Free essay on culture includes and excludes

Arguably, understanding culture is crucial to educators in all fields of human life. An individual cultural orientation takes place in every aspect of human interaction. Due to globalization and diversity, culture and cultural concepts has been made more complex. Often, people make assumptions on individual belief and behaviors based on one cultural indicator, which is specifically ethnicity. In the real sense, global identities are complex and diverse weave of various cultural affiliations that individuals belongs influence our behaviors, beliefs, as well as values. Culture is a learned behavior, and it surrounds all activities of human nature. Its complexity includes morals, values, art, law, knowledge, lifestyle as well as customs. Furthermore, the habits and capabilities acquired by human beings in the society form a culture. The diversity in the Caribbean nations makes even culture a complicated concept.

In defining culture, it is important to understand the relationship of two different concepts, society and culture. These terms go hand in hand, the other cannot do without the other. In order to learn and gain a culture, society must be available, where individuals interact and share ideas, norms, values and all sorts of lifestyles. In society, the uniqueness of a certain culture is easily recognizable by other, and risk the dangers of exclusion from the entire society. For example, Maroons and Rastafarians share the uniqueness of various cultures components, which include beliefs, norms, meanings, and values. These unique cultural concepts exclude them from the main stream (Brathwaite, 2007).

Undeniably, culture excludes or includes in-group, out-group and subcultures in various ways. Cultural identity in society brings out the similarities and differences among many groups. The exclusion of subcultures, in-group as well as out-group could be in several ways, which include, economic, political, resource distribution, language, music, dress code, religion, and other cultural aspects of life. When exclusion and inclusions occur in society it brings up conflict and widens the gap between those between various group (Arbuckle, 2010).

In Jamaica for example, there are various issues that bring out differences, as well as demonstrating various aspects of exclusion and inclusion of groups. Most issues are social power and class differentiation. Studies show that the ability of the disadvantaged and solcialy-marginalized groups to constrain issues with power is still very hard. In this case, disadvantaged groups are excluded on issues of progress in the nation, because they lack political powers well as denied access to resources.

Caribbean culture is a unique term in the globe that elaborates on the social, political, musical, culinary, artistic, and literary elements of those people living in the Caribbean. The culture is tremendously influenced by European and African cultures. The diversity of these cultural influences brings up various elements that contribute to cultural exclusion; these elements include ethnic class, language, as well as socio-economic Maynard, A. (1993).. It is evident that there is increasing evidence on a diverse nation, where individuals are excluded due to the language they speak (Gray, 2004). In most case, the language exclusion becomes a barrier to various social and interaction issues. Generally, the language makes those who do not belong to the language socially disadvantage. Moreover, research shows that the impacts on the range of opportunities and choices available for these groups will automatically lead to social exclusion.
The implication of exclusion contributed by language is denial of resources, services, goods, and rights, as well as projecting instability to participate in various activities and develop normal relationships. The incapacitation of relation development could hinder issues in economic, political, social or cultural arena (Smith, 2000). Undeniably, language contributes to exclusion, which will affect the quality of life, cohesion, and equity in society. In general perspective, language contributes to exclusion, which in turn culminates to a far reaching effects to those affected in terms of health, communication, behavior, socialization, education, safety, participation, employment and resource allocation.
Ethnic class is also another constituent factor to the exclusion in society today. In many nations, individual are discriminated according to their ethnic class. In fact, in Jamaica and other Caribbean nations, people live in groups stratified by ethnicity, race, tribe and class. As a matter of fact, this ethnic stratification may lead to polarization and finally constitute conflict. In fact, the strengthening of ethnic ties in these nations can aggravate the existing gap and marginalize further those already excluded. Additionally, if an in-group come together is accompanied by conflict of social and cultural cohesion; they become agents of individual interest, rather than factors of equitable distribution of resources (Wallace & Ferrante, 2001).
In Jamaica, the maroons and Rastafarians have unique values norms and beliefs which makes them excludable in the mainstream groups in society. In critical analysis, their uniqueness has become the icon of various issues in Jamaica. Their subcultures are accepted by the society for their tremendous changes, in the past these subcultures were believed to be criminals and lovers of violence (Gray, 2004). Nowadays, the stereotypic thinking has changed; the subcultures are part of tourist attraction and other commercial interest in Jamaica. Tourists come to Jamaica to enjoy the multi-discipline shows of different aspects of Rastafarians culture. Other elements of Rastafarians that have been exploited include music, art, festivals, and religion (Warms & Nanda, 2010).
In Jamaica, one of the unique groups that have been excluded to the mainstream society is the Rastafarians, of whom they are described in terms of religion, culture, heritage, and ancestry. In fact, understanding Rastafarians way of life is a sense of giving them social identity, as well as widening the gap. The emergence of Rastafarians movement just began from a protesting group agitating for their rights as outcasts in the ghettos, but with time it has become one of the most entrenched group in Jamaica (Baecker, 2002). Up to date, there are many people and ethnic groups, which embrace Rastafarians, especially the marginalized and oppressed. Ethnic class constitutes exclusion in society by creating a cultural identity that is dominant than others. For example, Rastafarians has made a name not only in Jamaica, but in the entire globe through influential music and fashion such as, personal accessories, hairstyle, and clothing (Gray, 2004).
Additionally, socioeconomic elements contribute to the exclusion in society. In this perspective, it is important to understand that there is no way a society or cultures will have equal social and economic issue. Certainly, with diversity there are various differences among cultures. Certainly, socio-economic issues that constitute exclusion are mostly discriminatory among those who have and those who do not have (Kelleyana, 2003). Freedom is one of the important social factors in the socialization process of individuals. The marginalized in society have no powers to choose what they want. Poor educational background is also another socioeconomic component that constitute to exclusion. In society today, there is a wide gap between those who are educated and those who are not.
Moreover, the unequal distribution of resources of resources strains the poor and widens the economic and social disparities. As a matter of fact, the focus of power to the upper class in society creates tremendous disparity, and loss of privilege within the poor and lower class. The loss of power is mostly associated with the freedom to make political decisions, as well as participation in the community (Brathwaite, 2007). The non-participations in the employment sector and access to public services increase the exclusion on social relations. Social relations in this scenario refer to financial support in time of need and participation in entertainments.

