Abstract
The main focus of this study is to explore the impact of western culture on young generation. For this purpose survey design was used and data were collected from randomly selected 105 people who are member of young generation that means the boys & girls of the age from16 to 25 years. These people were randomly selected from Khulna city corporation area of Bangladesh. Under this city corporation area 4 Thana has been randomly selected & from each Thana, 8 areas or localities have been randomly selected and from each area, 13 people have been randomly selected. Findings indicate that most of the people of young generation are habituated with various pattern of western culture. They are adapted with dress pattern, film and literature, family pattern, cultural festival, English language, education system, food habit, religious behavior, technology and so on. Many of the respondents don’t even know about our traditional culture and they can’t differentiate our traditional culture from western culture. This study also indicates that our education system have failed to teach the young generation about the culture and tradition of our country. And the education system is mainly western influenced. But it is a matter of hope that, many of the members of young generation still have the courage to maintain our traditional culture avoiding western culture.
From the historical perspective, Bangladeshi culture has rich literary heritage. The riverside landscape and the monsoon climate are closely related to the cultural practices of this country. It focuses the lifestyles and culture value of the indigenous people. From the earlier age, people give value and maintain social customs which are in our culture.
However, people are now following some of the western cultures beside their own one. Mostly, the young generation is very much interested on English movies, western music, dresses, foods and other things rather than Bengali culture. Now, young generation and even also middle age people are not that much conscious about Bengali culture because of the globalization. In this way, Bengali culture is now no more originated by own culture, even it is losing her own value. We should reconsider ourselves to adopt and habituate with western culture.
1.1. Statement of the Problem:
Young generation is the future of a country. Every country depends for the building of their brighter future on young generation. Bangladesh is not an exception. The young generation of Bangladesh has played very important role to face the barriers and various problems regarding our country. It is very important for government and all the general people and the senior generation to manage and observe the environment and the culture among which they are growing up and what are influencing their life. In recent time or over some decades the situation in Bangladesh of the young generation has been changed. This change mainly seen in the process of culture and culture related issues. Because, if we see the present time or can see back few years, there must be reveal a huge effect of Western and Indian culture upon the young generation of Bangladesh. Though the young generation of Bangladesh is affected by the neighbouring country India’s culture slightly, but the main effect upon them has been caused by Western culture. This effect of Western culture is both bad and good among the present generation of Bangladesh. But the main concerning topic is that the culture of young generation is changing through the impact of Western culture. We can see the effect of change in the pattern of dress, pattern of fashion, pattern of education, pattern of thinking, pattern of conversation, pattern of communication, pattern of music and other medias, pattern of job and work, pattern of moral, pattern of behavior and so on.
The globalization and the proliferation of the mass media confronted the risks of cultural uniformity with the possibilities of unprecedented cultural integration. The problem starts with the world or global culture. In this context of integrated world, similar apprehensions of loss of national culture and identity are justifiably felt by peripheral nations as this unbridled and free flow of global communication poses genuine threats to the autonomy and the viability of the cultures of weaker and economically more dependent societies, primarily indigenous third world cultures, or even to the cultures of some first world societies, whose ‘authenticity' and uniqueness were seen as perilously vulnerable to the products of Hollywood and U.S Television. For example, European Union policies designed to create ‘a trade barrier to limit American entertainment imports in the name of cultural preservation’ to reduce the effect of American culture on their young generation. (Ashraf Khan, 2009).
In order to understand the concept of national cultural identity or culture of young generation, it must be clear what is meant by “Culture”. Culture can be defined as a complete way of life of people, the shared attitude, values, goals and practices that characterize a group, their customs, art, language, literature, religion, philosophy, etc., the pattern of learned and shared behavior among the members of a group. In short culture is a way of life shared by the members of a society. This includes their ideas, beliefs, language, values, knowledge, customs and the things they make. (Ashraf Khan, 2009).
Bangladesh is a melting pot of races. She, therefore, has a mixed culture. However, her deep rooted heritage is amply reflected in her architecture, literature, dance, drama, music and painting and also in people’s lifestyle. She has own Language Bengali which boasts a rich literary heritage. (Gomes and Nafiur, 2010)
Now if we speak about Western culture, it is a wide range of culture that performed by the whole world. Now-a-days this culture is highly spreading in our country and people are paying their interest into western culture by the help of globalization. Mostly the young generations and highly aristocratic families are very much influenced by western culture which holds negative impact on our own culture. So, we have to make clear consciousness to the community for making strong cultural bond and better society. (Gomes and Nafiur, 2010)
Bangladeshi culture is influenced by three great religions- Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam in successive order, with Islam having the most pervading and lasting impact. Like a colorful montage, the cultural tradition of the country is a happy blending of many variants, unique in diversity but in essence greatly symmetrical. (Gomes and Nafiur, 2010).
On the other hand, Western culture began in Ancient Greece. Today, Western culture has at least some presence in nearly all nations of the world. It does not currently exist, however, anywhere in a perfect and complete form. Western culture currently dominates in many Western and Central European nations and several nations settled by Europeans and their descendants. Western culture also significantly exists in many Asian nations, such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore, and it is increasingly influential in India and China. Western culture currently has little meaningful presence also in Bangladesh. (Gomes and Nafiur, 2010).
1.2. Rationale of the study:
The term ‘Western Culture’ is a very familiar concept among the countries of the east side of the world specially the south Asian countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, India etc. If we focus on Bangladesh, the scenario of the familiarity of the term western culture can be easily accessed. Especially the young generation of Bangladesh is very much affected by western culture. If we observe the pattern of daily living of young boys or girls or teenagers, they are 80-90% exaggerated by the direct impact of western culture. The effects of western culture on young generation of Bangladesh are not always negative. But it is a matter of big anxiety that the young generation is adopting negative sides of western culture very much. The indigenous or traditional culture of our country is under threat. Although there is some positive sides of western culture which can be evaluated in the context of our country, but there is also necessity to focus the original picture of the impact of western culture on young generation of our country. As a member of young generation, I want to evaluate the real picture of the effects of western culture on our young generation. Through this study I want to find out the factors that led to emerge the issue. It should be addressed as a major issue in the current context of our country when our traditional cultures and norms are in front of abolition.
1.3. Objectives of the Study:
Here two types of objectives have been identified for the study:
1.3.1. Broad Objectives-
The broad objective of my study is to identify the impacts or effects of ‘Western Culture’ on young generation of Bangladesh.
1.3.2. Specific Objectives-
ü To know how western culture plays role to change the pattern of behavior of young peoples.
ü To explore the types of the major changes that have been taken place among the young generation caused by the effects of western culture.
