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Influence of Culture on Careers
Many theories have developed as to whether athletic students excel in their academic undertakings. Researches have explored the topic to depth to determine if there is a causal relationship between the two. Despite many universal scholars studying the subject, a consensus has not transpired attained to clear the existing myths. Therefore, believers of different theories categorize into collectivist vs individualist. However, culture is the principal determiner of what people believe in. A particular belief in a community moves over generations without the desire to explore other perspectives. In many cases, parents who hold higher academic achievements shape their children in achieving the same without first reviewing their wants.
Culture Influencing Career in India
In most cases, a career has suffered due to cultural beliefs; thus, children in the future venture in occupations that were influenced by parents’ choices rather than what they would have wanted. Certain cultures have placed importance on specific careers and degraded the value of others. For instance, a Study in India indicated that parents would wish their sons to pursue law other than venture in other careers such as Sports. Other families believed that the medical profession is the highest-ranking of all career and that people who seek it receive community recognition and respect not only in India but also in other parts of the world where sports is a lesser career. Individual choices do not matter in the modern world since cultural intervention is paramount compared to personal wants (Ismail, Maimunah, & Hoo, 38).
In most cases, people’s lousy perception of occupations may lead to a shortage of people venturing into some careers. In other instances, professions with enhanced images entice a large number of learners, therefore, crowding professional supply in the field. This paper focuses on a conceptual framework relating to career choices and how they are affected by cultural values. The main assumptions that are involved in this paper are that collectivists and individualists believe in changing a person’s choice of career. India is among the many nations whose cultural influence is much felt by its population. Although other factors affect career choice in India, cultural heritage surpassed all those who became the most significant influencers.
According to Watson (47), collectivism is absorbed in cultural values and traditions, thus refusing to adopt change. Therefore many families still hold on to traditional beliefs in choosing a career for their children. India is known for its paramount development in medicine and law fields. It has been difficult for the education sector in the nation to advocate for the adoption of other carriers such as sport. Sports if viewed as a lesser career that does not promote individual development and does not bring financial independence.
The Conflicting Views
Individualists
Individualism is the class of the theorists who believe that people should have freedom in making their choices. In career choice, the framework gives people the freedom to venture into what they like most. It thus provides a chance to explore options which one perceive valuable. Individualistic people choose opportunities that match their beliefs, personality, and preference. It focuses on the well-being and success of an individual rather than that of the group. Generally, it encompasses the willingness of a person to venture into the field in which they are most interested. Although individualists do not incorporate group interest, people tend to belong to groups that promote their choice and interest (Triandis, 14).
Individualists are more creative, and in most cases, they tend to excel in their areas of interest. However, when forced to venture into other fields, they tend not to reveal their full potential, and they end up under-performing. Overly, the class of people conflicts with situations and elements that do not conform to their interests. However, their conflict creativity promotes personal development. A clear definition of the term is that it helps to improve the moral worth of an individual both in practice and theory. It is a form of social dissolution in upholding of individual decisions rather than Collective. Adam Smith noted that modelling our interests can building things that are greater than our Minds.
Concerning career choice, individualists believe that a person should venture into the field in which they are most interested. Most parents have given their children the freedom to choose their career path rather than take on the role. The research revealed that parent’s influence of career choice starts at an early stage of a child’s development (Ismail, 11). Most parents think that children involved in athletics and sports would affect their performance. At the first stage of child development, they are brainwashed to understand that games are not a career. In this case, a child is not free to do what they want. Individualistic parents believe that a child needs to explore all available options before choosing their career paths. Children are thus presented with diverse career choices, and they are left to decide which one pleases them. This class of believers does not an associate success with career choice but rather with individual effectiveness and passions.
