A good friend of mine and I were chatting earlier today when the subject turned to how so many countries and people are losing their identity.
This is a true problem that I’ve been seeing all over the world, and the main reason behind it is unfortunately Globalization. I’m no anti-globalization activist or anything, in fact, I’m totally for globalization, economically and industrially speaking, but we can’t neglect the negative effects it has on culture and society.
In this globalized world, cities are becoming clones of each other, and people are converging into fake stereotypes; gone are the unique cities that carry so much history and culture in every corner, lost are the enriching cultural differences and specificities that make a society uniquely what it is; London looks like Paris which looks like Madrid; Restaurants serving this or that country’s traditional food are drowned out by the huge fast food chains, beautiful traditional clothing is lost between the new bulk-made looks created by the big brands, people look alike, eat alike and dress alike whether they’re in New York, New Delhi or Cairo.
We’re losing one of the things that count the most: our identity, the uniqueness in us, that which makes us special and allows us to stand out from the crowd.
Again, I’m all for cultural exchange and value it dearly, and I, more than anyone else, treasure the notion of a global citizen, but still that doesn’t mean letting go of our unique cultures to adopt a unified fake money-driven one.
In fact that’s a very huge threat that gets every year more and more conreat..
I don’t know how and what steps should be made to rectifie the misconseption between adopting a better technology, and, adopting a different identity..
great writing, and very alarming topic..
Nice topic mmm
Well I do believe in keeping the past so we can make sense of our present to be able to step into our future, but I don
Yeah, I totally agree with you. In fact, you have exactly the same idea that I had a great concern about.
The world is changing and becoming more globalized; you might be able to see the American style on the other side of the Earth! And more and more, people are losing what made up what they are now, and their traditions that made up their identity. I really think the schools in every nation should at least teach about the greatness and the history of their culture and country.
I agree with the writer. However, peer pressure as much as globalization and a need to “belong” and appear to belong is also impacting identity. Canadians most recently state what they are “not”, i.e. NOT American, but we need to consider our own identity before we can embrace it. Globalization is blurring many lines, making it more difficult for people to feel as though they belong, as though they are united within society and their nation.
My greatest fear is that globalization will continue to encroach on our political autonomy, making it more and more difficult for our governments to resist pressures from transnational corporations whose sole purpose is to increase profits.
I am touching on the title for my school’s problem statement today and it really aids a lot in a sense that globalization does affect identity and yes! now we look alike, eat the same food,dress the same way thus our own sense of originality is gone. the uniqueness in us is no longer there.drowned by the growing worldwide trends. sad don’t you think when the elders are working so hard to preserve the traditions and we young ones just turn a deaf ear and care less. Is there a way to reverse this? I don’t know. With technologies,there are possibilities.Only in need to be figured out. Thanks
I’m actually doing an essay on Globalisation. And i must say that the saddest thing besides proverty caused by globalisation, is the loss of culture.
I’m wondering if anyone here can tell me more about the loss of culture. I really want that to be a main part of my essay because unlike most things it clearly effects us all.
thanks and i apreciate it.
So how exactly does globalization affect our identities?
gud qn..
great man, im doing an essay about the subject and your ideas are pretty good organized…
me too 🙂
The past will always stand as it always has and cultural influences is on the rise in the U.S. Major corporations faces global competition that value in profitability and stray away from its identity to appease selfish interests with out thought of preserving the American identity.
History is ones identity because it indicates were we as Americans have come from to be where we are, now. America has every touch of every ounce of diverse culture in it forwhich America was founded. Is globalization a threat? As long as we look for change, it will be. Have we bought into it? Yes, whether you like it or not. Americans have bought into pleanty and have wasted–much. Look around you and see that it has already occured–globaly.
All that is consumed into History will not fit modernization. The elderly lives in two worlds physically and mentally because of morals no longer existing in our society.
too true, not only did you help me see that people are losing originality, but helped with my assignment too, thankyou! 🙂
so true!
I am doing an essay on Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe which is significantly focused on the deterioration of an Igbo society. I found my reading you’re post and i think relating deteriorating of culture to globalisating is very interesting, never thought of it.
“Restaurants serving this or that country’s traditional food are drowned out by the huge fast food chains,” This might be true but fast food chains like McDonald’s alter their menus and conform to the local taste. The menu of a McDonald’s here compared to on in Japan or India are virtually 100% different.
true that….especially on the part where cities and people look alike……some sort of copy cat invention or copy cat age instead of digital age….