ü To identify the attitude of young generation toward the traditional culture and western culture.
1.4. Literature Review:
Gale and Fahay (2005) concluded a study focusing on how the young generation is changing through time and generation. The change is being taken place over various generations basically in South and East Asian countries. They studied on various group of young peoples in these countries. They have focused on various issues regarding aspects of young generation mainly such as culture, habit, behaviour, norms, values, thinking, psychology etc. They tried to find out the change of their culture and psychology through the impact of various external and internal cultures. They said that, there are various effects of external cultures on young peoples of these countries. They observed that the impact of western culture on these young people and explained the effects in some negative and positive way both. They also discussed many issues such as, Youth in Asia: An overview, cultures and societies in transition: The challenges of growing up in a globalized world, Global cultural change and young people’s wellbeing, Globalization and an epidemic: The consequences of HIV/AIDS for young people, A demographic view of changing youth in Asia, Generational change and cyber politics in Asia and so on. But they focused a whole chapter on the impacts of external cultures on young people.
Gomes and Rahman (2010) discussed in a report that there is various positive and negative effects on our society by western culture. They structured a report on effects of western culture on our society that means Bangladeshi society. They also focused on the issue of young generation which is affected by western culture very much. They said in their study, now a day’s the production and consumption of cultural goods and services has become commodities, along with the essentials of social life (marriage and family life, religion work and leisure). What once was an element of the way of life becomes a product, rather than something unique men had made to suit their own needs and circumstances. In urban Bangladesh, technology of multi- channels TV began in 1991 and hence satellite broadcasting has been delivering 'lots of channels to viewers'. Cultural domination by electronic media within the society thus has eventually become a major concern of sociological inquiry. Their study is one of such effort to look at how the urban people, mostly youth has accepted and responded to their access to Western culture. They mainly emphasized on how the western culture is playing negative roles on Bangladeshi society and young generation.
Lamare (2009) elaborated in his article about cultural globalization. He also find out the way of globalization of culture of western countries specially USA which is affecting the Asian and African countries heavily. He focused on changing pattern of cultures and adopting the western culture in various Asian countries. He mainly pointed out the positive roles of western culture among Asian and South Asian countries and their societies. According to his article, while it can be true, to some extent, that the American economic and cultural attraction has won over the hearts and minds of the majorities of the young people of the western world, it cannot be said with the same certainly that it is the case in the other parts of the world. We have to consider that today millions of Africans and Asian live in absolute poverty, that fundamentalism and extremism are on the rise, that most the Asian countries are still entrenched in their traditional culture, that most of the islands of the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and the Pacific still have strong feeling about their heritage. While millions are leading a hand to mouth existence, it is hard to conceive how they can aspire to converge to a global culture while living in a different reality. The rise of the popular culture is having more impact in Western countries where paradoxically, more debates and questions are raised mainly by academics.
Dengar (1996) argued in his famous book that USA is spreading its culture toward many countries. He also focused on issues like rise of American nationalism, rise of new world, emergence of other super powers and cultural globalization etc. He discussed the way of spreading cultures of USA outside various countries especially in Asian countries. He also discussed in his book how the Asian countries especially the young peoples in these countries are adopting the cultures and patterns of American cultures. He spent a full chapter of his book regarding this issue.
1.5. Methodology:
1.5.1. Nature of the study: The study is a research paper based on explanatory or descriptive process. The study has been conducted through the use of survey design. Data has been collected through incorporating relevant items in the questionnaire and analyzed and interpreted using descriptive techniques. This paper is based on quantitative data.
1.5.2. Method of the study: The study is based on survey method and case study method.
1.5.3. Study area: The study area is selected Khulna metropolitan city of country Bangladesh. There is some procedure of emphasize on central or densely populated Thana or areas such as Shonadanga, Boyra, Khalishpur, Khulna Shodor, Botiaghata, Gollamary, Boshupara, Moilapota etc. where the population of study is easily available. Because the young peoples of centrally urban areas are mainly affected by western culture.
1.5.4. Unit of analysis: The people of young generation that means the people of the age 16 years to 25 or 28 years both boys and girls will be the unit of analysis.
1.5.5. Population of the study: All the people of 16 to 28 years of age.
1.5.6. Sampling procedure: Data has been collected from the field by using simple random sampling technique. It is a probability method of sampling.
1.5.7. Sample size determination: Multistage random sampling technique have been incorporated here:
ü Stage-1: 4 Thana has been selected randomly from Khulna District.
ü Stage-2: 8 areas or localities (2 from each Thana) have been selected randomly.
ü Stage-3:13 people have been selected randomly from each areas and the total sample will be 105. .
1.5.8. Sources of data: Data can be collected from two types of sources, they are: primary and secondary data. Here in this study, explanation is based on primary data which has been collected through field work by interview with questionnaire. There is also some help and reference of secondary data such as print media, electronic media etc.
1.5.9. Development of study instruments: The data has been collected with the help of some instruments like questionnaire papers, notebook, multimedia devices such as mobile phone etc.
1.5. 10. Field work: Field work is basically data collection which has been collected through interview schedule technique, and has been asked and filled by the interviewer in face-to-face situation with the help of specific questionnaire. Almost certainly the field work has been completed within 6 or 7 days.
1.5.11. Processing of data: Data has been computerized, analyzed and processed using various statistical techniques and software like SPSS and Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word etc.
1.5.12. Analysis and interpretation of data: Data which has been collected is presented and analyzed through software like SPSS, MS Excel etc. and with the help of output tables containing frequency, percentage etc. There is also presentation with graphs or charts.
1.5.13. Limitations of the study: There can be pointed out some limitations which have been faced to complete the study:
ü This study can’t cover up all-embracing dimensions of young people’s culture.
ü There is limitation of logistic support to, correctly, gather and interpret data.
ü There is possibility that the informants might not provide the actual data due to unconsciousness and conventional thinking.
ü There was problem of communication as the study area is limited.
ü Financial support is essential to conduct a comprehensive study, and as a student I don’t have that ability to conduct the study in large scale.
ü There is problem of experience as I am not much experienced in research.
2.1. What is meant by western culture:
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, is a term used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and technologies. The term has come to apply to countries whose history is strongly marked by European immigration or settlement, such as the Americas, and Australasia, and is not restricted to Western Europe.
Western culture stems from two sources: the Classical Period of the Greco-Roman era and the influence of Christianity. The artistic, philosophic, literary, and legal themes and traditions; the heritages of especially Latin, Celtic, Germanic, and Hellenic ethnic or linguistic groups; as well as a tradition of rationalism in various spheres of life, developed by Hellenistic philosophy, Scholasticism, Humanisms, the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment; and including, in political thought, widespread rational arguments in favour of free thought, human rights, equality and democracy.
