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Cultural Elements Revealed in the Concept of Privacy in China and America Thesis statement: This thesis analyzes the cultural differences revealed in the different concept of privacy in China and America by elaborating the different views and behaviors of Chinese and Americans towards privacy.I. Different views about the concept of privacy in China and AmericaAccording to Wikipedia, “privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude them or information about themselves and thereby reveal them selectively.” http:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy However, the concept of privacy differs among different cultures. InChinese culture, an individual is only a member of a groupwithin which he is exposed to constant concernor enquiry. Privacy then is often ignored because Chinesetend to concern more about the group not individuals and are used to living in close proximity.The Chinese inquisitiveness about other peoples private lives isusually motivated by their desire to establish a more intimate personal relationship or closerfriendship because in their mind, what the Americans consider as “privacy violation”may be a well-shown act of caring and love. However, in America, people care much about privacy. There is Privacy Law and also other laws about privacy to protect peoples rights of privacy in America. Compared with Chinese, Americans tend to view themselves as individuals, not an essential member of a group. Therefore, they want to have their personal spaces and do not like to mention things about themselves a lot. Rights of privacy are highly prioritized in American values.II. Behaviors of Chinese and Americans towards privacyWhen Chinese and Americans encounter with each other, Chinese people are used to beginning their topics with name, nationality, age, marriage status, or income condition. Questions like how old are you, whats your income, how much did you pay for that car, are you married or single,do you go to churchare most common-asked by Chinese people. It seems that asking those questions is Chinese peoples intuition. Many Americans provide separate bedrooms for each of their children. Such provision is rarely possible in China. If aChinese couple has two daughters, it is quite usual for the two sisters to share one room. And the phenomenon of children and parents living in the same bedroom is very common in China. Even if family members have their own separate room, room doors are usually open. People can freely get into any room without the consent of the owners permission room. American houses are usually separated from others. The richer the owner is, the further his house is from others. Americans tend to protect their privacy with the environment. The use of the door is a perfect example. If they close the door, they pass on a message of “Please do not bother. Let me be alone.”Whereas in china, people usually push the door open and get in the room directly. There are still many other behaviors about privacy telling us the differences over the concept of privacy in China and America. Only if we get to know the true meaning of these phenomenons can we carry out successful intercultural communications. III. The cultural roots of the different views about privacy in China and America.1.1 Chinese collective orientation Versus American individualistic orientationChinese historical and cultural traditions stressed that communities and groups are constituted by prominent individuals. In todays Chinese society, despite of the great impact of western culture, Chinese people still have a very strong collective sense of belonging; paying much attention to the collective interest is still the mainstream of Chinese values. Collective interests are prioritized over personal interests. In the Western culture, however, each person is regarded as an independent unit. They endeavor to pursuit their own interests rather than try to stand up to the collective interests. The doctrine of the individualism holds that interests of the individual should take precedence over the interests of the state or social group. In America, right of privacy is the direct product of individualism. Chinese peoples less attention about privacy and Americans much concern about rights of privacy reveal the collectivism of Chinese people and the individualism of American people.1.2 Chinese world view-harmony of man and nature Versus American world view-separation of man from nature“China has long been a family-run country. It has also been, and still is, primarily a rural nation. These two institutions, the family and the farm, are the core of China. Both the family and a rural environment are collectivist in nature. They depend on working together and aiming for harmony.” Frank T. Gallo, “Individualism versus Collectivism in China” Since Chinese people believe that, Man proposes, God disposes, they are supposed to pursue for harmony, both with nature and man. Because of the “harmony of the man and nature” theory, Chinese people tend to seek overall point of view. They usually consider things as a whole, not a separated one. On the contrary, American people hold the world view that man and nature are