Griffith University: EDN1399 Report - Socialisation Process Analysis

This report analyzes the process of socialization through the lens of a cultural event organized to foster understanding and acceptance among staff members from diverse backgrounds. The author describes the event, which included cultural presentations, food sharing, and discussions, and reflects on the experience. The report highlights the importance of socialization in shaping individual identities and reducing stereotypes, emphasizing the role of family, peers, and media in this process. The author's personal experience underscores the benefits of cultural exchange and the potential for creating a more harmonious and inclusive environment. The report also discusses the implications for future educators, advocating for the teaching of respect and equality to combat discrimination and promote socialization as a means of reducing prejudice and fostering understanding among people from different cultural backgrounds.

Running head: UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS OF SOCIALISATION
UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS OF SOCIALISATION
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS OF SOCIALISATION
Activity Description
Socialization is the process where an individual tries to understand and assimilate the
cultures and subcultures of one or other group and while doing so he acquires those cultural
elements in order to shape his self-identity and personality (Zarakol, 2014). To understand the
process of socialization, I decided to put up a cultural event, where each of the staff had the
opportunity to participate in this social event. Each staff presented their culture to the rest, where
they presented poems, sang a song, or staged a drama, as per their convenience. Another activity
was to organize a picnic in the senior yard for the staff and their children where each of them
could prepare a traditional dish. I chose this activity because I knew that it would be helpful in
understanding the process of socialization when people of different cultures come together and
display their culture.
Expectations/ Rationale
This activity of presenting a cultural event was an opportunity to get to know the diverse
cultures of the staff. The staff members belong to the Indian, Moroccan, Macedonian, Taiwanese
and Australian cultures. When they present their own cultures and ethnicities in front of the
people, then the locals would be able to know about how different cultures. Culture is based on
different symbols and attaching different significance to objects. When people of different
cultures come together, they get to learn about the difference in their lifestyle, their beliefs and
their values (Park, S. (2014). In the activity, I have also organized an event where the staff
members had to prepare their own food. This would foster the exchange of cultures between the
people belonging to different ethnicities. I had thought that when people meet those who are
different from them and are unaware of their culture, it generally creates a feeling off mistrust
and thus it gives birth to stereotypes against that particular group. This in turn makes people

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discriminate against those who belong to diverse backgrounds from them. I feared that these
people would fail to understand the differences; however, that did not happen.
Analysis
My actual experience was different from what I was expecting. The people had happily
participated in the ethnic activities that I had hosted. Each staff member presented something that
belonged to his or her culture. Some produced their folk songs, some sang songs that belonged to
their culture and some even went on to stage a drama on a folklore that was popular in their
culture. They had all successfully turned the event into an amalgamation of different cultures
under one roof. Each member was happily invested in getting to learn about each other’s culture.
Each staff member showed great interest in getting to know about the stories and the uniqueness
of each couture. The difference in their cultures is what makes them diverse and special in their
own way. My fears that they would not get along well with each other and judge each other
proven false. There are cultural stereotypes that apply to existing beliefs about the members of a
particular cultural group. For example, there are stereotypes related to Indian cultures that they
eat extremely spicy food and that they are loud. However, I could not see people stereotyping
each other in the event. They were supportive of each other and cheered when each group was
presenting their performance. When the staff members brought the food of their ancestors and
their home country, people relished it. They wanted to know the recipe of the food that they liked
and were supportive of each other.
Australian culture is highly dominated by the presence of various people belonging to
diverse backgrounds because of the influx of people from various countries. There is a heavy
influence of Chinese, Indian, Lebanese and various other cultures in the country. As a result of
which, people are highly susceptible to be judgmental of others cultures because there is an

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increase in xenophobia around the world. People are afraid of what is unknown to them and
therefore the take drastic actions to maintain their esteem and presence intact (Fiske, 2017).
However, from hosting this event I learned that people were welcoming of other cultures and
were invested in getting to know each other’s way of living. Though there were some people
who created little problems and judged people because of their diverse background however,
majority of them were accepting of the different cultures of the people. Moroccans, Indian,
Taiwanese and all other staff members were actively socializing with each other. Socialization is
a process that is influenced by the family members, peer and the media (Allen, J., & Partington,
G. (2004). The way in which the media portray the cultures has an extremely important fact that
makes great impression on the mind. Stereotypes can only be reduced when people are educated
about the presence of different cultures. It is important that children at a very early age be taught
that every human being is equal and that each deserve equal amount of respect. Socialization is
the way to teach that. When children mingle, with each other they get to know about different
cultures and that makes them understand their differences however, in a less discriminating
manner. Thus, socialization is the proper way to reduce discrimination against people of different
cultures.
Summary
This experience of hosting an event that displayed all the different cultures and diverse
backgrounds opened me to new experience. Each culture has something to teach and every
individual can learn something new from each other. My personal life experience showed me the
importance of socialization. It made me realize that people can live in harmony with love and
can make each other feel great about themselves. As a future educator, I learned that spreading
love and diminishing stereotypes against each other would stop discrimination and hate that so

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many people have to face every day simply because they are different. Realizing that each person
is unique and deserve respect is what socialization can teach children.

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References
Allen, J., & Partington, G. (2004). Sociology of education; possibilities and practices, 3rd ed.
(2004) [Ebook] (3rd ed., pp. 125-144). Social Science Press.
Fiske, S. T. (2017). Prejudices in cultural contexts: Shared stereotypes (gender, age) versus
variable stereotypes (race, ethnicity, religion). Perspectives on psychological
science, 12(5), 791-799.
Park, S. (2014). Socialisation and the liberal order. International Politics, 51(3), 334-349.
Zarakol, A. (2014). What made the modern world hang together: socialisation or stigmatisation?.
International Theory, 6(2), 311-332.