Historical records of western culture in its European geographical range begin with Ancient Greece, and then Ancient Rome, Christianization during the European Middle Ages, and reform and modernization starting by Renaissance, and globalized by successive European empires that spread the European ways of life and education between the sixteenth and twentieth centuries. European Culture developed with a complex range of philosophy, medieval scholasticism and mysticism, Christian and secular humanism. Rational thinking developed through a long age of change and formation with the experiments of enlightenment, naturalism, romanticism, science, democracy, and socialism. With its global connection, European culture grew with an all-inclusive urge to adopt, adapt, and ultimately influence other trends of culture.
Some tendencies that have come to define modern Western societies are the existence of political pluralism, prominent subcultures or countercultures (such as New Age movements), and increasing cultural syncretism resulting from globalization and human migration. (Morena, 2008)[1]
2.1.1. Terminology:
The Greeks contrasted themselves to their Eastern neighbors, such as the Trojans in Iliad, setting an example for later contrasts between east and west. In the middle Ages, Islam in the Near East provided a contrast to the West though it had been Hellenized since the time of Alexander the Great, and had been ruled by Rome and Constantinople and part of "Christendom".
In the later 20th to early 21st century, with the advent of increasing globalism, it has become more difficult to determine which individuals fit into which category, and the East–West contrast is sometimes criticized as relativistic and arbitrary.
Globalism has, especially since the end of the cold war, spread western ideas so widely that almost all modern countries or cultures are to some extent influenced by aspects of western culture which they have absorbed. Recent stereotyped Western views of "the West" have been labeled Occidentalism, paralleling Orientalism, the term for the 19th century stereotyped views of "the East".
Geographically, "The West" today would normally be said to include Western Europe as well as certain territories belonging to the Anglosphere, the Hispanidad, the Lusofonia or the Francophonie. (Morena, 2008)[1]
2.1.2. Cultural forms:
Some cultural and artistic modalities are characteristically Western in origin and form. While dance, music, visual art, story-telling, and architecture are human universals, they are expressed in the West in certain characteristic ways.
In Western dance, music, plays and other arts, the performers are only very infrequently masked. There are essentially no taboos against depicting God, or other religious figures, in a representational fashion. (Tomlinson, 2003)[9]
2.1.3. Music:
The symphony, concerto, sonata, opera and oratorio have their origins in Italy. Many important musical instruments used by cultures all over the world were also developed in the West; among them are the violin, piano, pipe organ, saxophone, trombone, clarinet, and the Theremin. The solo piano, symphony orchestra and the string quartet are also important performing musical forms.
Historically, the main forms of western music are European folk, choral, classical, country, rock and roll, hip-hop, and electronica.
Many forms of popular music have been derived from African-Americans, and their innovations of jazz and blues serve as the basis from which much of modern popular music was derived. Folklore and music during 20th and 19th centuries, initially by themselves, but later played and further developed together with White & Black Americans, British people, and Westerners in general. These include jazz, blues and rock music (that in a wider sense include the rock and roll and heavy metal genres), rhythm and blues, funk, Hip-Hop, techno as well as the ska and reggae genres from Jamaica. Several other related or derived styles were developed and introduced by western pop culture such as pop, metal and dance music.
Other well-known Western musical genres include the music played by Mexican mariachis, the Argentine and Uruguayan tango, North American jazz and Brazilian bossa nova. (Tomlinson, 2003)[9]
2.1.4. Painting and photography:
Jan van Eyck among other renaissance painters made great advances in oil painting, and perspective drawings and paintings had their earliest practitioners in Florence. In art, the Celtic knot is a very distinctive Western repeated motif. Depictions of the nude human male and female in photography, painting and sculpture are frequently considered to have special artistic merit. Realistic portraiture is especially valued.
Photography and the motion picture as a technology and as the basis for entirely new art forms were also developed first in the West. (Wikipedia, 2012)[11]
2.1.5. Dance and performing arts:
The ballet is a distinctively Western form of performance dance. The ballroom dance is an important Western variety of dance for the elite. The polka, the square dance, and the Irish step dance are very well known Western forms of folk dance.
The soap opera, a popular culture dramatic form originated in the United States first on radio in the 1930s, then a couple of decades later on television. The music video was also developed in the West in the middle of the twentieth century. (Wikipedia, 2012)[11]
2.1.6. Literature:
While epic literary works in verse such as the Mahabarata and Homer's Iliad are ancient and occurred worldwide, the novel as a distinct form of storytelling only arose in the West in the period 1200 to 1750. (Wikipedia, 2012)[11]
2.2. What is meant by Bangladeshi or our traditional culture:
Bangladesh has a long history in its culture. The land, the rivers, and the lives of the Bengali people formed a rich heritage with marked differences from neighbouring regions. It has evolved over the centuries and encompasses the cultural diversity of several social groups of Bangladesh. The Bengal Renaissance of the 19th and early 20th centuries noted Bengali writers, saints, authors, scientists, researchers, thinkers, music composers, painters and film-makers have played a significant role in the development of Bengali culture. The Bengal Renaissance contained the seeds of a nascent political Indian nationalism and was the precursor in many ways to modern Indian artistic and cultural expression. The culture of Bangladesh is composite and over the centuries has assimilated influences of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. It is manifested in various forms, including music, dance and drama; art and craft; folklore and folktale; languages and literature, philosophy and religion; festivals and celebrations, as also in a distinct cuisine and culinary tradition. (Banglapedia, 2011)[14]
2.2.1. Music, dance, drama and film:
The music and dance styles of Bangladesh may be divided into three categories: classical, folk and modern. The classical style has been influenced by other prevalent classical forms of music and dances of the Indian subcontinent, and accordingly show some influenced dance forms like Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi. The folk and tribal music and dance forms of Bangladesh are of indigenous origin and rooted to the soil of Bangladesh. Several dancing styles in vogue in the north-eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, like monipuri and santal dances, are also practiced in Bangladesh, but Bangladesh has developed its own distinct dancing styles. Bangladesh has a rich tradition of folk songs, with lyrics rooted into vibrant tradition and spirituality, mysticism and devotion. Such folk songs also revolve round several other themes, including love themes. Most prevalent of folk songs and music traditions include Bhatiali, Baul, Marfati, Murshidi and Bhawaiya. Lyricists like Lalon Shah, Hason Raja, Kangal Harinath, Romesh Shill, Abbas Uddin and many unknown anonymous lyrists have enriched the tradition of folk songs of Bangladesh. In relatively modern context, Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul geeti form precious cultural heritage of Bangladesh. In recent time, western influences have given rise to several quality rock bands, particularly in urban centers like Dhaka. Several musical instruments, some of them of indigenous origin, are used in Bangladesh, and major musical instruments used are the bamboo flute (banshi), drums (dhol), a single stringed instrument named ektara, a four stringed instrument called dotara, a pair of metal bawls used for rhythm effect called mandira, are important in the culture of Bangladesh. Currently, several musical instruments of western origin like guitars, drums, and the saxophone are also used, sometimes alongside with traditional instruments. (Banglapedia, 2011)[14]
2.2.2. Festivals and celebrations:
Festivals and celebrations are an integral part of the culture of Bangladesh. Prominent and widely celebrated festivals are Pohela Boishakh, Independence day, National Mourning Day, Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha, Muharram, Durga puja, and Language Movement Day.
