Essay Sample on Cultural Adaptation: How Puerto Rican Society Evolves

Culture describes beliefs, the way of life, and norms among a specific group of people. It is essential to understand other people's lifestyle since it is the basis of constructing the foundation of their choices, beliefs, and values in life. This aspect makes different societies of the world unique since it influences people's behavior among other characteristics. However, people tend to adapt to new ways of life as they pass their culture from one generation to another. I am Puerto Rican, an American ethnic group in the Caribbean Island. The culture of the Puerto Rican's has shaped my life, especially how I relate with other people in school and the workplace. The community emphasizes the need to have human dignity, proper etiquettes, and spirits of developing positive cultural connections with other people. Thus, my culture has dramatically shaped how I approach other people in a multicultural environment, how I argue with my colleagues, and how to connect culturally with friends.

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All my family members I included are Puerto Ricans, one of the largest ethnic group that occupies the Caribbean Island in North America. Puerto Ricans have a fascinating culture, although history has eroded their traditions. However, Negron-Muntaner (2014) noted that the norms, values, and beliefs of Puerto Ricans are gradually blending with the traditions of the Indians, African, and Spanish cultures. The community considers family life a critical cultural value. The kin and the family is the most reliable and enduring support network in society (Galvan, 2009). Despite a high rate of serial monogamy and divorce, Puerto Ricans still value marriage as it was in the past. Marriage, in this case, is the main marker of adulthood.

My ethnic identity as a Puerto Rican has a significant influence on my development as a person besides my professional and daily life. Kin groups in my culture ought to support each other emotionally and materially. This support, however, is legally prescribed and should be along with collateral, scent, and descent lines. Such a close relationship among relatives has influenced my life in different ways. First, it has positively contributed to my life while in school in that my relatives are concerned with my well-being. Secondly, it has influenced the nature of my home chores when I am away from school. Puerto Ricans' culture encourages the unmarried people to support their elderly relatives and thus determines the kind of duties that I undertake at home. Thirdly, it has shaped my behavior and relationships with other people since Puerto Ricans value good morals and needs for the young generations to respect the elderly.

From my understanding, the culture of the Puerto Ricans observes open-mindedness instead of conservativeness. This aspect has influenced my thinking, ideologies, and knowledge of the social values of the community. The culture encourages people to take a risk in business and other commercial activities by exploring the available opportunities and taking positive risks (Galvan, 2009). This belief has shaped my attitudes about entrepreneurship and ways of generating wealth. Accordingly, the culture has made me open-minded and hardworking in education and other dimensions.

However, my ethnic identity has enhanced my perspective of multiculturalism. Being one of the traditional ethnic groups in the US, other races see the Puerto Ricans as unique people owing to their migrant experiences. Tolerance in a multicultural environment, therefore, is an essential component underlying Puerto Ricans' culture, which has enhanced my emotional development as a person. Precisely, it has enabled me to control emotions in multicultural environments such as schools and other settings. Also, it has influenced my relations with people from different races and ethnic groups. Puerto Ricans believe that all races are equal before God, and thus, people should live in harmony. Parents teach their siblings that they have to respect people from other races and ethnic groups to receive the same treatment.

Individuals in the workplace may face prejudice, which emanates from factors such as sexual orientation and skin color (Jehn & Bezrukova, 2016). Therefore, training programs that impart knowledge on sensitivity to cultural diversity are necessary to address the issue. The managers, however, should consider critical issues while implementing training plans. First, such programs should be integrated with other initiatives in the organization. The strategy entails using multiple methods of instructions, such as exercises, discussions, and lectures. Bezrukova, Spell, Perry, and Jehn (2016) noted that workers respond favorably to diversity training initiatives that vary on the methods of training.

Secondly, it should focus on workers of all levels in the organization. Thus, it suggests that such programs should not be mandated for subordinate employees only but also supervisors and senior staff. The strategy supports an organization to develop a corporate culture that embraces sensitivity to multiculturalism. Thirdly, managers should hire experts to lead the programs since such people are independent, experienced can provide professional training.

Conclusion

Conclusively, the culture of the Puerto Rican has contributed to my professional development. It promotes sensitivity to multiculturalism and thus has enhanced my relations with classmates and colleagues in the workplace. Also, it has prepared me to be responsible and hardworking in my everyday activities. Training employees about cultural diversity is essential to improve the essence of sensitivity. However, such plans should be integrated with other initiatives, should include all levels of employees, and most importantly, should be done by professionals.

References

Bezrukova, K., Spell, C. S., Perry, J. L., & Jehn, K. A. (2016). A meta-analytical integration of over 40 years of research on diversity training evaluation. Psychological Bulletin, 142(11), 1227-1274. DOI: 10.1037/bul0000067

Galvan, J. A. (2009). Culture and Customs of Puerto Rico. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. Retrieved 15 July 2019, from http://bookfi.net/dl/1401521/e968d9/url/

Jehn, K. A., & Bezrukova, K. (2004). A field study of group diversity, workgroup context, and performance. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 25(6), 703-729. DOI: 10.1002/job.257

Negron-Muntaner, F. (2004). Boricua Pop: Puerto Ricans and the Latinization of American culture. NYU Press. Retrieved 15 July 2019, from http://en.bookfi.net/book/1071830/url/