independent units. Therefore, they pay more attention to the individual rights and contend that everyone is an independent unit and should fight for their own rights. The different world views of Chinese and Americans also contribute to the differences of their understanding of privacy.From my point of view, the cultural differences revealed in the light of privacy between China and America are mainly the above two points. Of them, Chinese collectivism and Americans individualism are the best explanation of the different view towards privacy in China and America; the different world views of the two nations explain further about the cultural root of the collectivism and individualism respectively.IV. Conclusion From my point of view, the cultural differences revealed in the light of privacy between China and America are mainly the above two points. Of them, Chinese collectivism and Americans individualism are the best explanation of the different view towards privacy in China and America; the different world views of the two nations explain further about the cultural root of the collectivism and individualism respectively.Learning the different concepts of privacy of different cultures is an important and also a tough thing in the process of carrying out cross-culture communication. Better knowing the thoughts and behaviors of people from different cultures about privacy issues can greatly facilitate the efficiency of intercultural communication.生命列车The Train Of Life1. 不久以前，我读了一本书。书中把人生比作一次旅行。2. 人生一世，就好比是一次搭车旅行，要经历无数次上车、下车; 时常有事故发生; 有时是意外惊喜，有时却是刻骨铭心的悲伤 3. 降生人世，我们就坐上了生命列车。我们以为我们最先见到的那两个人-我们的父母，会在人生旅途中一直陪伴着我们。 4. 很遗憾，事实并非如此。他们会在某个车站下车，留下我们，孤独无助。他们的爱、他们的情、他们不可替代的陪伴，再也无从寻找。 5. 尽管如此，还会有其他人上车。他们当中的一些人将对我们有着特殊的意义。 6. 他们之中有我们的兄弟姐妹, 有我们的亲朋好友。我们还将会体验千古不朽的爱情故事。7. 坐同一班车的人当中，有的轻松旅行。8. 有的却带着深深的悲哀 还有的,在列车上四处奔忙，随时准备帮助有需要的人 9. 很多人下车后，其他旅客对他们的回忆历久弥新 但是，也有一些人，当他们离开座位时，却没有人察觉。10. 有时候，对你来说情深义重的旅伴却坐到了另一节车厢。你只得远离他，继续你的旅程。11. 当然，在旅途中，你也可以摇摇晃晃地穿过自己的车厢，去别的车厢找他 12. 可惜，你再也无法坐在他身旁，因为这个位置已经让别人给占了 .13. 没关系。旅途充满挑战、梦想、希望、离别 就是不能回头。因此，尽量使旅途愉快吧！14. 善待旅途上遇见的所有旅客，找出人们身上的闪光点。15. 永远记住，在某一段旅程中，有人会犹豫彷徨，因为我们自己也会犹豫彷徨。16. 我们要理解他人，因为我们需要他人的理解。17. 生命之谜就是：我们在什么地方下车？坐在身旁的伴侣在什么地方下车？我们的朋友在什么地方下车？我们无从知晓 18. 我时常这样想：到我该下车的时候，我会留恋吗？我想我还是会的。和我的朋友分离，我会痛苦。让我的孩子孤独地前行，我会悲伤。 我执著地希望在我们大家都要到达的那个终点站，我们还会相聚 19. 我的孩子们上车时没有什么行李，如果我能在他们的行囊中留下美好的回忆，我会感到幸福。20. 我下车后，和我同行的旅客都还能记得我，想念我，我将感到快慰。21. 献给你, 我生命列车上的同行者, 祝您旅途愉快!1. Not long ago, I read a book, in which a mans life was compared to a journey.2. The life of a man is just like a hitchhiking，during which many times we go up and down. Now and then things will happen accidently, some of which are to be unexpected excitement，while some heart-breaking sorrows. 3. When first embraced the world，we are already on the train of life. We take it for granted that the first two persons, our parents, whom we are encountered with, will accompany us all the way.4. Sadly，things do not go on as we thought.Our parents will get off the train at a certain station，leaving us, bereft and helpless.Their love and emotion to us and their irreplaceable company can be found in nowhere.5. However，there will be somebody else who will get on the train. Some of them will have special meaning to us.6. Some of them may be our siblings , relatives and friends, and we will also expereince the imperishable love.7. Some of our travelling companions are quite light-hearted on the way.8. While some may bear immense sorrow.Still some ,back and forth, are ready to hold out their hands for others who need help.9. Some people alight off the train, yet they are still kept in the mind of the other passengers for long;some, to the opposite, leave their seats without being noticed.10. Sometimes, the one,who is dear to your heart, has huddled into another carriage. Nothing but one you can do is just to keep on going, far away from him.11. Of course, during the journey, you may stagger to another carriage to look for him.12. Its a pity that you will never seat yourself beside him because the seat has been engaged by others. 13. Never mind. The journey is full of challenges,dreams, hopes and departures- but only one thing is that you cant turn back. So, have a good journey with heart and soul.14. Show your good-will to all the passengers you are encountered with, and find the merits of theirs.15. Remeber that someone may oscillate just as we do in the journey.16. We should understand others just as we need others understanding.17. The enigma of life is：Where shall we get off the train of life?And how about the companions beside us?And our friends?We dont know.18. Sometimes I think：When my time comes to get off the train，shall I miss it？I think I will.It is a suffering when I part with my friends.I will be sorry for leaving my kids going alone.I firmly hold that when we get to the terminal，we will have another reunion.19. When my kids get on the train of life, they have only little luggage in their travelling bags. However,if I can leave the beautiful memory in them,I will be happy. 20. After getting off the train of life, I will be content if my fellow passengers will remember me and miss me.21. To you , the companions on my train of life.May you have a good journey!
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