ODESY
Afghan-American
Oscar Zelaya
Daisy Gomez
Emmanuel Espinoza
Sofia Hernandez
Yousof Azami
I. Introduction
For decades, the United States has been a safe haven for people of other cultures to migrate to when they wish to improve their lives and the lives of their families. Throughout American history there have been multiple waves of immigrants, the most notable being the Japanese, the Irish, the Chinese, the Mexican, and other mass waves of European immigrants. Aside from the enormous amount of diversity that is now a characteristic of this country, there is one group of immigrants that are often neglected in mention. Middle Eastern immigrants are now one of the larger populations of immigrants that are coming into the United States, but because of recent American history, we don’t often address these cultures because there is a negative connotation attached to these cultures in post- 9/11 America. Our group, in an attempt to bridge the gap, decided to learn about Afghan-American culture and about the Afghan roots that these people of immigrants share in order to get to know this “taboo” culture that has become an important population demographic of the United States, particularly here in the Bay Area. We examined the demographics of this culture in the United States, their history, but most importantly, we took a look at what they believe, their values, and how these affects the way Afghan-American way of life in the United States. Our sample for this project was from Afghan-Americans located in the Bay Area.Although a large population of Afghan Americans are located in Fremont, we were able to find some people here in San Jose as well as in the Tracy/Modesto area where one of our group mates is from. We talked to Afghan Americans aged 18 to 54, most of them being in the 18-23 age range and 2 of the being over the age of 50, with 4 women and 6 men being in the sample. All of the Afghan-American people that we spoke to were either college graduates with a Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree, or currently pursuing their Bachelor’s degree. A couple of the interviewees were professionals either working in the medical field or were local business owners. All data was collected through personal interviews that took approximately 30 minutes each to complete. Notes were taken during and in some instances interviews were recorded with the interviewees permission in order to look back at some of their answers more in depth.
II. Cultural Resume
Demographics
Afghan-Americans are a growing group in the United States, and for the purposes of this paper we will define a person as Afghan-American if they were born in the United States to Afghan immigrants, migrated to the United States and assimilated into Western culture, or if they are immigrants who have received United States citizenship. Though there have been waves of Afghan immigrants to the United States in the past, with recent geo-political conflicts in the Middle East, the number of these immigrants has taken a sharp turn upwards. While there are growing numbers of Afghan-Americans in the United States, identifying the population of Afghan-Americans has been a little difficult due to the number of refugees and immigrants who do not yet identify as American. According to multiple sources such as the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and US Census Data, there are an estimated 200,000 Afghan-Americans living in the United States, but other sources have stated the possibility of that number being as high as 300,000. The two states with the highest population of Afghans and Afghan-Americans are Virginia and California. The state of California alone is responsible for hosting about 80,000 Afghan Americans with approximately 65,000 residing in the Bay Area, a large portion of which reside in Fremont.
History
Though Afghan American culture has not been a prominent demographic in the United States until somewhat recently, it is a popular misconception that they did not migrate to the United States until recent times. The migration of people from Afghanistan to the United States started in the 1930s and 1940s. During these decades the two governments sponsored and facilitated student exchange programs at the University level in an attempt to enhance the US relationship with the Middle Eastern states. Many students who came in that first wave of immigration were academically motivated and pursued their master’s or doctorate degrees in the United States. This first wave of Afghan immigration was what sparked the beginning of migration from Afghanistan to the United States, though most of these immigrants later returned to their country. A second wave of immigrants came at the end of the 1970s when the Soviet- Afghan war broke out in 1979. After a Soviet intervention in the middle of the 1970s, the Soviet Union formally invaded Afghanistan in its attempt to expand its influence into the Middle East in the latter stages of the Cold War. The end of the war in 1989 brought about political instability in Afghanistan and consequently brought in large numbers of Afghan refugees attempting to escape civil war. The power vacuum created by the Soviets brought about the emergence of radical political entities such as the Taliban, who had expanded their domain to about 2/3 of Afghanistan by 1996.
