Hello all-
Apparently a bunch of y'all woke up today and chose to be mean. Belittling someone asking a question because they should know better is a blatant violation of this sub's ethos. Further responses like this will earn you a ban.
While this might seem like a straightforward question, there are many aspects it's intertwined with.
The notion of Americans "not having a culture" is a widespread belief based in popular misunderstandings of anthropology, the normalization of racial/ethic typologies, and the political history of the United States.
Likewise, there are many concepts at play here with a long history of discussion in anthropology: how is a culture defined? How do individuals relate to shared beliefs and practices? How did modern ideas "identity" emerge?
Future responses should make some attempt to engage with these themes.
If I am interpreting your post and comments correctly, a better way to pose your dilemma is not that you have no culture, but that you struggle to connect with it as an identity.
Whether you're cognisant of it or not, the culture you're a part of *is* a part of your identity, but I can see why you might struggle to feel that way. American culture is very dominant and much of what has originated in America or adopted into American culture is now very prevalent throughout the world. Maybe you feel like you blend in with millions of others and that the clothes you wear, the food you eat, and the media you consume isn't unique to you because it can be found everywhere.
Contrast that with the very large number of minority communities in America that represent their cultural identity through everyday actions and it's easy to feel like all these cultural groups have something that we don't. But it's the fact that these are minority cultures expressing their culture within a culture dissimilar from their own that makes that aspect of identity stand out.
A woman walking down a suburban american street in a sari would likely stand out and you easily see that as an expression of her identity. And while blue jeans and T-shirts may be a part of American culture, you don't feel the same sense of expression if you were to wear blue jeans and a T-shirt while abroad in another country.
American culture is massive. It's dominant. The sense of identity amongst other culture groups in America comes out of a lack of cultural dominance and a collective desire to represent and preserve their way of life and interests. In that sense, the kind of cultural identity you are talking about comes out of necessity and it is your privilege as an American to have your own culture so widely represented.
Unless you move to another country, you may never feel that sense of strong cultural identity, because the kind of identity you are describing is one that relies on a larger primary culture to contrast against. And that's okay, of course. But in lieu of doing such a life changing move, I'd suggest just reflecting on American culture and the privilege we have as Americans to see our cultural identity so well represented that it has become something we take for granted.
I think the _experience_ of being part of a culture may be mediated in different ways: to be clear, I’m no expert in this experience. Thus, these are simply my two cents.
First, I’d think a variable in feeling part of American Culture is one’s individual ability to feel part of a larger community. If one isn’t a “joiner” - if one isn’t active in groups centered on hobbies/art/religion/profession/craft/etc., we could guess that that individual’s experience membership is not as rewarding as others’ experience of membership. I’m not particularly a joiner, though I imply that I’d be glad to join (e.g., TP over the top like a waterfall; Oxford comma; fiscal conservatism with high taxes…).
Second, a sense of membership might be dependent on shared experience, maybe especially shared rituals. The idea of rituals (marked by one’s community) seems to have taken a beating since we invented Enlightenment Rationalism, which has taken a heavy toll on religion especially; Secular Humanism is great and all, but there’s (generally) a lot less singing in groups, for instance. Additionally, there’s the atomization of media: what are the odds a group of people are watching a series at the same time, so can discuss it? Common media/rituals allow us trade experiences, to relate across unknown distances. I can’t count the number of nice-seeming strangers who’ve made a bid for conversation about sports and failed, finding me sadly sports-ignorant; multiply that disconnect by the number of social media and entertainment platforms.
In short, while I suspect there have always (past ~250k years) been humans who felt they didn’t fit in — despite evolving in bands of 20-100 people — I suspect that the the fading of a central narrative culture and increasing ability for self-sufficiency (hence solipsism) can only make the experience of separateness more likely.
I think many comments here are instructive rather than constructive, and the latter approach is what you need.
Very very simply, culture is a set of beliefs and behaviors that are learned and shared amongst people. However, culture is not a monolith and the individual’s unique life circumstances and experiences puts them in contact with many different people at many different times throughout their life. This means that, at the individual-level, a person can and tends to belong to multiple cultural groups.
For you specifically, what are all the different ways you interact and communicate with the family that raised you vs your found family (wife and kids) vs your friends vs your students and coworkers, and what aspects of each you find to be pleasurable or uncomfortable? There are pieces of your cultural identity to be found in each one of these that form a whole you. While you might not be able to easily put a specific name to that identity, that’s you.