2.2.2.1. Eid ul-Fitr:
As the most important religious festival for the majority of Muslims, the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr has become a part of the culture of Bangladesh. The government of Bangladesh declares the holiday for three days on Eid-ul Fitr. People living in towns have their families or parents in villages go to their country homes to meet relatives and celebrate the festival together. All outgoing public transport from the major cities has become highly crowded and in many cases the fares tend to rise in spite of government restrictions.
Males from around the Barashalghar union of Comilla's Debidwar upazila can be seen attending Khutbah as part of the Eid-ul Fitr prayers on November 7, 2011.On Eid day, the Eid prayer are held all over the country, in open areas like fields or inside mosques. In Dhaka, the largest Eid prayer is held at the national Eidgah. All major mosques including the Baitul Mukarram also holds prayers. The biggest congregation of Bangladesh is held at Sholakia in Kishoreganj, where about half a million people join the Eid prayer. After the Eid prayers, people return home, visit each other's home and eat sweet dishes called shirni. Throughout the day gentlemen embrace each other. It is also customary for junior members of the society to touch the feet of the seniors, and seniors returning blessings (sometimes with a small sum of money as a gift). In the rural areas, the Eid festival is observed with great fanfare. In some areas Eid fares are arranged. Different types of games including boat racing, kabaddi, and other traditional Bangladeshi games as well as modern games like cricket and football are played on this occasion. In urban areas, people play music, visit each other's houses and eat special food. Watching movies and television programs has also become an integral part of the Eid celebration in urban areas. All local TV channels air special program for several days for this occasion. (Samuel, 2009)[5]
2.2.2.2. Eid ul-Ajha:
The celebration of Eid ul-Ajha is similar to Eid ul-Fitr in many ways. The only big difference is the Qurbani or sacrifice of domestic animals on Eid ul-Ajha. Numerous temporary marketplaces of different sizes called haat operate in the big cities for sale of Qurbani animals (usually cows and goats). In the morning on the Eid day, immediately after the prayer, affluent people slaughter their animal of choice. Less affluent people also take part in the festivity by visiting houses of the affluent who are taking part in qurbani. After the qurbani, a large portion of the meat is given to the poor people. Although the religious doctrine allows the sacrifice anytime over a period of three days starting from the Eid day, most people prefer to perform the ritual on the first day of Eid. However, the public holiday spans over three to four days. Many people from the big cities go to their ancestral houses and homes in the villages to share the joy of the festival with friends and relatives. (Samuel, 2009)[5]
2.2.2.3. Pohela Boishakh:
Pôhela Boishakh is the first day of the Bangla Calendar. It is usually celebrated on the 14th of April. Pohela Boishakh marks the start day of the crop season. Usually on Pôhela Boishakh, the home is thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned; people bathe early in the morning and dress in fine clothes. They spend much of the day visiting relatives, friends, and neighbours and going to the fair. Fairs are arranged in many parts of the country where various agricultural products, traditional handicrafts, toys, cosmetics, as well as various kinds of food and sweets are sold. The fairs also provide entertainment, with singers, dancers and traditional plays and songs. Horse races, bull races, bullfights, cockfights, flying pigeons, and boat racing were once popular. All gatherings and fairs consist a wide spread of Bengali food and sweets. The most colourful New Year's Day festival takes place in Dhaka. Large numbers of people gather early in the morning under the banyan tree at Ramna Park where Chhayanat artists open the day with Rabindranath Tagore's famous song, Esho, he Boishakh, Esho esho (Come, year, come, come). A similar ceremony welcoming the New Year is also held at the Institute of Fine Arts (Dhaka) and University of Dhaka. Students and teachers of the institute take out a colourful procession and parade to round the campus. Social and cultural organizations celebrate the day with cultural programs. Newspapers bring out special supplements. There are also special programs on radio and television. Prior to this day, special discounts on clothes, furniture, electronics and various deals and shopping discounts are available. Special line of sarees, usually cotton, white sarees with red print and embroidery is sold before this day as everyone dresses up for this day. Jasmine flowers are also a huge sale for this event which adorns the women's hair. (Samuel, 2009)[5]
2.2.3. Language Movement Day:
Language Movement Day is a unique part of the culture of Bangladesh. Every year on February 21 this day is observed to pay tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives to establish Bengali as the official language of then East Pakistan in 1952. The mood of the day is sad and humble. The celebration of Language Movement Day goes on the entire month of February. Ekushey Book Fair is a book fair arranged to mark this occasion every year. The fair has also become an integral part of the culture of Bangladesh. Authors and readers in Bangladesh eagerly await the fair each year. To commemorate this movement, Shaheed Minar, a solemn and symbolic sculpture, was erected in the place of the massacre. Today the Shaheed Minar is the center of cultural activities in Dhaka. On the morning of February 21 each year, people from all walks of life including the national leaders pay tribute to the martyrs by leaving flowers at Shaheed Minar. A very melodious and melancholy song, Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano, written by Abdul Gaffar Choudhury and composed by Altaf Mahmud, is played repeatedly in electronic media and cultural gatherings throughout the month, and especially on February 21. This song, too, has become a symbolic mark of culture of Bangladesh. (Samuel, 2009)[5]
2.2.4. Weddings:
A traditional wedding is arranged by Ghotoks (matchmakers), who are typically friends or relatives of the couple. The matchmakers facilitate the introduction, and also help agree the amount of any settlement. Bengali weddings are traditionally in five parts: first it is the bride and groom's Mehendi Shondha, the bride's Gaye Holud, the groom's Gaye Holud, the Beeya, and the Bou Bhaat. These often take place on separate days. The first event in a wedding is an informal one: the groom presents the bride with a ring marking the "engagement" which is gaining popularity. For the mehendi shondha the bride's side apply henna to each other as well as the bride for the bride's Gaye Holud, the groom's family - except the groom himself, go in procession to the bride's home. Bride's friends and family apply turmeric paste to her body as a part of Gaye Holud, and they are traditionally all in matching clothes, mostly orange in colour. The bride is seated on a dais, and the henna is used to decorate the bride's hands and feet with elaborate abstract designs. The sweets are then fed to the bride by all involved, piece by piece. The actual wedding ceremony "Biye" follows the Gaye Holud ceremonies. The wedding ceremony is arranged by the bride's family. On the day, the younger members of the bride's family barricade the entrance to the venue, and demand a sort of admission charge from the groom in return for allowing him to enter. The bride and groom are seated separately, and a Kazi (authorized person by the govt. to perform the wedding), accompanied by the parents and a Wakil (witness) from each side formally asks the bride for her consent to the union, and then the groom for his. The bride's side of the family tries to play some kind of practical joke on the groom such as stealing the groom's shoe. The reception, also known as Bou-Bhaat (reception), is a party given by the groom's family in return for the wedding party. It is typically a much more relaxed affair, with only the second-best wedding outfit being worn. (Banglapedia, 2011)[14]
2.5. Theoretical framework:
Here, with this topic, two renowned theories regarding culture can be correlated. They are: Acculturation theory and Cultural lag theory.