Religion
While most Afghans would choose to identify as Muslims, Afghan-Americans who have lived in the United States are a little more diverse when it comes to religion. Afghan-Americans identify primarily as the Sunni branch Muslim, though there are a few who follow Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, or even Christian beliefs, “There are a lot of people who are born here that aren’t really religious” (Raufi, S. 2015). For those who have chosen to remain within Islam, their religion influences a lot of what they do. While those who come to the United States abandon some of the extreme practices of Islam, most Afghan-Americans are influenced by some Islamic practices. The Islamic religion plays a part in most rituals such as “baptisms” or affirmations of the Muslim beliefs, marriages, and funerals. One of the more important rituals in Islamic faith is Ramadan, which occurs in the summer months. “I think that [Ramadan is] really one of the only religious things I take part in” (Younis, F. 2015). Ramadan in the holy month in which Muslims fast for 30 days. This means that they do not eat while the sun is up and focus on prayer during that time.
Family System and Role Relationships
In Afghan and Afghan-American cultures, the family unit is believed to be the most important thing, but though there are similarities between the two, there are also significant differences in the way that both Afghan and Afghan-American cultures view the role of the family and one’s place in it. The most significant similarity is that the family is above all else, “ Family is really everything. A lot of what you is expected to be for your family. Like, if I wanted to go to school and get a good job, it would be to help out my family in the future.” (Nawabi, Z. 2015). Another similarity between the two cultures is the importance of the male role in the family. While most, if not all, families in Afghanistan practice a patriarchal family system, some families that have come to the United States and assimilated do not enforce this aspect of family life as much. Women, while expected to take on the main role in caring for the household, are still able to hold jobs and participate in other activities outside the home. This sometimes unwanted paradigm shift to a more balanced family unit and often causes stress in the family. The main reason for these shifts in family roles are economic reasons, which occurred due to a loss of status caused by immigration to the U.S. Another big difference in comparing Afghan to Afghan-American culture is the size of the family. Afghan-Americans have decreased the family size due to some economic restraints, but small families in Afghanistan consist of at least 4 children.
Traditions and Customs
Of all the holidays that are celebrated in Afghan and Afghan-American culture, perhaps the most important holiday is Nawroz. Nawroz is the Afghan celebration of the New Year. This celebration takes place on March 21st and is based off of the Persian calendar. Though it was previously popular and is currently now a widely celebrated holiday, there was a time when Nawroz was forbidden. From 1996 to 2001 when the Taliban ruled most of Afghanistan, the New Year celebration of Nawroz was considered an ancient pagan holiday and was not considered acceptable in Taliban society and was thus deemed to be illegal. Nawruz celebrations usually start about two weeks before the actual holiday and culminate on the first day of the New Year, March 21st. Another important festival is the Guli Surkh (Red Flower) Festival. This festival takes place in the city of Mazar-e Sharif during the first part of the New Year in Afghanistan and lasts 40 days. This festival centers around the growth of the tulips in the surrounding hills of the city.
Education
Education has become an important value for Afghan-Americans with the passage of time. While the first waves of Afghan immigrants to the United States came here for educational purposes, the last couple of waves have been out of necessity and in an attempt to escape the Taliban chokehold on the country. Estimates show that Afghan immigrant literacy rates in adults were at 36% in the early 2000s (Morioka-Douglas, 2004). Education in Afghanistan was typically not very organized. Until the early 1900s, education was primarily provided through mosques and was only available to boys and young men. Education was not available for girls and young women until 1923 Most of the educational reforms occurred in western cities such as Kabul, but even then the educational facilities were always separate. After the Soviet War, the number schools reduced dramatically, going from an estimated 3,000 schools and 80,000 teachers to a mere 300 schools and 2,000 teachers. Because of the deficiencies in the Afghani system of education Afghan-Americans have become increasingly aware of the value of education, “ Your parents always talk about you getting a better education. I guess it’s because back [in Afghanistan] there isn’t much opportunity” (Younis, F. 2015). Afghan-Americans today value education tremendously and have learned to prioritize their education in their attempt to help their families achieve better financial status in the future.