Collectivist
As defined by Triandis (21), collectivists uphold norms beyond personal interests. Therefore, individualistic people relate career choices to backgrounds, family settings, among other related factors. Their cultural norms bound these people, and they do not accept change or evaluation of other available options. They are willing to sacrifice their interests to please other people’s attention. Social norms advocated by collectivists promote selflessness and disregard personal willingness. These people identify into a group that supports essential beliefs that members cannot go against. People are encouraged to do what is best for the entire society rather than focusing on individual goals. Generally, collectivistic culture promotes dependent attentiveness to other people’s generosity and teamwork. It contradicts individualistic culture, which encourages independence and assertiveness. India is considered among the many nations that uphold collectivistic culture. Due to collective decision-making, aspects as a career are significantly impacted, and choices are shaped towards a specific direction. In this case, people do not observe self-perception; instead, culture describes them and their traits (Ismail, 13).
For example, collectivistic culture places more weight on some careers rather than others. Some parents believe that education is more relevant than Sports, thus encouraging their children to spend more time studying. Children who pursue sports as a career are viewed as uneducated, and they are mostly looked down upon because they ventured in those fields. These beliefs negatively affect career development in children in such cultures. Children tend to take the line of the community in pursuing a career that is perceived to be more critical. Others tend to overwork themselves in pursuit of community recognition rather than personal development. Parents are more concerned with status and community recognition than children’s well-being (Sawitri, Dian & Peter, 54).
India is an excellent example of a nation that has overtime advocated for these beliefs. Many societies in the country do not support athletics and any other form of sports. The reason behind this is that the communities have inherited prior convictions that refuted the recognition of games as a career. Therefore, most parents in the nation discourage their children from engaging in sports. The occupation has been left unexplored since children are not able to challenge cultural norms. Some professions, such as medicine and law, have been left exploited, and people are forced to move to other nations in search of employment opportunities. Further, talents are undeveloped in the country, which could have led to a more significant community impact if developed.
Observations and Recommendations
It is time when Communities need to let their people explore careers of their choices. People who pursue their interests tend to be more productive than when they take up the roles unwillingly. Also, it is essential to refute culture’s downgrading belief, which attaches importance to some careers. Group decisions also need to be avoided to ensure that one’s decision is not influenced. Tutors should advocate for the importance of whole career undertakings to the children rather than attaching significance to some.
The government should also play a key role in promoting a neglected career by providing scholarships and other subsidies in those fields. By detecting children’s talents and abilities, it should develop centers that specifically offer further training to children to use them as a way of livelihood. It is only through life experience that Communities are going to recognize athletics and sports as a career. Therefore the government should be at the forefront of mentoring those life experiences through developing existing talented parents. Through camps and talks, parents should be encouraged to let their children maximize their interests. They should be shown the importance that comes along with the move.
Moreover, the media should seriously advocate for the same through adverts and documentaries featuring world known athletics and sports personnel. The athletes should be given a platform to air their journeys and life experiences and encourage other upcoming athletes. They should also portray the importance of venturing in such careers, especially by focusing on financial stability offered by them. The exploration of financial stability brought along by sports will persuade the people in collectivistic culture to ease their beliefs and develop their talents.
Generally, all careers have the same benefits and are explored to the maximum. People in collectivistic cultures lack information, and therefore they only explore locally available jobs. The education system failed to recognize the importance of occupation, such as sports since it over-relies on the advantages of academic work. It is time that people explore freedom and pursue their interests in achieving financial stability. Additionally, financial security is not the only reason that people explore different careers, but rather other elements such as freedom and personal development are vital.
References
Ismail, Maimunah, and Hoo Shien Lu. “Cultural values and career goals of the millennial generation: An integrated conceptual framework.” Journal of International Management Studies 9.1 (2014): 38-49.
Ismail, Maimunah. “Cultural values and career goal of Gen-X and Gen-Y: A conceptual framework.” Global Business and Management Research 8.2 (2016): 1-15.
Sawitri, Dian R., and Peter A. Creed. “Collectivism and perceived congruence with parents as antecedents to career aspirations: A social cognitive perspective.” Journal of Career Development 44.6 (2017): 53-54.
Triandis, Harry C. Individualism, and collectivism. Routledge, 2018.12-42.
Watson, M. B. (2006). Career counselling theory, culture and constructivism. Career counselling: Constructivist approaches, 45-56.