the family, including aunts and uncles reside together
in a house.
While interacting together, both cultures can find certain aspects by which they will have
a conflict between them. The girls in the Indian family are not given the desired values, whereas,
in a Hispanic family, the girls are treated adequately and are given equal importance by the
family. Rhea had to move out from her family to peruse her career which a girl from a Hispanic
family might not have to do. The women from India are made to believe that they are not better
than others, and they are not strong enough. The woman of India are suppressed by society, and
they are not allowed to pursue their dreams, and they are only here to support a family and take

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care of the family. The life of women in the Hispanic family and Indian family are very different
from each other.

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Appendix
1. How does being from _____________ influence your idea of family/success/home-life
balance/ time/ etc.
2. how does being a female in an Indian family differ from being a male in Indian family?
3. how would you describe the typical Indian household.
4. how would you describe the power dynamics of an Indian family.
5. Do you think that being a _____________makes getting a good job or going to school
easier/more difficult/ etc.
6. how did coming from another country affect your social life with school and work balance?
7. Does your language or cultural group influence the way you think about the world? In what
way?
8. How do you feel your cultural experiences have impacted your mental health?
9. How do politics differ from your home culture to American politics?
10. Though you disagree with much of your culture's beliefs would you say Indian culture is
more rich than American culture?
11. How does your home culture define success?
12. How do you define success?
13. How happy would you say Indian people in general?
14. How do/did you feel about entertainment in India.

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15. Do you consider that your morals, values and beliefs are influenced by your culture,
language, and/or gender? If so, in what way?
16. If you could change your nationality, ethnicity, sex, etc …would you? Why or why not?
17. What do you think is special or different about being part of ______________ group?
18. What kinds of stereotypes or generalizations do you think that those who are not part of your
cultural group (or linguistic or gender or other group) have about your group? Why?
19. What kinds of stereotypes or assumptions do you think you might have about other groups
and why do you think that is?
20. How do you think your identity is influenced by your cultural, language or gendered
experiences?