2.5.1. Acculturation theory:
Acculturation is a process through which a group or community adopt a new culture or cultures which is different from their own. In Bangladesh, this topic is a good example of acculturation. Not only young people but also most of the people of our country is adopting western culture as a process of acculturation.
Acculturation theory explains the process of cultural and psychological change that results following meeting between cultures. The effects of acculturation can be seen at multiple levels in both interacting cultures. At the group level, acculturation often results in changes to culture, customs, and social institutions. Noticeable group level effects of acculturation often include changes in food, clothing, and language. At the individual level, differences in the way individuals acculturate have been shown to be associated not just with changes in daily behavior, but with numerous measures of psychological and physical well-being. As enculturation is used to describe the process of first-culture learning, acculturation can be thought of as second-culture learning.
The concept of acculturation has been studied scientifically since 1918. As it has been approached at different times from the fields of psychology, anthropology, and sociology, numerous theories and definitions have emerged to describe elements of the acculturative process. Despite definitions and evidence that acculturation entails a two-way process of change, research and theory have primarily focused on the adjustments and adaptations made by minorities such as immigrants, refugees, and indigenous peoples in response to their contact with the dominant majority. Contemporary research has primarily focused on different strategies of acculturation and how variations in acculturation affect how well individuals adapt to their society. (Microsoft Encarta, 2009)[12]
2.5.1.1. Historical approaches:
The earliest recorded thoughts towards acculturation can be found in Sumerian inscriptions from 2370 B.C. These inscriptions laid out rules for commerce and interaction with foreigners designed to limit acculturation and protect traditional cultural practices. Plato also said that acculturation should be avoided as he thought it would lead to social disorder. Accordingly, he proposed that no one should travel abroad until they are at least 40 years of age, and that travellers should be restricted to the ports of cities to minimize contact with native citizens. Nevertheless, the history of Western civilization, and in particular the histories of Europe and the United States, are largely defined by patterns of acculturation.
J.W. Powell is credited with coining the word "acculturation" in 1880, defining it as "the psychological changes induced by cross-cultural imitation." The first psychological theory of acculturation was proposed in W.I. Thomas and Florian Znaniecki's 1918 study, "The Polish Peasant in Europe and America." From studying Polish immigrants in Chicago, they illustrated three forms of acculturation corresponding to three personality types: Bohemian (adopting the host culture and abandoning their culture of origin), Philistine (failing to adopt the host culture but preserving their culture of origin), and Creative-Type (able to adapt to the host culture while preserving their culture of origin). In 1936, Redfield, Linton, & Herskovits provided the first widely used definition of acculturation as "those phenomena which result when groups of individuals having different cultures come into continuous first-hand contact, with subsequent changes in the original cultural patterns of either or both groups…under this definition acculturation is to be distinguished from…assimilation, which is at times a phase of acculturation. Since then scholars in different disciplines have developed more than 100 different theories of acculturation. (Microsoft Encarta, 2009)[12]
2.5.1.3. Fourfold Model:
Meta-analyses of research on acculturation have shown pronounced disagreement in the categorization of different strategies of acculturation. However, the majority of these models have divided the ways in which individuals approach acculturation into four categories.
The fourfold model categorizes acculturation strategies along two dimensions. The first dimension concerns the retention or rejection of an individual's minority or native culture (i.e. "Is it considered to be of value to maintain one's identity and characteristics?"). The second dimension concerns the adoption or rejection of the dominant group or host culture (i.e. "Is it considered to be of value to maintain relationships with the larger society?") From this, four acculturation strategies emerge.
1.Assimilation – Assimilation occurs when individuals reject their minority culture and adopt the cultural norms of the dominant or host culture.
2.Separation – Separation occurs when individuals reject the dominant or host culture in favor of preserving their culture of origin. Separation is often facilitated by immigration to ethnic enclaves.
3.Integration – Integration occurs when individuals are able to adopt the cultural norms of the dominant or host culture while maintaining their culture of origin. Integration leads to, and is often synonymous with biculturalism.
4.Marginalization – Marginalization occurs when individuals reject both their culture of origin and the dominant host culture. (Microsoft Encarta, 2009)[12]
2.5.2. Cultural lag theory:
Cultural lag means the backwardness or remaining behind of a culture than any advanced or superior culture. This topic, impact of western culture of young generation, can be related with this theory. Young people of our country are adopting western culture. Behind this fact there is a fact that our culture is lag behind from western culture in many aspects especially according to the view of young generation. So, many of them are adopting it.
The term cultural lag refers to the notion that culture takes time to catch up with technological innovations, and that social problems and conflicts are caused by this lag. Subsequently, cultural lag does not only apply to this idea only, but also relates to theory and explanation. It helps by identifying and explaining social problems and also to predict future problems.
As explained by James W. Woodward, when the material conditions change, changes are occasioned in the adaptive culture, but these changes in the adaptive culture do not synchronize exactly with the change in the material culture, this delay is the culture lag. The term was coined by sociologist William F. Ogburn in his 1922 work Social change with respect to culture and original nature. His theory of cultural lag suggests that a period of maladjustment occurs when the non-material culture is struggling to adapt to new material conditions. This resonates with ideas of technological determinism, in that it presupposes that technology has independent effects on society at large.
