Ultimately, he ate a BBQ pork bun but grabbed a burger afterward.
I didn’t take his dislike personally.
After all, we have our preferences; perhaps, Asian cuisine isn’t one of his.
Verywell Mind / Stocksy
Understanding Cultural Differences
We interact with people from different cultures daily.
Due to changing social norms and increased diversity, we dont bat an eye when we see aninterracial couple.
But how do cultural differences affect these relationships?
Values and Customs
Dr. Romanoff advises recognizing where you might faceconflicting cultural values and behaviorsis important.
Cruz adds that some cultures prioritizecollectivism and family involvement, while others emphasizeindividualismand personal autonomy.
This difference in values can affect how partners navigate their responsibilities and commitments.
Smith-Kang identifies as Afro-Latina and has been married to her 1st generation Korean husband for 19 years.
They have four multicultural, multiracial, and multilingual children.
Its second nature for him, but to me, it felt unfamiliar at first.
Having him explain the significance behind it helped me understand and participate meaningfully.
She adds thatgift-givingis another area in which they differ.
However, having been together for 24 years, they dont argue about them.
Chan adds that they make foods from both their cultures throughout the year.
Strategies for Managing Culture Clash
Every couple is different with varying cultural needs.
However, there are some strategies for managing culture clash.
Smith-Kang says she and her husband use family meetings to communicate about cultural differences as openly as possible.
Create Shared Experiences
Cruz recommends engaging in shared experiences to strengthen your bond.
For instance, participating in each others cultural celebrations or cooking traditional meals together.
Both partners shouldapproach their differences with curiosity rather than judgment to create a safe space for sharing and learning.
Chan shares that her family talks about their values and how they want to live their lives.
2019;42(2):407.