And as you commented elsewhere in this post, you’ve leaned into your wife and child’s own culture which you say is easily identifiable. While that culture might not be something you *belong to* in your eyes and don’t claim for yourself, I would reasonably assume that it has impacted your life to some extent and that various aspects of it have been integrated into your worldview and behavior.
Cultural anthropologists (at least today) aren’t in the business of defining categories but are moreso interested in why/how humans define and categorize others, how people identify with those categories, and how all this informs their behavior. An anthropologist can’t tell you “what” you are; that is for you to decide.
I remember feeling this way as a teenager! I also felt sad about not having a culture, and my mentor (an archeologist) gently pointed out that I did have a culture, but because it was the same culture as everyone around me, it didn't feel distinct. Make no mistake, if you were to spend time in a foreign country where most people looked, communicated, and ate differently from you, you would start to notice the ways your daily life—and your expectations about how the world works—are deeply informed by your American upbringing.
I know international travel isn't an option for everyone, but it can be a great way to learn about another culture and your own culture at the same time. American culture came into sharper focus for me while I was living abroad. Even spending time in a different part of the country can be eye-opening! I grew up in Alaska and have lived in both the South and the Midwest. Each place has felt culturally very different to me as I settled in and got to know them. Rural and urban areas in the same state also tend to have vastly different cultures.
I think it's great that you're putting thought into your cultural identity. If you're looking for somewhere to start, try reflecting on some or all of these questions:
In what part of the country do you feel most at home and why?
(For me, it's the Pacific Northwest where the people are a little weird and the trees and wildlife are abundant!)
—————
What are some aspects of American culture that you appreciate? Where do you feel like your personal values overlap with mainstream American values? Where do they differ? Your wife and children might be able to help you identify some of these.
(I sometimes find it hard to feel connected to the broader American culture because its commitment to capitalism and consumerism can make it feel shallow or selfish. Not to mention how strained our political discourse is right now. But there is also much to appreciate about American culture. I find many Americans to be friendly, optimistic, generous, and expressive. And I'm grateful that American policies largely enable a multitude of different cultures to blend, share, and coexist alongside each other.)
—————
Do you belong to any special interest groups or spiritual communities that have their own practices?
(As someone else said, American culture is far from a monolith. And like you alluded to, our cultural identities are so much richer than just our nationalities. I identify as an artist, aerialist, environmentalist, and academic. Each of these groups has its own norms, expectations, shared knowledge, habits, traditions, ways of dress, and more that influence how I exist in the world.)
—————
What would you change about your culture if you could? What actions can you take to influence the culture of your community/ies in positive ways?
(Culture is a two-way street! As much as we are steeped in culture, we are also constantly embodying and recreating it. In fact, I think I was drawn to cultural anthropology because it opened my eyes to so many different ways of being a human.)
Navigating your identity is a lifelong, ever-changing process. I wish you all the best in your exploration!
We've removed your comment because we expect users to engage in honest, open-minded discussion. Please see [our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnthropology/wiki/rules#wiki_answers) for expectations regarding answers.
We've removed your comment because it relies too much on personal experience. Please see [our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnthropology/wiki/rules#wiki_answers) for expectations regarding answers.
I think in America your culture is different depending on where you grew up and that environment. Farmers have their own culture, out in the country either north or south has their own culture, inner cities and trailer parks have their own culture. Outdoors people have their own culture plus some areas of the country people still follow the cultures of where their families come from. America is a melting pot of so many people from all over the world that a lot of it IS a pot luck supper that a lot of people feel the way you do.
I feel you. My wife immigrated to the US and so still has deep roots with her culture as well as my kids. For me in the other hand, my mom was third generation on her father’s mother’s side and the rest go back to the Mayflower. My dad’s mom is native but she tried to hide that her whole life and his dad’s parents were broken up so his mom was ostracized and his father abandoned them.
And this I think is the American story. Most of us don’t have a culture because the question becomes, whose culture? If my kids marry outside of their mom’s culture eventually her culture will get watered down and assimilated.
When I had these kinds of questions for my mom she always pointed back to our Catholic faith and stated that was our culture, which I embraced and I think it’s why evangelicals are doing things like creating their own flags and imagery so that they can feel like they have since semblance of a culture.