Jobs
Of all of our interviewees, the majority of them were in college pursuing their higher education, but all of them seemed to be shooting for jobs that involved a high degree of education. For example, Sabrina one of our interviewees, was about to finish her BA in biology. She hopes to pursue a medical degree and become a doctor here in California (Raufi, S. 2015). As far as Afghans and Afghan-Americans in the United States go, there are a lot of business owners that have come from Afghanistan. Because most of the educated people that came to this country couldn’t afford to go back into their field of practice, they became business owners. Areas of commerce for Afghan-Americans such as “Little Kabul” have become popular in the community.
Income
Afghan-Americans, though a lot have struggled in their transition to the United States, tend to make a comfortable living. According to the United States Census Bureau, the median income for Afghan-Americans is $66, 794. While a lot of Afghans who came to the United States in the 70s and 80s were not allowed to practice their professions in the United States, some were able to retain their credentials in fields such as medicine and engineering. The majority of Afghan refugees and immigrants lacked a formal education so they become skilled laborers, business owners, and merchants.
Forms of Oppression
Afghan-Americans are a group that has endured a lot of oppression. When the Soviet-Afghan war broke out in Afghanistan, the refugees that managed to escape and come to the United States had to deal with the connotation of being refugees and often felt like guests in the country, even though they were permanent residents. As time went on, there was a pivotal moment in American history that changed the way that Americans would view this particular culture in a negative light. The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11th, 2001 put the Afghan culture in a negative light that still has not changed much in the last decade or so in the United States. Common forms of oppression to this group are name calling, such as “terrorist” and even physical violence. One example of notorious oppression--or rather of “attempted” oppression-- would be the case involving Rhais Bhuiyan and Mark Anthony Stroman. In the wake of the post-9/11 “Afghanophobia” Mark Anthony Stroman shot 3 local business owners in Texas whom he believed were of Afghan descent. Bhuiyan was shot in the face, but survived his wounds after being blinded in one eye. Afghan Americans have had to deal with the constant berating of their culture because of the social impact that the 9/11 attacks had in American society. One of the people I had the fortune of speaking to about this said the following, “It’s bad sometimes. Like at the airport and some other places like that. You can’t get past security or even to your seat on the plane without some dirty looks. Especially in places that aren’t that diverse…” (Lalzad, R. 2015). Oppression is something that has been difficult to overcome, but it seems like there is some progress with the negative perception that some Americans have of the Afghan culture.
Taxonomies
Hofstede’s cultural dimensions or cultural taxonomies are meant to break down societies by a number of different areas of beliefs or values that make up a society. In examining Afghan and Afghan-American culture, we took a look at four of Hofstede’s taxonomies and examined how they related to Afghan-American culture in the United States.
Uncertainty Avoidance
Uncertainty avoidance refers to “the extent to which the culture feels threatened by ambiguous, uncertain situations and tries to avoid them by establishing more structure.” (Lustig, 2013). Afghan-Americans have a high uncertainty avoidance, which again means that they thrive more and feel more comfortable with structure and with rules that govern the way that they behave themselves in every day life. A lot of this has to do with the norms that are in effect in Afghanistan and in the Middle East. Most of these cultures have been under strict Islamic rule and have experienced the consequences of breaking away from the norm of strict rules. Afghan-Americans, though not under these strict consequences anymore, still find that structure is the best way to get things done and to make sure that everyone contributes to society and remains with the status quo.
