北欧文化ScanCul

ScandinavianCulture,CHAPTER6,ScandinavianCulturePRISMS,Whatisculturallybest:equalopportunityvs.equalresults?Shouldanationsgovernmentstrivetopreserveitsculture?Lifestylepragmatism:Shouldthestatebevalues-neutral?Jantelaw:Aresomepeople“better”thanothers?Unisexculture:Shouldwomenbetreateddifferentlythanmen?,IndividualismExtendedfamilyCommunityMonochronicPoychronicLowContextHighContextSocialAmbiguitySocialCertainty,LowPowerDistanceHighpowerDistanceMasteryAdaptationEmotionallyNeutralEmotionallyExpressiveQuantityofLifeQualityoflife,NorwegianFjords,NorwegianVikingship,Themidnightsun,SCANDINAVIANEGALITARIANISM,Egalitarianvalues:equalresults,notjustequalopportunity,“ItisvirtuallyimpossibletobecomerichinSweden,becausethetaxesaresohighandtheincomedifferentialsaresolow.Thustheresnotmuchofadifferenceinthewaypeoplelivebecausethereisntmuchofadifferenceinspendableincome.”BothSwedishparentsareentitledtouptoayearinpaternityleave.Ifachildhasasignificantillness,aparentcancantakeupto60daysoffat90%pay.Ombudsmenarereadilyavailabletorepresentworkersinconflictswiththeiremployer.,AScandinavianmillionairepaida$174,000speedingticketbecausethatequaledthesamepercentageofhisincomeasa$200fineforthecommonwageearner.,IncontrasttoAmericans,mostScandinaviansbelieveinequalresultsratherthanmerelyequalopportunity(becausenosocietycantrulyprovideequalopportunityforeveryone),COMMONCAREERBARRIERSFACEDBYAMERICANWOMEN,LossofworkplacesenioritywhenhavingorcaringforchildrenSubordinatingthewifescareertothehusbandscareer,especiallywhenjobtransfersareinvolvedWorkinginamalecorporateclimatebasedoncompetitionratherthancooperationinDenmarkjust2.4%ofchildrenliveinpoverty;3.4%inNorway;4.2%inSwedenMexico&theU.S.havethehighestchildpovertyratesinthedevelopedworld:27.7%forMexico&21.9%fortheU.S.,WHYHASNTAMERICAPURSUED“CRADLETOGRAVE”WELFARE?,1.Oppositiontohightaxes&thelackofcommunalconsciousnessperhapsduetoAmericasethnic&religiousdiversity.2.HigherincomeAmericanshavemorewaystolegallyreducetheirtaxesthanthemiddleclass3.Salestaxes,whichAmericastronglyreliesonfortaxrevenue,discriminateagainstlowerincomeAmericans(whopaythesametaxasrichAmericans).,SCANDINAVIANvs.AMERICANCULTURE,“Scandinavianshaveastrongsenseofcommunityresponsibility.Thereisawillingnesstomakeadjustmentswhichotherculturesmightconsiderasacrificeofindividuality.“ViolentcrimeratesarelowthroughoutmostScandinaviancultures.Only6%ofSwedesreportbeingvictimsofviolence.“Despitehighdivorcerates,ahighrateofunmarriedparents,andshiftingrelationships,thenumberofpeoplewholivealoneinisolationhasnotincreasedovertime.“,WHERETHEAMERICANEMOTIONALPROFILEDIFFERSMOSTFROMTHESCANDINAVIAN,GreaterAmericanpropensityforrisk-taking&uncertaintyAmericantendtobemoreaggressive&competitiveTheAmericancultofpersonality(moviestars,rockstars,etc.)Americansocialstatusdifferencesarebasedlargelyonmoney&“conspicuousconsumption”(JayLenoswarehouseofvintagecars,extravagantweddings,mansionsforhomes,lifestyleexcessesofrockstars,entertainers,&proathletes,etc.),Americancultureislesslibertarian(norulesfor“morality”)thanScandinaviansbecausetheJudeo-ChristianethicstillhassomeinfluenceinAmerica&thereisalsoastrongstrainofreligiouspersonalpietyleftinAmerica.AmericansaremoreDarwinian(“survivalofthefittest”)thanScandinaviansbasedonthesuccess-orientationofAmericans&ruggedindividualism.Americansaremoretolerantofclassdifferences(basedonwealth&standardofliving)thanScandinavians.,Americascommercializedculturehasgeneratedanentireindustryofpromoters,agents,PRconsultantstomanufactureglamorous,larger-then-lifecelebritieswhoareiconsofAmericawealth,success,&fame.Scandinavianspreferrealpeopletocelluloidholographs.Swedish-bornAmericanactressGretaGarbo(famousinthe1930s&1940s)quitthemoviebusinessatthepeakofherpopularityandbecameareclusebecauseshecouldntstandbeingworshippedforherbeautyandcelebrity.,THEULTIMATEUNISEXCULTURE,Scandinavianparentssharehouseholddutiesmorethananyotherculture,includingchild-rearing.Scandinavialeadstheworldinwomenelectedtopoliticaloffice,sittingonboards,&holdingexecutivecorporatepositions.ThisreflectstheScandinaviantraditionofandrogynous(masculine/feminineblend)organizationalcultures.,TheworkplaceequalityofScandinavianwomenisbolsteredbygenerouspaidpregnancyleavethatenableswomenprofessionalsnottolosetheirsenioritylevel(themajorreasonwomenprofessionalsinmanyothernationsarepaidlessevenwhendoingthesamejobasmalecounterparts).Widespreadutilizationofacross-the-boardpayincreases(vs.meritpay,whichlendsitselftocorporatepolitics)alsoaddstoScandinaviangreaterworkplaceequalityforwomen.,SCANDINVIANLIFESTYLEPRAGMATISM,TheDutchacknowledgethatmoralscantbelegislated,asillustratedbythefailureofProhibitionintheU.S.,&dontwanttocriminalizethoseaddictedtovices.LegalizedprostitutionandpornographyGovernment-provideddrugs,abortions,andeuthanasia(includingbabieswithtraumaticproblems)HighestpercentageofcohabitatingcouplesEuthanasiaisalsolegalinBelgium,CULTUREOFTHESCANDINAVIANWORKPLACE,JobsecurityTeamwork&consensusdecision-makingAcross-the-boardcompensationInterpersonalsincerity&informalityAvoidanceofinterpersonalcompetition&aggressivebusinesspractices(reflectingtheegalitarianmindsetofScandinavians:“Wereallinthesameboattogether”),Downplayingartificialstatusdifferences(“Jantelaw”:“Dontthinkyourebetterthanothers”)basedonphysicalattractiveness,wealth