The Effects Of Westernization

Two distinct cultures have shaped my entire life: American and Chinese. These cultures have helped me to live my life. I’ve learned to see both the differences and crossroads between these two cultures throughout my life. When I visited China, it was the first time that I saw a crossroads in culture. I was in China when I first saw shirts printed with English words. It was strange, as Chinese wouldn’t be able to understand the meaning of the English words. I didn’t know that this was one example of westernization in China and many other nations. The western culture was not just a part of the culture, fashion and language but also music, food and economics. China’s streets were full of fast food chains such as Subway, McDonald’s, Subway and KFCs. Taylor Swift was among the well-known musicians that were playing western music in stores.

Grocery shops have a section dedicated to American food in brightly packaged packages like Oreos or Twinkies. It’s amazing to think that China has had westernization for so long that some words are actually borrowed from English, like pizza, soda, or chocolate. My mother experienced westernization firsthand so I was interested in learning more. My mother said that the most significant change was moving from a communist society to a market capitalist one. This led to a greater family income and a better quality of life. When my mother was a child in China, her memories of that time are vivid. It was a time when everyone couldn’t afford to buy milk products or meat. My grandmother had a dream to be able eat chicken every month. My grandmother’s dream was realized after the economy changed. It was possible for her to purchase unnecessary goods like hamburgers, chicken fried, and french fries. This is a staple American diet. Pop culture was another major change. My mother listened only to traditional Chinese songs before Westernization. The government controlled all songs. Chinese artists started to make pop songs after westernization. My mother loved Xiao Hu Dui’s music, which resembled the Beatles. My mother noticed the last significant change was the rise of tourism from and to China.

Before the westernization, it was not possible to travel to China from any other country. Many people travel from all parts of the globe to visit China after the westization. My mother, who grew up in Beijing’s capital, witnessed the change firsthand. Beijing is home to many tourist attractions. My mother was fascinated by foreigners the first time she saw one. She was not content with this, however, and she eventually decided to move to America due to the Westernization that had occurred during that time. Merriam Webster defines westernization to be the process of a country adopting western ideals, techniques, or traditions. These countries are North America and Europe. It is up to countries to embrace westernization or not. Many people oppose westernization argue that countries will lose their traditional values and traditions by accepting it.

This is false. Although westernization can have negative consequences, countries should still allow western ideas to flow into their cultures in order culturally advance the country. This idea will be further developed by examining the westernization in China, South Korea, Japan. China’s westernization Television is one positive effect of westernization in China. Eric Fish, Asia Society writer, said that young Chinese love American TV’s themes of spontaneity (Fish) and nonconformity (Fish). The ideas and shows that are shown on American television are becoming more popular among Chinese youths. The best thing about authenticity is its appeal. This fascination is correlated with the rise in quality American television. It features complex characters and unique storytelling. Chinese TV, by contrast, is often dull and boring due to its predictable plotlines. Heroes are heroes; villains and heroes are enemies. China isn’t all a fan of western culture.

Chinese students, for example, almost unanimously declared that Western democracy is not suitable for China (Fish). This is because they have witnessed and felt the American treatment of other countries. Despite Chinese being divided or uncertain about Westernization, the numbers prove it. Kate Williams reported that China’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased 8.8 billion dollars in September 2013, according to Williams. The country’s foreign direct investment (FDI) measures the amount of foreign capital that has been invested in another country.

China is home to a huge amount of FDI. This means that many countries, especially those from the west, are investing in China’s companies and ecommerce. China’s economy has seen a rise in western investment, which has been a key factor in China’s development and export success. China has seen many positive outcomes of westernization over the past decade, including increased media variety and television and greater FDI. This has resulted in economic prosperity. China has mixed opinions about western influence. Some people have negative feelings towards American foreign policies while others appreciate the benefits of westernization. South Korea is not as mixed in their views about westernization as China. The US is seen in South Korean South Korea as a symbol modernization, urbanization, freedom and westernization. Park 59 states that many Korean women desire to leave their patriarchal Korean society and travel to America. This is indirect Americanization.

The idea of an equal society for men and women in America was not adopted by Korea, but it did spread. This is evident by the large number of Korean women who have immigrated from Korea to seek freedom from the patriarchal Korean society. This shows how American culture has been able to reach Korea. The downside to westernization is something that many people do not see or may overlook. South Korean society places a lot of stress on looks. Many young Korean girls feel pressured to look certain ways. Ryu In Kyun, a psychiatr, looked at how many Korean girls underwent plastic surgery in 2007. 52.5% were able to undergo plastic surgery while 82.1% wished to have cosmetic surgery. (Park 55). The Koreans’ obsession with American values leads them to value their culture and bodies more than they should. A major reason why college girls are having so many plastic surgeries is because they think that “western” faces look more attractive. They have darker skin tones, double eyelids, and a V-shaped nose. One way to see the effects westization has on everyday speech is through writing. Konglish refers to a cultural fusion (Rhodes) of English words such “ice cream” and “camera” into Korean. One obvious result of westernization is the incorporation English words into Korean. But it is not clear if this means that there has been a loss in native Korean culture. Konglish is a hybrid of English words and Hangul Korean language words. However, the Konglish words written in English are clearly Korean. This allows it to retain its original culture, while also using half-English terms.