Power Distance
Power distance is the concept that refers to the distribution of power in a culture. According to Lustig (2013), “…power distance refers to the degree to which the culture believes that institutional and organizational power should be distributed equally and the decisions of the power holders should be challenged or accepted.” With this in mind, along with some of the feedback that we got in our interviews, we can say that Afghan-Americans have a high power distance. In Afghanistan there are a number of social hierarchies, most of which involve some sort of male-to-male relationship. “ There’s a lot of times when you have to be respectful of your elders or of your family just because they’re older. It gets a little frustrating” (Younis, F. 2015). This is one example of how the beliefs and cultural power distance of Afghan culture has made its way into Afghan-American culture. Most people
Masculinity/Femininity
This particular taxonomy is rather self-explanatory. While a lot of cultures have shifted the ways in which they view feminine characteristics and how they see the role of women, Afghanistan and Afghan cultures are not one of the progressive societies. Afghan-Americans, much like their ancestors back in Afghanistan, are strong supporters of masculine doctrines and characteristics. While Afghan-American women in the United States are allowed to take on a more active role in the household, they are still expected to be the sex that takes care of most of the household chores and things of that nature. Conversely, Afghan-American men believe that they need to take on an assertive role in the household and be the main providers for their families. Because of this, male decisions are rarely questioned and must be respected by other members of the family. Aside from the traditional masculine roles, Afghan-Americans value performance and results. Whether it is in business, academics, or sport, Afghan-Ame
ricans are results-driven and they praise individual success.
Individualism/Collectivism
The taxonomy of individualism/collectivism refers to the degree to which a culture relies on and has an allegiance to the self or the group. This particular taxonomy was a bit more difficult to interpret, especially when we look at Afghan cultures, rather than just the diaspora in the United States. In Afghanistan there is a sense of both of these aspects of the taxonomy because of the tribal divisions that exist in the country. A lot of people in Afghanistan are still divided into tribes, which affects the way they look at each other and even their physical appearance. Because of this, there is a division amongst certain groups of Afghan people that have not yet been overcome. At the same time, groups in Afghanistan who share tribal ancestry are very supportive of each other, giving rise to their collectivistic nature, even though there is a caveat to it. Afghan-Americans on the other hand have learned to put tribal differences aside and lean more towards the side of collectivism. Because a lot of Afghan immigrants came from dire circumstances and had refugee status in the United States they decided to put differences aside in order to support each other as they worked through their status of outsiders in this country. Afghan-Americans take their strong sense of family and use it to help out other Afghan-American families in their communities.
Low Context/High Context
The last taxonomy we will discuss is whether the Afghan-American culture is high context or low context. Low context cultures are cultures that prefer to use low context messages, or messages that are direct and explicit. High context cultures are cultures that rely on implicit meanings and nonverbal codes. Most Afghan-Americans tend to be low context. Because of the high context nature of Afghan communication we assumed that Afghan-Americans would be the same, but the opposite was true. In speaking to this new generation of Afghan-Americans that were aged 18-22, we found that they were anxious to break away from having to use implicit messages to communicate and would rather do so directly, “ If you’re speaking to someone who hasn’t been here long or someone from [Afghanistan] you usually have to be indirect, but otherwise I say what I mean” (Nawabi, Z. 2015).
Beliefs & Values
After conducting several interviews and doing extensive research, the group has found various beliefs and values that occur in the Afghan-American culture, which differentiates from the culture over in Afghanistan. A lot of these beliefs and values are based off of Islam, the main religion practiced in Afghanistan. One of the first values that is incorporated in the afghan culture in general, whether that is in Afghanistan or here in the United States is that they follow the beliefs that are carried from Islam. One of the fundamental beliefs of Islam would be the differences between the left and right. The interviewee mentioned that the left is looked frowned upon, and seen to be dirty, whereas the right is clean. If you were go to and meet someone for the first time, you would have to shake their hand using the right hand. One thing that the interviewee mentioned was that if we were go cleanse ourselves, whether it is showering or going to the bathroom, the afghan people would walk in with their left foot since it is considered dirty. Then once they are done cleansing themselves, they would walk out with their right. One other strong belief is the belief in the spirits. The same interviewee mentioned that these spirits are known as Jinns, and that these spirits are known to be evil. Usually, the afghan people talk about it through religion, and that they are basically the devil. They praise Allah, but also believe that Jinns exist, so they would wear an amulet worn around the neck. These are very crucial through Islam and should be taken seriously at all times.
