Culturas Americanas Difere

ncias Cultural Comparisons |
Aspect | Mexico | Canada/USA |
Family | Family is the first priority.
Children are celebrated and sheltered.
Wife fulfills domestic role.
Mobility islimited. | Family is usually second to work.
Children often minimally parented; are independent.
Wife often fulfills dual roles.
Mobility quite common. |
Religion | Long Roman Catholictradition.
Fatalistic outlook. "As God wills." | Mixed religions.
"Master of own life" outlook. |
Education | Memorization.
Emphasis on theoretical.
Rigid, broad curriculum. | Analytical approach.Emphasis on the practical.
Narrow, in-depth specialization. |
Nationalism | Very nationalistic.
Proud of long history and traditions.
Reluctant to settle outside Mexico. | (U.S.)Verypatriotic.
Proud of "American way of life."
Assumes everyone shares his/her materialistic values.
(Canadian) Less than U.S.. Often has more " World" view. |
Personal Sensitivity | Difficultyseparating work and personal relationships.
Sensitive to differences of opinion.
Fears loss of face, especially publicly.
Shuns confrontation. | Separates work from emotions/personalrelationships.
Sensitivity seen as weakness.
Tough business front.
Has difficulty with subtlety. |
Etiquette | "Old world" formality.
Etiquette and manners seen as measure of breeding. |Formality often sacrificed for efficiency.
"Let's get to the point" approach. |
Personal Appearance | Dress and grooming are status symbols. | Appearance is secondary to performance. |
Status |Title and position more important than money in eyes of society. | Money is main status measure and is reward for achievement. |
Aesthetics | Aesthetic side of life is important even at work.| No time for "useless frills". |
Ethics | Truth is tempered by need for diplomacy.
Truth is a relative concept. | Direct Yes/No answers given and expected.
Truth seen as absolute value. |