South Koreans are increasingly embracing the west, and consider English language skills to be the best way to advance their careers (Park 53). English is crucial for those looking to secure competitive jobs in Korean big companies such as Samsung, Hyundai, LG and other international firms. Individuals seeking economic advancement tend to look to the west to improve their lives. Korean students prefer to study English in the United States. It is more than learning how to speak and write a foreign tongue. It is a reflection of the cultural values the language represents, which is why many Korean students have adopted western values. South Korea’s language has been westernized. However, its music is heavily influenced from western ideas. K-pop is South Korea’s biggest industry. K-pop has a lot to offer: beautiful faces, complicated dance moves, and trendy songs.

Jessica Oak, Park Young Woong and others claim that Kpop stands out from other genres because of its mix of Eastern and Western sounds (Oak and Woong). K-pop songs are often influenced by western styles, such as EDM and rap. K-pop music videos follow the western trend and focus more on the story telling than the dancing and performing. This is a style that was not as popular in older generations of kpop but it is changing slowly due to western influences. K-pop appeals to both Asians, as well as Westerners, because it combines the cultures of the two. K-pop appeals to South Koreans well with its western-infused pop music, but the opposite is true for K-pop’s popularity in North America. According to Woonjae Ryoo & Dal Yong Jin (Jin & Ryoo), many westerners perceive K-pop to be a diluted Western version of Western music. This makes Korean singers difficult to get acceptance in mainstream western pop industries. K-pop is viewed in a harsher light by westerners. They enjoy the appeal of western ideas, and in this instance, western music, but they do not accept westernized products. This is because they believe that the products are inferior. K-pop is having a difficult time reaching western audiences who aren’t already associated with K-pop. While Westerners might not accept “diluted” versions western products, Japanese people are open to western ideas. Japan’s Westernization The first is the change in Japanese diet.

Zenjiro Watanabe explains that Westernization has led to Japanese cuisine (Watanabe). This was due to the change in lifestyles that occurred after World War II. With the rise of urbanization and the advancement of women’s social status, there was a decrease in the traditional dinner table scene. This new lifestyle encouraged more individualization and simplified eating habits, leading to the growth and development of foodservices and instant meals. Japan was able to enjoy fast food thanks to westernization. However, westernization didn’t bring about all the positive changes in Japan’s diet. After 1964’s westernization of Japan, Japanese started to consume more animal fats and protein (Watanabe). Westernization is the reason for the drastic shift in Japanese diets. Japan adopted westernized ideas and customs from the 1950s to 1960s. These changes brought western foods into Japan’s diet. These trends were carried over from westerners to Japan, who promoted the importance and benefits of animal protein and milk in their diets. Fast food consumption has led to an increase on fat intake. This is another example of how a positive change could have a negative result. Westernization is visible in Japan’s fashion and clothing styles.

Yuniya Kawamura states that Western clothing was fashionable during the Taisho era (1912-1926). Japan was greatly influenced by western culture, and Japanese appreciated western “luxuries.” Wearing western clothes was an indication of a higher social class. Many workers began wearing business suits. Kimonos soon disappeared from the casual world. Some may claim that Japan has lost its traditional culture and values due to westernization. However, this is not true. The kimono is instead worn for special occasions like weddings and coming-of-age ceremonies. This makes the event more memorable and allows Japanese to retain their traditional dress. The westernization of Japan also had an impact on the education system. It had profoundly changed Japan’s educational system by creating a new compulsory school system in 1871″ (“Western Influences on Japanese Culture during The Meiji Period”).

Japan’s educational system was inspired by the European system. This system provided education that was appropriate for both men and women, as well as children. Most Japanese children could read and write by 1908 when the education system was universal. Many countries across the globe have felt the impact of westernization. The west has infiltrated the culture of Japan, South Korea, China, and South Korea with regards to their diets, fashion, pop cultures, and languages. These countries have seen a change in their lives, from mundane Chinese television shows to more humorous western TV shows. They also listen to western music and K-pop with English lyrics. In Japan, they wear business suits instead of traditional kimonos. It is clear that every action taken in a west country can have a positive or negative impact on other countries.