One of the other values that that Afghan-Americans have is that they believe that family is the most important unit in their culture. The people like many other cultures are very family oriented. According to Kwintessential, “women are generally responsible for household duties, whereas men will be the breadwinners” (kwintessential, 2014). After conducting several interviews, one of the interviewees mentioned that when you are with family, it typically tends to be pretty fun, especially in family gatherings. One other thing that the interviewee mentioned regarding family is that when it comes to the family system, afghan-Americans tend to put the family obligations over anything else, such as other responsibilities, a person’s own job, to even a person’s own needs. (Gulham, M. 2015). This shows that family obligations are one of the most important things in the Afghan-Culture, and that this has transitioned over to the United States as well. This leads me to talk about how when you are with an Afghan Family, they tend to provide great hospitality, and make sure you get the best whenever you are welcomed in their home.
Typically, whenever we are with some friends and go visit their homes, they tend to provide great hospitality to us, whether it is cooking us a meal, and always making sure that you are as satisfied as you can possibly be. The same can be said about the Afghan Culture. After conducting the interviews, both of the interviewees mentioned the importance of hospitality in the Afghan culture, and how it has a huge role in the type of relationship you have with that family. They mentioned that hospitality is seen to be a religious obligation, is one of the most important things a family can offer you. The interviewee Nawid Nabi mentioned to that usually, hospitality is to be given when there is a special event going on, such as 3-7 nights after a baby’s birth, engagement parties, weddings, and even special holidays. They show a lot of respect towards the family they are visiting as well, so as an act of kindness and hospitality, they will take off their shoes entering other people’s house led. They will also be willing to pay for bills, and provide a great sense of respect to the other family. The interviewees also mentioned how it is important for the women to provide hospitality whenever the husband dies. This is important because it will show the grievance and she could provide for others during a very difficult time (Nabi, N. 2015). One big thing that was also mentioned by both the interviewees was that is a mistake for the person being hospitalized to help out with anything. Everything will be on the house, such as food, drinks, etc. they also mentioned that whenever we are given any dish, we ought to eat slowly, because they will constantly be giving you more and more food. The family will insist that you eat more, and that you have not had enough, so they will have more than enough food for you to eat. Hospitality is one of the main aspects in their culture, and it is very essential through family and religion.
As we looked at the beliefs and values of the afghan-American culture, we have come to notice that religion and family were the main essential values for this specific culture. The interviewees answered a number of questions regarding the right versus the left, Jinns, and even hospitality. As we move from the beliefs and values, it is essential to also know about the many contributions that the Afghan-American culture has towards the country, such as art, family contributions, and even education.
Contributions
Four major contributions that have been made by the Afghan-American culture include their artisan rugs (Arts), Little Kabul (Culture Values), their contribution to the business environment (Education) and their strong emphasis on family values (Family Values). Afghan’s are known for their oriental rugs, which are hand dyed using the natural pigmentation of plants. The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles recently debuted a new exhibit called The Afghan Carpet Project, which showcased the craftsmanship traditional afghan rugs. In addition, in terms of culture, Afghans have contributed to the preservation of their culture, in what is seen through Little Kabul, located in Fremont, Ca. Little Kabul is cultural hub for all things Afghans. The market in Little Kabul offers traditional afghan dishes, clothing, as well as artistic artifacts that can be purchased. Little Kabul offers Afghans with nostalgic memories of their motherland while teaching non-Afghans about the history of the Afghan culture. Furthermore, Little Kabul is the largest Afghan market in the United States. Every year thousands of tourist visits the market, and get the opportunity to learn about the Afghan culture, which is greatly overshadowed in the United States.In terms of education many Afghan-Americans are business savvy and have contributed vastly to the establishment of small businesses. In the Bay Area the majority who run their own business are involved in the restaurant business, which are operated by the immediate family. Most of them have businesses throughout San Jose, Fremont and Cupertino. The last contribution that has been made by Afghan-Americas includes their strong orientation to family values. Their family values are heavily influenced by their Islamic faith. Many Afghans go to mosque regularly, and as a result this has contributed to the creation of several mosques throughout the Bay Area. The Masjid Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq mosque located in Hayward, Ca, is one of the largest in the country. It is a place where Afghan-Americans congregate to perform daily prayers, as well as celebrate major Islamic holidays such as Ramadan. Many of their festivities become communal events that can be enjoyed by non-Afghans. The establishments of this Mosque and others has allowed for the preservation of their faith. Moreover, the mosque has encouraged patrons from around the Bay Area to become members of the Islamic community.
