Culture–can it be wrong?

Culture is constantly changing, adjusting to the scale of morality each generation. At Aragon, there is a diverse array of students belonging to many different nationalities that in turn constitute different cultures. Each culture holds various beliefs, and sometimes those beliefs are contrasting. Does this mean that one culture is more “right” than the other? No, not necessarily.

However, when those beliefs contrast with universal ethical morals and values, culture can be incorrect. Neither culture nor religion nor anything else for that matter excuses anyone from bigotry. Bigotry should never be condoned. You just simply can’t hide misogynistic, chauvinistic or potentially harmful beliefs behind culture. Culture is never an excuse for bigotry.

Culture is ever-changing, as the scale of right to wrong varies within each generation. As time passes, each generation faces different problems and thus holds different beliefs and values. We grow up with different social and global issues than those of our parents. Consequently, certain parts of each generation’s culture changes.

Today, in particular, it is part of some African and Islamic cultures to participate in female genital mutilation—in other words, female circumcision—where parts of girls’ genitalia are removed. This cultural practice is deeply rooted in sexism, gender inequality and conceptions of female purity.

Honestly, a culture in which sexism is so deeply ingrained and is centered on oppressing women needs to change. This movement towards change is becoming a global movement—women of all different cultures are standing by together to break out of male dominance. As an outsider, I may not have the right to dictate the morality of a culture’s beliefs, but women who are being oppressed in these cultures are trying to change it from the inside. That is a clear indication that we should and must support their attempts to change the culture and the future for women everywhere.

In this generation and in our culture, we have taken a huge focus on gender equality and sexual orientation equality. We are taking a stand against the subjugation of women and the normalization of female submission. In this generation, people are coming together to overcome gender inequality and sexual orientation inequality.

For example, there is homophobia and transphobia among the vast majority of Fundamentalist Christians. It is one thing to be conservative, and another thing to hold beliefs and act upon it in a way that harms other individuals. The Bible certainly doesn’t exempt anyone from anti-gay bigotry.

In another instance, South Koreans place a heavy emphasis on admittance to a top university, so much that this perpetuates an “all-work, no-play” culture. The stress on education there has gotten so unhealthy that suicide is the leading cause of death for 11 to 15-year-olds. When a culture that places grades over learning leads to the deaths of many young teenagers, it is evident that the culture is wrong.

As a human being, it is my duty to support people trying to change bigotry in their culture. When people from the culture are trying to change the culture, then that culture is wrong. Even though I have no direct involvement with the practice of female circumcision nor the effect of anti-gay bigotry nor with the “all-work, no-play” culture, I have a part in shaping our generation and the future. Female circumcision may not affect me directly, but that does not mean that I can’t form a valid opinion on the cause. Anti-gay bigotry may not affect me directly either, but I know individuals who would be affected by it and I wouldn’t ever want to see them discriminated against. I am not be a student in South Korea, but I am still a student. I empathize with students affected by the “all-work, no-play” culture and wish for change because in a way, I am just like them.

I certainly can’t force people to change their cultures myself. However, I can support changes to harmful practices and beliefs within these cultures. It’s in my place to support a revolution in these cultures for the betterment of the affected individuals and our generation. In order to take on the responsibilities as a human being in a global community, we must be open-minded to all cultures, but recognize when a culture is becoming an excuse for bigotry.