Cultural Differences between the West and East

Every person on the Earth has one own mind, one own set of values, and own moral codex. Therefore it is not astonishing, that two individuals can have different opinions on given topics. Now, if we consider the distances dividing certain cultures, it is more than apparent, that the set of beliefs will be very much different. This essay sets it goal to compare Western World, here represented by Europe and the USA, and Eastern World, represented by the Eastern and the Southeastern Asia. While most of the Eastern Asia is heavily traditional because of influence of Confucianism and Taoism, the West is more liberal and atheistic. Because of this, these two cultures parts away in questions of family traditions, family bonds, general respect towards elders, and also the value of education.

As mentioned before, tradition has a very strong unshakable place in the Asian family, whereas in the Western families, traditions are only followed during certain holidays, for example, Christmas and Easter. One of the necessities a family has to have is a descendant capable of bearing family name, therefore parents in Asia wish for a son as the eldest child. Also ever-present conservatism can be felt in marriages, where parents play a very active part, unlike in Western family.

When it comes to the question of the ties among the family members, these two cultures might be considered as polar. Asians incline to forge stronger bonds with the family members, even with indirect kinsmen. For instance relatives live very closely together, and only in rare cases children live in different town or country, usually only because of occupation, and visits are scheduled weekly. Whereas in western families, there is nothing unusual in family members living in dif...

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...nd their hierarchy (Hatch 364). Therefore comparing traditions, family bonds, respect to elders, and their academic motivation of these two cultures is more than complicated and one would have to study them further in depth in order to understand their traditions, beliefs, behaviors. But due to globalization, many of these differences are slowly vanishing, but there is still very strong presence of the culture in the first wave of immigrants, which may cause disruptions among “Western Asian Families”, because children of immigrants, who were born in a foreign western country, lack the contact with the culture, therefore it is very difficult for them to adapt to two different cultures, the one their parents come from, and the one they live in. But those who can adapt to both cultures, and are able to balance between them perfectly, gain a very significant advantage.