According to Ogburn, cultural lag is a common societal phenomenon due to the tendency of material culture to evolve and change rapidly and voluminously while non-material culture tends to resist change and remain fixed for a far longer period of time. Due to the opposing nature of these two aspects of culture, adaptation of new technology becomes rather difficult. This distinction between material and non-material culture is also a contribution of Ogburn's 1922 work on social change.
Cultural lag creates problems for a society in a multitude of ways. The issue of cultural lag tends to permeate any discussion in which the implementation of some new technology is a topic. For example, the advent of stem cell research has given rise to many new, potentially beneficial medical technologies; however these new technologies have also raised serious ethical questions about the use of stem cells in medicine. Cultural lag is seen as a critical ethical issue because failure to develop broad social consensus on appropriate applications of modern technology may lead to breakdowns in social solidarity and the rise of social conflict. (Microsoft Encarta, 2009)[13]
3.1. Personal factors of respondents:
In this point some personal factors or information about respondents are discussed.
3.1.1. Gender Identity of the Respondents:
It was found that among the respondents 56 people was male and 49 people was female. It is positive that female respondents were larger in number than most other issues.
Table 1.1. Percentage distribution of gender Identity of the Respondents
Sex | Number of respondents | Percent |
Male | 56 | 53.3 |
Female | 49 | 46.7 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.1.2. Age of the Respondents:
Most of the respondents were 20-22 years old. This level of age represents larger portion of young generation. 24.8 percent of the respondents’ is 18-2- years old, 47.6 percent 20-22 years old and 21 percent is 22-24 years old.
Table 1.2. Percentage distribution of age of the Respondents
Age level | Number of respondents | Percent |
16-18 | 4 | 3.8 |
18-20 | 26 | 24.8 |
20-22 | 50 | 47.6 |
22-24 | 22 | 21.0 |
24-26 | 1 | 1.0 |
26-28 | 2 | 1.9 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.1.3. Education status of the respondents:
Here, education status of the respondents is shown. Most of the respondents’, 61.9 percent educational status is graduation level. Beside this, there are also respondents of HSC and SSC level.
Table 1.3. Percentage distribution of education status of the respondents
Educational status | Number of respondents | Percent |
Secondary level | 8 | 7.6 |
Higher Secondary level | 32 | 30.5 |
Graduation level | 65 | 61.9 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.2. Impact on language of western culture:
Here, shown various criteria which analyze various impact of western culture on language and use of language of young generation. It indicates that the overall language pattern of our country is western influenced and young generation is also influenced by it.
3.2.1. Preferable language of respondents:
Though the overall language pattern is western influenced but most of the members of young generation preferred Bengali to use and adopt than English as language. 92.4 percent preferred Bengali and 7.6 percent preferred English.
Table 1.4. Percentage distribution of preferable language of respondents
Preferred language | Number of respondents | Percent |
Bengali | 97 | 92.4 |
English | 8 | 7.6 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.2.2. Agreement level of the respondents regarding the usefulness of English language:
Here, the table shows how respondents agree that whether English language is useful and badly in need for our country’s education and other aspects. 26.7 percent agreed, 27.6 percent partially agreed and 29.5 percent disagreed about it.
Table 1.5. Percentage distribution of agreement level of the respondents regarding the usefulness of English language
Agreement level | Number of respondents | Percent |
Agree | 28 | 26.7 |
Strongly agree | 8 | 7.6 |
Partially agree | 29 | 27.6 |
Disagree | 31 | 29.5 |
Strongly disagree | 7 | 6.7 |
No comment | 2 | 1.9 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.2.3. Agreement level of the respondents regarding whether English language is playing negative role to our indigenous culture:
Here, in this table it shows how the respondents agree that English language is playing negative role to our indigenous culture. 22.9 percent agreed, 21 percent partially agreed and 33.3 percent disagreed about it.
Table 1.6. Percentage distribution of agreement level of the respondents regarding whether English language is playing negative role to our indigenous culture
Agreement level | Number of respondents | Percent |
Agree | 24 | 22.9 |
Strongly agree | 10 | 9.5 |
Partially agree | 22 | 21.0 |
Disagree | 35 | 33.3 |
Strongly disagree | 9 | 8.6 |
No comment | 5 | 4.8 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.3. Impact on education of western culture:
In this point the impact of western culture on education and education system of young generation can be analyzed.
3.3.1. Medium of reading of the respondents:
It is seen from table below that almost half of the respondents is reading currently or have read in English medium of education. It can be said that the rate of reading in English medium is increasing. And students also feeling comfortable to read in English medium. 56.2 percent of the respondents read in English medium and 43.8 percent in Bengali.
Table 1.7. Percentage distribution of medium of reading of the respondents
Medium of reading | Number of respondents | Percent |
Bengali | 59 | 56.2 |
English | 46 | 43.8 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.3.2. Type of curriculum of education of the respondents:
Here shown the type of curriculum in which the respondents reading or have read. Here some of the respondents didn’t give answers because they didn’t clearly know about the type of their curriculum. 74.3 percent of the respondents’ studied under western influenced curriculum and 12.4 percent traditional curriculum.
Table 1.8. Percentage distribution of type of curriculum of education of the respondents
Type of curriculum | Number of respondents | Percent |
Traditional | 13 | 12.4 |
Western influenced | 78 | 74.3 |
No answer | 14 | 13.3 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.3.3. Agreement level of the respondents regarding whether the education system should be Western type:
Here, the way of agreement of young generation has been shown that the education system should be western type or not. 24.8 percent agreed, 11.4 percent strongly agreed, 24.8 percent partially agreed and 26.7 percent disagreed about it.
Table 1.9. Percentage distribution of agreement level of the respondents regarding whether the education system should be Western type
Agreement level | Number of respondents | Percent |
Agree | 26 | 24.8 |
Strongly agree | 12 | 11.4 |
Partially agree | 26 | 24.8 |
Disagree | 28 | 26.7 |
Strongly disagree | 5 | 4.8 |
No comment | 8 | 7.6 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.4. Attitude toward traditional culture:
In this point of view it can possible to analyze the attitude and thinking of young generation toward our traditional and indigenous culture and their knowing level about it.
3.4.1. Level of knowing about traditional culture from education system:
In this table it is shown that the respondents who are member of young generation learnt or became able to know partially or something about our traditional culture. Some respondents, 12.4 percent, answered that they have fully learnt, but their number was very few. And most of the respondents’, 67.6 percent answered that they have learned something about traditional culture.
