How Important Are Culture and Traditions to Our Identity in The Modern Society

Culture is one of the things that make us distinct from each other. Even though some might think that culture is a fixed thing, it can change over the years.

Think about your beliefs about life or any other subject you had while you were in middle school or high school and the beliefs about the same subjects you have now. Culture and traditions are what define us and also create the identity of a country and, of course, our identity.

We can easily notice the differences in culture and traditions when we meet people that come from other countries, and people that come from distinct groups.

Culture is about the beliefs a certain group has, the norms and rules they follow and find acceptable within the group, about the values of the group. They kind of shape our answer to distinct stimuli from the environment too.

But what is the importance of culture and traditions nowadays?

How does culture impact a person’s identity?

How is our self-identity in a modern society shaped and by what?

The Definition of Cultural Identity

Even though it might be easy to talk about cultural identity and traditions, the thing with this topic is that people do not actively speak about it.

When you are part of a group, certain beliefs, values, and norms keep that group cohesive. And everyone follows or adheres to them. However, what is crucial about these is that they are not developed consciously and you do not actively talk about them.

When you are part of a group, you pay attention to the social cues from the group so that you can adjust your behavior.

Cultural identity is a topic that is studied within any college and university, as it is defined by education too. Students often engage in learning and studying processes where they discover more about the depths of traditions and their importance for every country.

You can read the importance of family traditions essay and discover the distinct traditions every country has and understand how they shape its culture.

These paper samples help students understand more about this topic and what cultural identity is about.

A part of your cultural identity is shaped by some of the things you are automatically affiliated with such as local community, geography, gender, religion, language, nationality, and so on. But an essential part of each’s cultural identity is shaped by education.

By the social groups, they are part of, by the political views, by the groups he is interested in being part of and is actually part of.

However, it is essential to mention that some situations and contexts might represent the exact filter for this cultural identity. We all have our individual identities, but at the same time, we adapt to the cultural identity of the group, unconsciously most of the time.

For example, the familial background you have been raised in provides one of these filters, a lens through which you see certain situations. It depends on how your parents and family raised you and what they taught every child to value.

This is why there are many differences between individuals from the same country. Some families might value education more and encourage their children to expand their knowledge by applying for college and scholarships.

Others might value work more and encourage their children to find jobs early in life. On top of this, there are cultural nuances that add to every situation and shape our view of the events that are happening around us.

The Importance of Culture and Traditions to Our Identity in the Modern Society

As mentioned above, we all have our individual identity which is doubled by the cultural identity of the nation and groups we are part of.

We are social beings, so we need people around us to support us, both emotionally and informationally. Traditions are part of every culture and they define our view of the world, but also how we behave in certain situations.

These are important for everyone and play a key role as they come with an intrinsic value. They help us get integrated into groups and be accepted, make friends and keep them closer to us.

And this, ultimately, contributes to people’s level of well-being and happiness, as social connectedness is known to make us feel better.

Cultural identity and traditions enhance people’s quality of life as this comes with opportunities. Cultural identity affects even children from their early age.

Not only career ones but opportunities to get to know ourselves better, to know who we really are and what we value in life. People learn better and are more open to discovering new things and perspectives when they value their culture, as long as they keep an open mind about it.

It is crucial to not think that one cultural identity or some traditions are better than others, but rather see them as descriptions of groups that have grown in certain contexts, and that have been taught to value certain things.

Groups are distinct and individuals too, and it is crucial to accept that no culture is better than the other one. But cultural identity is changing constantly depending on the context and group you are part of. And traditions are the ones that remind us of our roots, who we really are, and what we value.

Final Thoughts

Culture and traditions are an essential part of our identity, especially in modern society where people are changing places and groups faster than ever.

We have the option to travel, study in other countries, or just join groups that have the same interests as we do.

Culture and traditions define who we are and come with essential social and economic benefits. They shape the lens through which we see the world.