Portfolio Exercise #8b

“Outsourced” - the movie study guide

You are going to watch and create a reflection on the film "Outsourced".

These questions will help you. If you miss watching the film in class, you may get a copy from the library and watch it at home. Here are some clips from "Outsourced"

http://www.outsourcedthemovie.com/Clips/ms_educlips.html

Cultural Dimensions in Outsourced

As you watch the film, answer the questions and write down any examples of different cultural dimensions. This will help you with your reflection.

Cultural Dimension	Character Todd, Puro, Aisha or other	Outsourced Scene or Circumstance
Low-context culture	Todd and his boss	Office
High-context culture	Aisha	Office in India
Individualism	Indian Taxi guy	Airport
Collectivism	Indian Taxis were fighting	Airport
Low power distance	Todd and his boss	Office
High power distance	Puro with Todd	Office
Uncertainty tolerance	Todd and his boss	Office
Uncertainty avoidance	Aisha with Todd	India
Task orientation	Puro	Administrator
Social orientation	Aisha	India

Portfolio Exercise #8a

Exercise #8a:

Below is a brief explanation of the cultural dimensions:- 

·         Low-context and high-context culture.

Low-context	High-context
Westerners Direct Exact on time Expect a common understanding	Orientals and Arabs Indirect Flexible with timings Unspoken etiquette

·      Individualism and collectivism.

Individualism	Collectivism
Usually western people are individuals. They tend to do things on their own.	Middle Eastern cultures, especially Emiratis, tend to work as a unit or a family whether its college or going for lunch.

·         Low power distance and high power distance.

Lower power	Higher power
It’s between an employee and his boss have a close relationship.	Leader, gets respect and money, but don’t have any relationship.

·         Uncertainty tolerance and uncertainty avoidance.

Uncertainty tolerance	Uncertainty avoidance
Emiratis tend to tolerate uncertainty, for example I could say I can see you tomorrow, and the location, timing and reason not mentioned.	Japanese tend to avoid uncertainty by being sure time, place, and objective planned before hand.

.          Task orientation and social orientation.

Task orientation	Social orientation
It generally means that the primary focus and preference is the job itself.	An Emirati cares more about who is in the company, the reputation society talks about, and other factors like family, where as the task itself is not the primary focus.

Portfolio Exercise #7

Ethnocentrism Assignment – Exercise #7 EXTRA    ++

1.      Read about Ethnocentrism on Edmodo (Week #6)

Definition of Ethnocentrism: belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group.

2.      List three examples of ethnocentrism from history

-       Redskins in USA

-       Indian Nationalism.

-       Japan centrism.

3.      What country is known for being ethnocentric today?

-       Iran.

-       China.

-       USA.

4.      What is the famous quote from Shylock which reminds all of us of our humanity?

If you prick us, do we not bleed. If you tickle us, do we not laugh. If poison us, do we not die. And if you wrong us, shall we not seek revenge?

5.      Look at the two maps of ethnocentric Americans and ethnocentric Indians.

Portfolio Exercise #6

Course:      Cultural Diversity                                  Code:  LSS2053

Name: Abubaker Salem Alameri. ID# H00277310                               

With a partner, please answer the following. You may use internet resources to help you.

1.      Define:

a.       Stereotyping: is a thought that may be adopted about specific types of individuals or certain ways of doing things, but that belief may or may not accurately reflect reality.

b.      Prejudice: is most often used to refer to preconceived, usually unfavorable, judgments toward people or a person because of gender, social class, age, disability, religion, sexuality, race/ethnicity, language, nationality or other personal characteristics.

c.       Bias: is an inclination to present or hold a partial perspective at the expense of (possibly equally valid) alternatives.

d.      Discrimination: is the prejudicial or distinguishing treatment of an individual based on his or her membership - or perceived membership - in a certain group or category.

2.      Give an example of each.

A. Stereotyping: Emiratis are friendlies.

B. Prejudice: teenagers are so angry, so they are not allowed to drive.

C. Bias: some of emirate companies bias to not local workers. 

D. Discrimination: in the past there was discrimination between white and black skin people.

Watch  Class Divided

ü Understanding

With partners, answer the following:

1.      Where, when and with whom did this experiment take place?

Jane Elliott, Midwest USA, 1968, ellenoy.

2.      Describe the experiment.

Its to teach them how to feel about making fun of other people by their colors or looks.

3.      What were the results?

Very successful.

4.      How successful do you believe it was?

The kids starts to think that all people are as same as them no matter which colors or looks they are.

Going Deeper - Extra

In groups of four, discuss the following:

Ø  a time she or he experienced prejudice or discrimination

Ø  a time she or he discriminated against somebody else

Ø  a time she or he witnessed discrimination and did nothing about it

Ø  a time she or he witnessed discrimination and did something about it