Table 1.10. Percentage distribution of level of knowing about traditional culture from education system
Level of knowing | Number of respondents | Percent |
Fully learnt | 13 | 12.4 |
Something learnt | 71 | 67.6 |
Very little learnt | 12 | 11.4 |
Nothing learnt | 9 | 8.6 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.4.2. Identifying traditional culture from western culture:
Here, in this table, it can be find out how the respondents differentiated traditional culture from western culture. Most of the respondents differentiated successfully. But some of the respondents can’t differentiate them; they are very little in number. About 20 percent respondents’ differentiated by social customs, 17.1 percent by dress pattern, lifestyle & social customs and 25.7 percent by food habit, film & literature, family pattern, social customs, dress pattern.
Table 1.11. Percentage distribution of identifying traditional culture from western culture
Way of identifying | Number of respondents | Percent |
No answer | 5 | 4.8 |
By dress pattern | 9 | 8.6 |
By food habit | 1 | 1.0 |
By film & literature | 3 | 2.9 |
By social customs | 21 | 20.0 |
By life style | 21 | 20.0 |
By dress pattern, lifestyle & social customs | 18 | 17.1 |
By food habit, film & literature, family pattern, social customs, dress pattern | 27 | 25.7 |
(Source: field survey)
3.4.3. Agreement level of the respondents of supporting the traditional living pattern & life style of our country:
In this point, it has been found how the respondents are supporting the traditional living pattern & life style of our country or either they oppose it. It is a matter to be optimistic that most of the respondents’ are supporting the traditional living pattern & life style of our country; they don’t want to see it like western culture. 52.4 percent agreed, 11.4 percent strongly agreed, 15.2 percent partially agreed and 14.3 percent disagreed about it.
Table 1.12. Percentage distribution of agreement level of the respondents of supporting the traditional living pattern & life style of our country
Agreement level | Number of respondents | Percent |
No answer | 1 | 1.0 |
Agree | 55 | 52.4 |
Strongly agree | 12 | 11.4 |
Partially agree | 16 | 15.2 |
Disagree | 15 | 14.3 |
Strongly disagree | 5 | 4.8 |
No comment | 1 | 1.0 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.4.4. Agreement level of the respondents’ thinking that the overall culture & tradition of our country is appropriate for present time:
Many respondents think that the overall culture & tradition of our country is capable to cope with the present world. But also a large number of respondents think that it is not appropriate. It should be changed or should be modernized. 34.3 percent agreed, 24.8 percent partially agreed and 21.9 percent disagreed and 12.4 percent strongly disagreed about it.
Table 1.13. Percentage distribution of agreement level of the respondents’ thinking that the overall culture & tradition of our country is appropriate for present time
Level of agreement | Number of respondents | Percent |
Agree | 36 | 34.3 |
Strongly agree | 4 | 3.8 |
Partially agree | 26 | 24.8 |
Disagree | 23 | 21.9 |
Strongly disagree | 13 | 12.4 |
No comment | 3 | 2.9 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.4.5. Agreement level of the respondents supporting that the overall culture & tradition of our country should be like western culture:
Most of the respondents think that the overall culture & tradition of our country should not be like western culture. Some respondents agreed partially that it should be like western culture. And a little number of respondents’ agreed that it should be like western culture. 8.6 percent agreed, 14.3 percent partially agreed and 27.6 percent disagreed, 11.4 percent strongly disagreed and 33.3 percent didn’t comment about it.
Table 1.14. Percentage distribution of agreement level of the respondents supporting that the overall culture & tradition of our country should be like western culture
Level of agreement | Number of respondents | Percent |
No answer | 1 | 1.0 |
Agree | 9 | 8.6 |
Strongly agree | 4 | 3.8 |
Partially agree | 15 | 14.3 |
Disagree | 29 | 27.6 |
Strongly disagree | 12 | 11.4 |
No comment | 35 | 33.3 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.5. Impact on food habit:
One of the most notable factors of impact of western culture is on food habit. Today, many of the members of young generation is habituated with food items which are like western food. But from these tables it is also can be said that many young people still prefer traditional foods than fast foods.
3.5.1. Type of food mainly preferred by respondents:
From this table it is seen the food type preferred by respondents. Here, as it can be seen, most of the respondents like homemade food items which is mainly traditional food items. 19.0 percent of the respondents’ preferred fast food, 15.2 percent preferred local food and 53.3 percent homemade food items.
Table 1.15. Percentage distribution of type of food mainly preferred by respondents
Type of food | Number of respondents | Percent |
Local food items | 16 | 15.2 |
Fast food items | 20 | 19.0 |
Traditional food items | 13 | 12.4 |
Homemade food items | 56 | 53.3 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.5.2. Agreement level of the respondents regarding the issue traditional food items are abolishing because of fast food items:
In this table it is shown how respondents agree that issue traditional food items are abolishing because of fast food items. 53.3 percent agreed, 21.0 percent strongly agreed, 17.1 percent partially agreed and 3.8 percent disagreed about it.
Table 1.16. Percentage distribution of agreement level of the respondents regarding the issue traditional food items are abolishing because of fast food items
Agreement level | Number of respondents | Percent |
Agree | 56 | 53.3 |
Strongly agree | 22 | 21.0 |
Partially agree | 18 | 17.1 |
Disagree | 4 | 3.8 |
Strongly disagree | 2 | 1.9 |
No comment | 3 | 2.9 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.6. Impact on dress pattern:
Another important issue of impact of western culture on young generation is impact on dress pattern. From these tables it can be said that, most of the members of young generation is habituated highly with western type of dresses. Though they use western type dresses, but many of them don’t prefer western dress over traditional dress.
3.6.1. Type of dress mainly preferred by respondents:
Here, in this table, types of dresses are shown which respondents like to wear generally. Among male respondents, 26.7 percent preferred shirt-pant, 26.7 percent preferred T shirt-pant and among female respondents 31.4 percent preferred salwar kamiz, 5.7 percent preferred sari and 2.9 percent preferred tops-skirt.
Table 1.17. Percentage distribution of type of dress mainly preferred by respondents
Type of dress | Number of respondents | Percent |
Shirt-Pant | 28 | 26.7 |
Panjabi-Pant/Pajama | 6 | 5.7 |
T shirt-Pant | 28 | 26.7 |
Fotua-Lungi | 1 | 1.0 |
Sari | 6 | 5.7 |
Salwar Kamiz | 33 | 31.4 |
Tops-Skirt | 3 | 2.9 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.6.2. Agreement level of the respondents’ preferring western dress over traditional dress:
In this table it is shown how respondents preferred western dress over traditional dress. Most of the respondents, however, preferred traditional dress over western dress. But there is a little doubts that many respondents know that t-shirt, pant, skirt etc. are our traditional dresses. 25.7 percent agreed, 17.1 percent partially agreed, 29.5 percent disagreed, 16.2 percent strongly disagreed and 8.6 percent didn’t comment about it.