III. Communication Styles
Afghanistan itself is a complex country with different cultures depending on where in Afghanistan you are from. The languages most commonly used are Pashtu and Dari. Pashtu was declared the national language of the country during the beginning of Zahir Shah's reign, however, Dari has always been used for business and government transactions. Both belong to the Indo-European group of languages and according to estimates, approximately 35% of the Afghan population speaks Pashtu, and about 50% speaks Dari.
Afghan culture as a whole has a particularly somewhat indirect communication style relying heavily on nonverbal cues and figurative forms of speech, where information is not explicitly stated. It is stated as “somewhat indirect” because sometimes they can use a direct communication style approach when they want something. Directness is a part of their negotiating strategy to get what they desire. For Afghans, indirect communication relates closely to saving face and respecting an individual’s honor. A direct refusal to a proposal for example, may be interpreted as impolite. Therefore, when conducting business discussions with your Afghan colleagues you should avoid responding with a direct ‘no’, and be prepared to interpret seemingly indefinite comments and gestures.
When first communicating and meeting someone, according to a firsthand Afghan- American, “a handshake is the most common form of greeting, but occasionally you will also see people place their hands over their heart and nod slightly” ( Marjan, A. 2015). Eye contact should be avoided, especially when it comes to having eye contact with the opposite sex. For men this custom tends to be a bit more lenient and they are allowed to share eye contact and even hug as long as it isn’t prolonged. Women on the other hand will never make eye contact with someone but it is still considered acceptable when sharing eye contact with other females. For women and the opposite sex, sharing eye contact can progress when time passes and they get to know one another.
Face to face communication requires proximity between people. In the Afghan culture it is always wise and more acceptable to keep a proper distance. This means that a person should be considerate of their space and to just be as close to a person as he or she can hear and one can hear them. When communicating physical contact or touching, especially with the opposite sex, represents and old and trustworthy friendship or being good colleagues. Physical contact can depend on how conservative a family unit or a person from the Afghan culture themselves is. For the more conservative only men are allowed to shake hands and hug with both females and males. With even more conservative people though talking or sharing physical contact with another woman has to be in a group setting or in front of their husband. Females themselves appreciate close contact with other females. This can include hugging, shaking hands, and even touching someone’s back are all accepted forms of physical contact between females.
IV. Intercultural Communication Skills
The five most important communication skills needed when engaging with Afghan-Americans include being mindful of gender differences in communication. Secondly, reframing from being too direct. In addition, when speaking with Afghan-Americans, evading the use of the word “no” is crucial, because it is deemed offensive. Furthermore, the use of inappropriate language should be avoided as it may be interpreted as vulgar. Lastly, the manner in which superiors or elders are addressed should be formal.
First Intercultural Communication Skill: It is important to be aware of social protocols that exist when communicating with either men or women. For example, there is a distinctive difference in the manner in which an Afghan –American man is spoken to compared to a woman. Many of the interviewees indicated that it is disrespectful for outsiders to inquire about the well being of a man’s wife. In the United States, it is quite common for acquaintances to inquire about the whereabouts of family members; however, in the Afghan-American culture it is disrespectful for outsiders to impose such questions. In addition, 6 out of the 10 interviewees indicated that in the Afghan-American culture, it is important to keep family affairs private. As noted by interviewee Sofia Obaidi, “outsiders who show concern over a man's wife, are not well received, because it may be misinterpreted as a sign of interest for one's spouse. Obaidi, did mention that this outlook is slowly changing as new generations are adapting to American social protocols. Moreover, traditional Afghan-American men ban their wives from holding conversations with other men unless it is business oriented.