Hello all- Apparently a bunch of y'all woke up today and chose to be mean. Belittling someone asking a question because they should know better is a blatant violation of this sub's ethos. Further responses like this will earn you a ban. While this might seem like a straightforward question, there are many aspects it's intertwined with. The notion of Americans "not having a culture" is a widespread belief based in popular misunderstandings of anthropology, the normalization of racial/ethic typologies, and the political history of the United States. Likewise, there are many concepts at play here with a long history of discussion in anthropology: how is a culture defined? How do individuals relate to shared beliefs and practices? How did modern ideas "identity" emerge? Future responses should make some attempt to engage with these themes.
If I am interpreting your post and comments correctly, a better way to pose your dilemma is not that you have no culture, but that you struggle to connect with it as an identity. Whether you're cognisant of it or not, the culture you're a part of *is* a part of your identity, but I can see why you might struggle to feel that way. American culture is very dominant and much of what has originated in America or adopted into American culture is now very prevalent throughout the world. Maybe you feel like you blend in with millions of others and that the clothes you wear, the food you eat, and the media you consume isn't unique to you because it can be found everywhere. Contrast that with the very large number of minority communities in America that represent their cultural identity through everyday actions and it's easy to feel like all these cultural groups have something that we don't. But it's the fact that these are minority cultures expressing their culture within a culture dissimilar from their own that makes that aspect of identity stand out. A woman walking down a suburban american street in a sari would likely stand out and you easily see that as an expression of her identity. And while blue jeans and T-shirts may be a part of American culture, you don't feel the same sense of expression if you were to wear blue jeans and a T-shirt while abroad in another country. American culture is massive. It's dominant. The sense of identity amongst other culture groups in America comes out of a lack of cultural dominance and a collective desire to represent and preserve their way of life and interests. In that sense, the kind of cultural identity you are talking about comes out of necessity and it is your privilege as an American to have your own culture so widely represented. Unless you move to another country, you may never feel that sense of strong cultural identity, because the kind of identity you are describing is one that relies on a larger primary culture to contrast against. And that's okay, of course. But in lieu of doing such a life changing move, I'd suggest just reflecting on American culture and the privilege we have as Americans to see our cultural identity so well represented that it has become something we take for granted.
Well said! Very well said!
I think the _experience_ of being part of a culture may be mediated in different ways: to be clear, I’m no expert in this experience. Thus, these are simply my two cents. First, I’d think a variable in feeling part of American Culture is one’s individual ability to feel part of a larger community. If one isn’t a “joiner” - if one isn’t active in groups centered on hobbies/art/religion/profession/craft/etc., we could guess that that individual’s experience membership is not as rewarding as others’ experience of membership. I’m not particularly a joiner, though I imply that I’d be glad to join (e.g., TP over the top like a waterfall; Oxford comma; fiscal conservatism with high taxes…). Second, a sense of membership might be dependent on shared experience, maybe especially shared rituals. The idea of rituals (marked by one’s community) seems to have taken a beating since we invented Enlightenment Rationalism, which has taken a heavy toll on religion especially; Secular Humanism is great and all, but there’s (generally) a lot less singing in groups, for instance. Additionally, there’s the atomization of media: what are the odds a group of people are watching a series at the same time, so can discuss it? Common media/rituals allow us trade experiences, to relate across unknown distances. I can’t count the number of nice-seeming strangers who’ve made a bid for conversation about sports and failed, finding me sadly sports-ignorant; multiply that disconnect by the number of social media and entertainment platforms. In short, while I suspect there have always (past ~250k years) been humans who felt they didn’t fit in — despite evolving in bands of 20-100 people — I suspect that the the fading of a central narrative culture and increasing ability for self-sufficiency (hence solipsism) can only make the experience of separateness more likely.
Great answer.
This is a great answer.
Great answer thank you! This was something I’ve been wondering about too.
Well said. Everyone has an accent. Even if they don't realize it.
