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Task 2 Comparing two civilizations

Tutor: Jonathan Alfonso Fandiño Larrota

Estudiante: Oscar Andrés Salas Guardia

Código 1045516947:

Grupo : 30

Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia UNAD

Escuela de Ciencias de la Educación

Licenciatura en Lenguas Extranjeras con Énfasis en Inglés

Curso: English IV

Turbo Antioquia

2021
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Western civilization vs Eastern civilization.

a. What are the most important social characteristics of the two mentioned
civilizations?

 In Western Civilization, democracy and individual freedom are fundamental values,

whereas in Eastern Civilization, respect for authority and obedience are important values.
 The nuclear family (consisting of a mother, father, and children, which is the most
traditional family model) is more common in Western Civilization, while the extended
family (including relatives other than parents and siblings, such as grandparents, aunts,
uncles, cousins, great-grandparents, and other relatives who share a blood relationship) is
more common in Eastern Civilization.
 In Western Civilization, gender equality and minority rights are important values,
whereas in Eastern Civilization, harmony and balance are fundamental values.
 Western Civilization has a more individualistic culture, while Eastern Civilization has
more collectivist culture.
 In Western Civilization, religion and spirituality have a less significant presence in daily
life, while in Eastern Civilization, religion and spirituality play a more significant role.

b. What are the most important traditions in the two mentioned civilizations?

 In Western Civilization, Christmas is an important holiday, while in Eastern Civilization;

Lunar New Year is an important holiday.
 In Western Civilization, Valentine's Day is an important tradition, while in Eastern
Civilization; Dragon Boat Festival is an important tradition.
 In Western Civilization, the tradition of marriage is important, while in Eastern
Civilization, the tea ceremony is an important tradition.
 In Western Civilization, the sport of football is popular, while in Eastern Civilization,
martial arts are popular.
 In Western Civilization, pop music and cinema are important forms of entertainment,
while in Eastern Civilization, opera and theater are important forms of entertainment.
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c. What are the principal differences between the two civilizations?

 Western culture focuses on the individual and personal independence (individualism),

while in Eastern culture, family and community are more important than the individual
(collectivism).
 Western culture has a future-oriented perspective and focuses on achieving long-term
goals, while Eastern culture has a more past-oriented perspective and values tradition.
 Western culture is more direct and emphatic in communication, while Eastern culture is
more indirect and focuses on subtlety and diplomacy.
 Western culture values material success and economic progress, while Eastern culture
values spiritual harmony and the search for inner truth.
 Western culture values competition and individuality, while Eastern culture values
cooperation and teamwork.

d. How did the two civilizations conceive religion and spirituality? Differences and
similarities.

 In Western culture, religion and spirituality have been separated from the State and are
considered as private and personal matters. In contrast, in Eastern culture, religion and
spirituality are closely linked to society and are an important part of daily life.
 In Western culture, rational and scientific thought have had a great influence on the
understanding of religion and spirituality, while in Eastern culture, direct experience and
intuition are more valued.
 The dominant religion in Western culture is Christianity, while in Eastern culture; there
are many different religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism.
 In Western culture, religion has had a strong influence on politics and history, while in
Eastern culture, religion has been more important as a guide for personal life.
 In Western culture, death is often seen as an end, while in Eastern culture, death is seen
as a transition to another state of being or as a natural part of the cycle of life.
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e. What is the role of the woman in the two civilizations in the past century and now?
Differences and similarities.

 In Western civilization, the struggle for women's rights began in the late 19th and early
20th centuries, with movements such as suffrage seeking political and civil equality. In
Eastern civilization, this struggle began later, in the second half of the 20th century, and
focused on equal opportunities and the elimination of gender discrimination in the workplace
and education.
 In Western civilization, there has been a significant increase in women in the workforce
over the past century, although there are still disparities in pay and representation in
leadership positions. In Eastern civilization, women are also increasingly present in the
workforce, but still face cultural and social barriers in many countries.
 In both civilizations, women have played a key role in education and family care.
However, in Western civilization, this role has evolved towards greater participation of men
in these tasks, while in Eastern civilization, the expectation that women will be the primary
responsible for these tasks still prevails.
 In Western civilization, feminism has influenced popular culture and the representation of
women in the media, leading to greater diversity and complexity in the roles that are
portrayed. In Eastern civilization, the representation of women in the media is still limited
and stereotyped, although this is beginning to change in some countries.
 In both civilizations, gender-based violence and discrimination against women still exist.
However, in Western civilization, awareness and activism around these issues are more
advanced and there are laws and policies that seek to protect women's rights. In the oriental
civilization, there is still a lot to be done in this regard, although some countries are making
progress in legislation and gender policies.

f. What do you consider are the most important values and failures of every
civilization and why?

The most important values of all civilization are justice, equality, freedom, solidarity
and respect for human rights. These values are fundamental for peaceful coexistence and
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human dignity. However, the most important failures of civilizations throughout history have
been intolerance, discrimination, oppression and the violation of human rights. These failures
have generated conflict, injustice and human suffering.

g. What do you consider are the most important contributions of every civilization to
humanity? Why?
The most important contributions of Western civilization to humanity include
democracy, human rights, science, technology, literature, and art. Western democracy has
been a model for many nations and has allowed the development of freedom and justice. In
addition, science and technology have transformed people's lives and have improved health,
safety, and quality of life. On the other hand, Western literature and art have been a source of
inspiration and beauty for humanity.
On the other hand, the most important contributions of Eastern civilization include
philosophy, religion, traditional medicine, literature and art. Eastern philosophy has provided
a deep understanding of human nature and life. Eastern religions, such as Buddhism and
Hinduism, have taught compassion, tolerance, and the search for truth. Traditional Eastern
medicine has been an effective alternative to Western medicine in the treatment of diseases.
Furthermore, oriental literature and art have been a source of beauty and wisdom for
humanity.
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Link to the video with the group debate

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References

United Nations (2015). The World's Women 2015: Trends and Statistics. Department of
Economic and Social Affairs, Statistics Division.
https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/7778/-
The_worlds_women_2015_Trends_and_statistics-2015The_Worlds_Women_2015_-
_Trends_and_Statistics.pdf.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y
Kishwar, M. (2018). Women and Patriarchy in Asia: Challenges and Possibilities. Routledge.
Cho, J., & Lee, J. (2018). The Representation of Women in the Media: A Global Perspective.
Palgrave Macmillan.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330857657_Women_Governing_A_Global_Per
spective
United Nations Women (2021). Global Database on Violence against Women. https://evaw-
global-database.unwomen.org/en
NAATI (2022, 3 de Junio) Eastern vs Western Cultures. The Migration Translators
https://www.migrationtranslators.com.au/east-vs-west-culturaldifferences/
Tanmay, P (2020, 3 de Junio) Understanding the Difference Between Eastern & Western
Culture. Stay curious. https://medium.com/@tanmaynitinpatil/understanding-the-
differencebetween-eastern-western-culture-d20f94dbf956