A popular colloquial saying quips that you don’t get a second chance at a first impression; it’s a light hearted answer to a phenomenon we all seem to be familiar with, and which at times doesn’t feel so light hearted at all. When making an initial judgment of a person, most people form an opinion in less than a minute; some studies have shown that it’s less than a second. (SOURCE) The truth is however, every individual you meet has a story; a wealth of experiences that makes them who they are, how they view the world, and how they interact with the culture around it. The cultures that make up a person have a depth that is much more complex than the initial labels that are often ascribed to them.…show more content… An interesting revelation that occurred in Italy is that I was able see how culturally enforced faith affects citizens from an outsider’s perspective. Northern Italy is predominantly Catholic, and similarly to the Bible belt’s Protestantism, the expectation of Catholicism weighs greatly on the people there. Seeing how societal pressure to submit to a particular faith opened my eyes to the societal pressure at home.
Race: As a Caucasian, I’ve been afforded the privilege of not really having to think about my race for the most part. Caucasians, especially in the south, is the dominant race and culture in America. At times I have considered my race and tried to discern its significant features, but like the examples in the understanding whiteness chapter of our text book, I found it difficult of to distinguish it as anything other than…show more content… Personally, I have observed a striking example of institutional racism right here in Fort Smith, spurred by regional and racial culture, two of the most meaningfully influential cultures in my life, as well as conflict between ideologically opposed members within the culture of the white race. Through this conflict, my opinions matured through research and contemplation, and it has made me more aware of the unintentional racism that still exists in Fort Smith—even among well-meaning
