Hofstede Dimensions

João Silas

**** Disclaimer: this blog post is for a school assignment **** The vast differences of the world, and people of its multiple nations, are molded and formed throughout history to create ever-changing cultures. These cultures in turn shaped their inhabitants worldview and way of life. Culture plays a determining role for the reasons why people perform certain actions. Many aspects and attributes are not only descriptive to a culture but also cultivate it. Anthropology often focuses on trying to observe inside these unique cultures to understand them better. The many dimensions of these cultures give in-depth insight on how people of these nations operate. Iceland is a great example of a culture much different than America, whose cultural dimensions give a glimpse at the lifestyle they have established. Iceland functions in a feminine culture where many features of life are determined and heavily influenced by this foundational principle. Numerous social issues are handled much differently due to this difference in this cultural mindset. Looking at this cultural trait more in depth will not only give a better understanding of the Icelandic people and their culture, but a greater understanding of the functionality within our home culture. When examining the feminine and masculine aspects of Icelandic peoples, it is important to reference the history, what this dimension looks like within the culture, and the unique characteristics in worldview differences, as they are apparent in contrast to the American culture as well as the biblical Kingdom culture. Before a contrast can begin, it is imperative to define terms and lay a foundation of these cultural dimensions.

 There are many different ways to structure and categorize different elements within a culture. “Anthropology is the holistic study of humankind” . Attempting to study a specific culture holistically can be difficult with the numerous pieces that make it whole. A popular widely used analysis system stems from professor Geert Hofstede for this purpose. Through research, Hofstede identified five dimensions within national cultures enabling a system of easy comparison. The five dimensions include power distance, individualism and collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, long-term and short-term orientation, as well as masculinity and femininity. Each of these dimensions does not necessarily account for the individuals within the entire nation, but gives a broad overview of what fits the general population. Knowing where a culture stands within Hofstede’s scales leads to a more holistic understanding woven within each specific trait of these dimensions.

            The dimensions bring characteristics to light based on their meanings and influence within a culture. It brings forward a culture’s behavior based on the attributes associated with the dimensions. This is revealed when looking at the traits within masculine and feminine cultures. A society that has a high masculine emphasis will typically hold assertiveness, ambitious, competitive, and toughness close to their identity. Masculine cultures tend to respect strength and are primarily career focused (Tabor). A feminine culture holds very different values from its masculine counterpart. Feminine culture seeks sexual equality and is very home centered. When children socialize, there is weak gender differentiation from the beginning and nurturing behaviors are stressed. Typically within feminine cultures, both genders hold similar roles and values. Though masculine and feminine cultures include various opposites and differences within their structures, there are some underlying motivations applicable to both. It comes down to the people’s definition of success, whether that be advancing to the most desired position individually or appreciating the quality of one’s life.