Second Intercultural Communication Skill: When communicating with Afghan- Americans it is also important to refrain from being too direct. Interviewee Yama Nadery noted that in a traditional Afghan culture, being straightforward is seen as discourteous because it displays no humility towards the other party (Nadery, Y. 2015). Moreover, Nadery stated that communication between Afghans- Americans and non-Afghans requires reading in between the lines as ideas are subjective and literal interpretations may get lost through subtle implications. It is therefore important to abstain from being too assertive especially in a business context where it can be perceived as arrogant. Additionally, many of the interviewees noted the importance of nonverbal communication. For example, it is important to keep in mind that certain hand gestures such as displaying a “thumbs up’’ is seen as offensive. Almost all of the interviewees said that their communication style is a mixture of both their American and Afghan culture. For example, Nadery noted that he feels comfortable talking to colleagues in a direct fashion so long as he doesn’t come of abrasive.
Third Intercultural Communication Skill: When communicating with Afghans-Americans it is also important to omit the usage of the word “no”. For example, in a business context the usage of the word no is seen as offensive and too direct. It is important that if you find yourself in disagreement of an idea/opinion, that the use of alternative words, such as perhaps and possibly should be used as substitutes, as they are less harsh in context. The large majority of interviewees stated that their American culture has made them more receptive of the word “no”, and most use it freely if needed, however, few did mention that they restrain the usage of the word when communicating with family members.
Fourth Intercultural Communication Skill: When speaking to Afghan-Americans one should withhold using language that is deemed inappropriate. For example, many of the interviewees stated that their Americans friends openly talk about sex. Interviewees such as Sofia Obaidi, mentioned that openly talking about sex is not tolerated in the Afghan- American culture because it seen as taboo. Interviewee Sofia Obaidi, mentioned that when close friends who are American talk to her openly about sex, she shy’s away from the conversation because she finds it distasteful to talk about sex in a public forum. Sofia further explained that when her Americans friends did talk about sex the use of profane language was exchanged. When communicating with Afghan –American one should not discuss the topic of sex regardless of the context. In addition, reframing from vulgar language is also important. Most of the interviewees associated their conservatism to that of their Afghan Culture.
Fifth Intercultural Communication Skill: When speaking to elders, one must always acknowledge them, regardless of the setting. Traditionally a slight bow with one's right hand placed over the chest is appropriate. Also, when communicating with elders one should speak calmly and softly. When an elder or a superior speak ones should always be receptive of what is being said. It is extremely important to not have your voice over power that of and elder/superiors, as it is considered rude. This communication styles continues to thrive in the culture.
V. Major Learnings
As we concluded our research, we each have learned some very significant things about the Afghan-American culture. One major learning that we thought could be very useful when speaking to an Afghan would be to know the left vs. right. As mentioned before, the left tends to be very dirty to the Afghan. Whenever we approach them, it is best to shake hands using the right hand, if we use the left it will seem to be disrespectful. one other thing that would be very important would be to never point the soles of your feet to them. As mentioned by one of the interviewees, “The feet tend to be very dirty, and closest to the ground, closest to the devil, and the furthest away from god” (Nabi, N. 2015).
Our second major learning was that when speaking in terms of intercultural communication skills, it is best to talk to elders in a formal manner. Much like the American culture it is always important that whenever we speak with any elder, it is important that we give them our undivided attention. That is way for us to show respect, and so they can know that they are being acknowledged.
Our third major learning was how important they value family. As mentioned by one of the interviewees, family is the most important aspect in one’s life, more important than personal needs, one’s job, and other responsibilities. Family always comes before anything else, much like other cultures, and the ones we typically see on a daily basis.
Our fourth major learning was how Afghan’s incorporate Islam in their daily lives. A lot of what the Afghan people do is things that are practiced through Islam, such as hospitality, left vs. right, etc. Those that incorporate Islam in their daily lives sees the way that Islam is playing a big role in almost everything they do. We as a group found this to be very interesting.
The fifth Major learning was the amount of Afghan’s there are in the Bay area alone. A large amount of the afghan population in the United States lives in the Bay Area. Today we live in a society where Latinos are dominating such communities, but for a large amount of Afghan’s being located in the Bay Area is very surprised to us. Approximately 65,000 Afghan’s live in the Bay area, with a large portion residing in Fremont.
References