El Nahra's Cultural Ethos Of Family example essay topic

Analysis of - Guests of the Sheik Elizabeth Fernea entered El Nahra, Iraq as an innocent bystander. However, through her stay in the small Muslim village, she gained cultural insight to be passed on about not only El Nahra, but all foreign culture. As Fernea entered the village, she was viewed with a critical eye, 'It seemed to me that many times the women were talking about me, and not in a particularly friendly manner'; (70). The women of El Nahra could not understand why she was not with her entire family, and just her husband Bob. The women did not recognize her American lifestyle as proper. Conversely, BJ, as named by the village, and Bob did not view the El Nahra lifestyle as particularly proper either.

They were viewing each other through their own cultural lenses. However, through their constant interaction, both sides began to recognize some benefits each culture possessed. It takes time, immersed in a particular community to understand the cultural ethos and eventually the community as a whole. Through Elizabeth Fernea's ethnography on Iraq's El Nahra village, we learn that all cultures have unique and equally important aspects. In El Nahra, for example, the cultural ethos is family honor. All actions in the community are based on the strong family bonds that exist throughout.

However, individualism drives the majority of America. Our actions seem to be a direct result of the cultural ethos. In that, lied much of the confusion between Bob, BJ and the El Nahran people. In America, we spend much of the time away from home and completing tasks that will further the success of the individual. Generally, Americans are willing to sacrifice a little of their family stability for individual success. The sacrifice would be unheard of in a community such as El Nahra.

Their relationships, both marriage and friendship are based on their family, and no one seems to know any other way of life. Marriages in El Nahra were, for the large majority, predetermined. This practice in America would be seriously questioned and generally disregarded, based on the cultural ethos of individualism. Americans put a large emphasis on courting their own spouse. However, based on El Nahra's cultural ethos of family honor, the people trusted their family to make quality decisions for them. Obviously, from an American perspective, women's freedom of choice in this aspect of El Nahran culture is absent.

However, viewing marriage cross-culturally, their priorities as a culture are different and we cannot view them through 'American'; eyes. We must realize that family is the most important aspect of each of their lives, and the preservation of the family line is of utmost priority to them. In El Nahra, it may seem to an American observer that women have no power in their society. However, power may have multiple meanings as one travels from culture to culture. In America, a woman may view power in terms being able to maintain of a stable, high-paying job on her own. We may also view a woman of no power as one with no job, simply content being an average housewife.

However, in El Nahra, as 'Beeja'; finds out, the women have more power as housewives. Their power comes from their ability to please their husband, and it is known who is the preferred wife. As a preferred wife, bearing children gives a woman power in her community amongst both women and men. A typical well-respected wife would have, 'Served and respected her husband, worked hard, kept herself beautiful for him, made him laugh, and of course borne him two sons'; (169). They also derive their power and respect from their ability to do what American women may term as menial chores. Preparation of meals and the cleanliness of one's living quarters is essential to how a woman is viewed in El Nahra.

When the sheik visited BJ and Bob's home, BJ experienced this notion of power first hand. To make a good impression and understand the customs better, however, she he had her servant Mohammed help with the critical feast. These feasts are very important to the reputation of a woman in El Nahra. There are benefits to being a woman in El Nahra. Many woman in American communities do not get the opportunity to have the support and close bonds between all other women in the community. In America, it is hard for women to find time to spend with the other women in the same manner as the women of El Nahra.

The lifestyle is slower paced, and emphasis is more on relationships rather than money and individualism, as in America. These close groups of women are as a result of purdah, the veiling and seclusion of women. Typical Americans would view this behavior as degrading, while El Nahran women understand it as a part of life. They do not view it as degrading; rather, from BJ's many interactions with the community of women, they recognize it makes them stronger. The time they spend together is precious. They all gather together in a seemingly jovial atmosphere.

Most American women never get to experience that kind of bonding with such a large group of women. Granted, American women sometimes gather for a tea or coffee party to catch up on each others lives, but the women of El Nahra are in contact daily, and already know each others lives inside and out. The bonds that the women make are unique aspects of El Nahran culture that make it equally as good as any other culture in the world. El Nahran women have many unique and important aspects of culture, which contribute to a healthy lifestyle. These aspects are unique to their village and create a positive environment for them to live. However, members of foreign cultures may disagree.

At that point, people must understand that cultures can be equally as productive and beneficial no matter the means they use to achieve their particular goals. Americans have different cultural ideals than the people of El Nahra, however, both have fully functioning and productive society.