7.2.1 Life in the Global Village

Are people becoming more alike because of globalization?


Globalization provides us with opportunities and challenges to identities. What does that really mean?

Consider the ladies in the picture. They are selling their beautiful tapestries at a market in Central America. Their goods represent the uniqueness of their culture. Some of the emblems and designs on the goods are centuries-old Mayan patterns that represent the beliefs of their ancestors, others are designed to be sold to wealthy foreign visitors, and still others are intended for the backpacker market. (Notice the children's clothing with images of people of many races.) Their dress and hairstyle and the nature of the work mark the women as traditional Guatemalans.

However, as more tourists visit the market and they become more connected with the global village, their identities will integrate gradually various aspects of other cultures. As televisions and cellphones become more available in their part of the world, the global media will influence these women to become more assimilated into the dominant global culture.

Guatemalan textile vendors

Communication and transportation technology provide us with many opportunities to prosper, gain knowledge, and share ideas and products. As tourists travel to Guatemala, Mayan ladies can sell their unique handmade items. In doing so, they can earn money for food, housing, healthcare, and education for their children. They can learn about the rest of the world. At the same time, the tourists who visit can be enriched by a greater understanding of another culture and worldview. This interconnectedness can lead to a stronger sense of community in which everyone in the global village can find strength in diversity.

However, this same interconnectedness can present challenges, especially for minority cultures. When minority groups become attracted to the dominant culture embracing modern technology, they can leave behind their traditional ways, which leads to increasing
hybridization
When cultures change due to influences of other cultures, and a new culture results.
hybridization of their culture.

Essential aspects of their identity can be lost, leading to
assimilation
Where an ethnic group loses its distinctiveness in terms of language and culture and becomes absorbed into a majority culture.

For example, First Nations tribes were assimilated into the dominant white European culture of Canada in imperialist times. In Canada today, visible minorities have experienced slower assimilation than in many other countries because of Canada's official government policy of multiculturalism. Immigrants often choose to assimilate in order to fit in, while groups like the Aboriginal people were forced to assimilate.
assimilation. If these Mayan ladies do not see themselves reflected in the media, they could lose a sense of who they are. If they are unable or unwilling to adapt and adjust to a new lifestyle and different values, they may be increasingly
marginalization
Marginalization occurs when a less dominant group picks up some of the habits and customs of the more dominant society, becoming incompletely assimilated and no longer belonging to any cultural group. A marginalized group of people are pushed out of the mainstream to the fringes of society.
marginalized. If they do not have access to technology, they can fall behind in terms of economic prosperity. In this way, the global community is weakened when people become more alike.