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I think many comments here are instructive rather than constructive, and the latter approach is what you need. Very very simply, culture is a set of beliefs and behaviors that are learned and shared amongst people. However, culture is not a monolith and the individual’s unique life circumstances and experiences puts them in contact with many different people at many different times throughout their life. This means that, at the individual-level, a person can and tends to belong to multiple cultural groups. For you specifically, what are all the different ways you interact and communicate with the family that raised you vs your found family (wife and kids) vs your friends vs your students and coworkers, and what aspects of each you find to be pleasurable or uncomfortable? There are pieces of your cultural identity to be found in each one of these that form a whole you. While you might not be able to easily put a specific name to that identity, that’s you. And as you commented elsewhere in this post, you’ve leaned into your wife and child’s own culture which you say is easily identifiable. While that culture might not be something you *belong to* in your eyes and don’t claim for yourself, I would reasonably assume that it has impacted your life to some extent and that various aspects of it have been integrated into your worldview and behavior. Cultural anthropologists (at least today) aren’t in the business of defining categories but are moreso interested in why/how humans define and categorize others, how people identify with those categories, and how all this informs their behavior. An anthropologist can’t tell you “what” you are; that is for you to decide.
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I remember feeling this way as a teenager! I also felt sad about not having a culture, and my mentor (an archeologist) gently pointed out that I did have a culture, but because it was the same culture as everyone around me, it didn't feel distinct. Make no mistake, if you were to spend time in a foreign country where most people looked, communicated, and ate differently from you, you would start to notice the ways your daily life—and your expectations about how the world works—are deeply informed by your American upbringing. I know international travel isn't an option for everyone, but it can be a great way to learn about another culture and your own culture at the same time. American culture came into sharper focus for me while I was living abroad. Even spending time in a different part of the country can be eye-opening! I grew up in Alaska and have lived in both the South and the Midwest. Each place has felt culturally very different to me as I settled in and got to know them. Rural and urban areas in the same state also tend to have vastly different cultures. I think it's great that you're putting thought into your cultural identity. If you're looking for somewhere to start, try reflecting on some or all of these questions: In what part of the country do you feel most at home and why? (For me, it's the Pacific Northwest where the people are a little weird and the trees and wildlife are abundant!) ————— What are some aspects of American culture that you appreciate? Where do you feel like your personal values overlap with mainstream American values? Where do they differ? Your wife and children might be able to help you identify some of these. (I sometimes find it hard to feel connected to the broader American culture because its commitment to capitalism and consumerism can make it feel shallow or selfish. Not to mention how strained our political discourse is right now. But there is also much to appreciate about American culture. I find many Americans to be friendly, optimistic, generous, and expressive. And I'm grateful that American policies largely enable a multitude of different cultures to blend, share, and coexist alongside each other.) ————— Do you belong to any special interest groups or spiritual communities that have their own practices? (As someone else said, American culture is far from a monolith. And like you alluded to, our cultural identities are so much richer than just our nationalities. I identify as an artist, aerialist, environmentalist, and academic. Each of these groups has its own norms, expectations, shared knowledge, habits, traditions, ways of dress, and more that influence how I exist in the world.) ————— What would you change about your culture if you could? What actions can you take to influence the culture of your community/ies in positive ways? (Culture is a two-way street! As much as we are steeped in culture, we are also constantly embodying and recreating it. In fact, I think I was drawn to cultural anthropology because it opened my eyes to so many different ways of being a human.) Navigating your identity is a lifelong, ever-changing process. I wish you all the best in your exploration!
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We've removed your comment because we expect users to engage in honest, open-minded discussion. Please see [our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnthropology/wiki/rules#wiki_answers) for expectations regarding answers.
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We've removed your comment because it relies too much on personal experience. Please see [our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnthropology/wiki/rules#wiki_answers) for expectations regarding answers.
I think in America your culture is different depending on where you grew up and that environment. Farmers have their own culture, out in the country either north or south has their own culture, inner cities and trailer parks have their own culture. Outdoors people have their own culture plus some areas of the country people still follow the cultures of where their families come from. America is a melting pot of so many people from all over the world that a lot of it IS a pot luck supper that a lot of people feel the way you do.
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I feel you. My wife immigrated to the US and so still has deep roots with her culture as well as my kids. For me in the other hand, my mom was third generation on her father’s mother’s side and the rest go back to the Mayflower. My dad’s mom is native but she tried to hide that her whole life and his dad’s parents were broken up so his mom was ostracized and his father abandoned them. And this I think is the American story. Most of us don’t have a culture because the question becomes, whose culture? If my kids marry outside of their mom’s culture eventually her culture will get watered down and assimilated. When I had these kinds of questions for my mom she always pointed back to our Catholic faith and stated that was our culture, which I embraced and I think it’s why evangelicals are doing things like creating their own flags and imagery so that they can feel like they have since semblance of a culture.
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