Critically, various elements influence inclusion. Cultural inclusion refers to state of norms, values, cultural procedures as well as actions that develop an environment where individuals can make up diversity issues to bring benefits and bond. Certainly, inclusion removes the shortfalls of community on subconscious and conscious bias. One of the crucial elements of inclusion is education systems. In Jamaica and Caribbean, children from diverse background are permitted to study in the same class and educational institutions. This has received political and economic support, and more so from the government (Brathwaite, 2007).

Additionally, the employment of the marginalized groups such as the Rastafarians in Jamaica is another element of inclusion. People from unique background get to interact together at workplace, leading to enhancement of cultural cohesiveness. Jamaica is well known for its popular music. Music reflects the multicultural diversity and influence that has inclusively shaped Jamaica and the Caribbean. Other elements of inclusion include the arts, and linguistics, literature (Arbuckle, 2010). Despite the differences among the class of people living in the Caribbean and Jamaica, politics is an element of inclusion. It involves both the poor and the rich, probably supporting the same political party of leader. In the past decades, politics were taken into the slums. During this moment, middle class politicians saw the need respond to the needs and wants of the urban poor, as well as developing a sense of politico-cultural sensibility. The urban poor in Jamaica could have a chance to meet the middle class in a simplistic manner. The urban poor engage into rough politics with city dwellers in the quest to gain political independence in the slums (Otomar & Wehr, 2002). Generally, elements of inclusion in Caribbean include participation of the marginalized groups in politics and election, governance, welfare reforms, civic integration, citizenship education, and religion.

Certainly, conflict theory elaborates on these subcultures and the marginalization of minorities in society. Jamaica and other Caribbean nations are very diverse, and these expose these communities into conflict. The exclusion and inclusion process may culminate into tension and lead to conflict. Karl max is one of the founding father of criminology and various social aspects. In this case, conflict theory portrays how power relationships are explanatory components of exclusion (Otomar & Wehr, 2002). The view of criminal character, the law, as well as penalties originate from the existence of deep inequalities of resources and power existing in the community. As a matter of fat, the elements of exclusion may hinder the cohesiveness of the society. Rastafarians and maroons were the victims of crime because of their cultural and religious practices, which include the use of marijuana and hairstyle. According to conflict theory, the law is never a neutral system in protecting people equally, but rather a weapon of the privileged in the criminalization of the marginalized subcultures that are contrary to their opinions and interests (Otomar & Wehr, 2002). For Karl Max, the capitalist society always alienated most of the individual at work, leading to the complete exclusion. In the process of criminalization, the society judges the subcultures with biasness due to their inability. The class struggle, political alienation, ethnic execution, and racism are a cause of conflict and crimes.

References

Arbuckle, G. (2010). Culture, Inculturation, and Theologians. Orlando: Wadsworth
Brathwaite, K. (2007). Caribbean Culture. New York: Springer
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Gray, O. (2004). Demeaned but Empowered: The Social Power of the Urban Poor In Jamaica.
Kingston: University of the West Indies Press
Kelleyana, J. (2003). Rastafari? Rasta for You: Rastafarianism Explained . Athens: Athena
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Smith, A.(2000) Understanding Culture. Arizona: Arizona State University
Warms, R & Nanda, S. (2010). Cultural Anthropology. London: Wiley
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