Table 1.18. Percentage distribution of agreement level of the respondents’ preferring western dress over traditional dress
Agreement level | Number of respondents | Percent |
Agree | 27 | 25.7 |
Strongly agree | 3 | 2.9 |
Partially agree | 18 | 17.1 |
Disagree | 31 | 29.5 |
Strongly disagree | 17 | 16.2 |
No comment | 9 | 8.6 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.6.3. Agreement level of the respondents regarding the issue of replacing the traditional dress pattern by western one:
Here, shown how respondents agree/disagree regarding the issue of replacing the traditional dress pattern by western. Most of them think that our traditional dress pattern is replacing by western dress pattern in our country. Though many of them don’t have a clear idea about our traditional dress pattern. 66.7 percent agreed, 19.0 percent strongly disagreed and 12.4 percent partially agreed, about it.
Table 1.19. Percentage distribution of agreement level of the respondents regarding the issue of replacing the traditional dress pattern by western one
Agreement level | Number of respondents | Percent |
Agree | 70 | 66.7 |
Strongly agree | 20 | 19.0 |
Partially agree | 13 | 12.4 |
Strongly disagree | 1 | 1.0 |
No comment | 1 | 1.0 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.7. Impact on family:
Impact on family and family pattern of western culture in our country is also prominent. Since last few decades, the family pattern of our country is changing to nuclear family type from extended. And nuclear family pattern is basically western culture. This type of change in family pattern is also placing impact on young generation.
3.7.1. Type of family of the respondents:
In this table it is shown the family pattern of respondents in which they are living. It is seen that most of the respondents’ family is nuclear family. Very few respondents answered that their family is joint or extended. 83.8 percent of the respondents live in nuclear family and 16.2 percent live in joint family.
Table 1.20. Percentage distribution of type of family of the respondents
Family type | Number of respondents | Percent |
Nuclear | 88 | 83.8 |
Joint | 17 | 16.2 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.7.2. Knowing of the respondents that nuclear family pattern is basically western culture:
In this table the respondents answered whether they know or don’t know that nuclear family pattern is basically western culture. It is seen that most of the respondents know that nuclear family is western culture. 85.7 percent of the respondents’ know that nuclear family pattern is western culture and 14.3 percent don’t know it.
Table 1.21. Percentage distribution of knowing of the respondents that nuclear family pattern is basically western culture
Answer | Number of respondents | Percent |
Yes | 90 | 85.7 |
No | 15 | 14.3 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.7.3. Type of family preferred by the respondents:
Here, respondents preferred which type of family they like to live in. Most of the respondents like to live in nuclear family rather joint family, which is a direct impact of western culture. Because, our traditional culture is joint family. 72.4 percent of the respondents’ preferred nuclear family and 27.6 percent preferred joint family.
Table 1.22. Percentage distribution of type of family preferred by the respondents
Type of family preferred | Number of respondents | Percent |
Nuclear | 76 | 72.4 |
Joint | 29 | 27.6 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.7.4. How their parents look after them:
From this table, it can be scrutinized how the parents of the respondents look after them. It can be said that most of the parents look after their children with proper love and affection. Though nuclear family pattern comes from western culture, till now in our country parents behavior are not like western culture. As a result, young generation of our country still not fully westernized. However, some respondents answered about the behavior of their parents leads to western type parents’ befaviour, but they are very few in number. And their also found little cases that their parents are very rigid about them like our tradition and old times, but most of the answers says that, their parents are very relaxed about them as a result of modernization and westernization. 50.5 percent of the respondents’ said that their parents look after them with proper love & affection and 28.6 percent said very intimately.
Table 1.23. Percentage distribution of how their parents look after them
Parents behaviour | Number of respondents | Percent |
No answer | 2 | 1.9 |
Very intimately | 30 | 28.6 |
With proper love & affection | 53 | 50.5 |
They don't give you proper time | 4 | 3.8 |
They are very relaxed & flexible about you | 8 | 7.6 |
They are very rigid to you | 1 | 1.0 |
Very intimately, with proper love & affection, they are very relaxed | 5 | 4.8 |
They don't give proper time, they are very rigid | 2 | 1.9 |
(Source: field survey)
3.8. Impact on social customs and values:
Social customs, values and norms are important means of any country’s culture. Bangladesh is not exceptional. In our culture, there is various practice of social customs such as, respecting elders, be affectionate to youngers, do proper duty over neighboures etc. Upon these social customs, there is also impact of western culture. Now a day, basically in metropolitan cities in our country, these types of social customs are not practiced much. And young generation is the most vulnerable to these social customs. They generally don’t follow much of these values.
3.8.1. The fact of following the traditional social customs & norms by the respondents:
From this table, it can be analyzed that the real picture of following social customs of young generation. Whether they follow or don’t follow these social customs. It is shown in this table that, most of the respondents follow social customs properly and others follow partially. And very few don’t follow. But there can be a debate that respondents didn’t give proper answer because they can feel uncomfortable to say that they don’t follow social customs. 52.4 percent of the respondents’ follow properly and 44.8 percent follow partially social rules.
Table 1.24. Percentage distribution of the fact of following the traditional social customs & norms by the respondents
Following social customs | Number of respondents | Percent |
Follow properly | 55 | 52.4 |
Follow partially | 47 | 44.8 |
Don't follow | 3 | 2.9 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.8.2. Agreement level of the respondents that their locality or community follows such customs:
In this table it is shown that, how the respondents agree with the fact that their locality or community follow social customs. Most of the respondents said that there locality follow social customs and some disagreed with it. 48.6 percent of the respondents’ agreed, 26.7 percent partially agreed and 13.3 percent disagreed about it.
Table 1.25. Percentage distribution of agreement level of the respondents that their locality or community follows such customs
Agreement level | Number of respondents | Percent |
Agree | 51 | 48.6 |
Strongly agree | 5 | 4.8 |
Partially agree | 28 | 26.7 |
Disagree | 14 | 13.3 |
Strongly disagree | 3 | 2.9 |
No comment | 4 | 3.8 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.8.3. Level of learning about social customs from family or educational system:
Here, the level of knowing of respondents about social customs from educational institutions and family are shown. It is seen that there is lacking in knowing about social customs of respondents. Many of the respondents learnt something but not properly about social customs and some didn’t learn anything. Though the majority said that they have learnt properly about social customs. In this point, the debate of previous point can also be drawn again. 51.4 percent learned properly, 41.9 percent didn’t learn properly about social customs.
Table 1.26. Percentage distribution of level of learning about social customs from family or educational system
Learning level | Number of respondents | Percent |
Yes, properly | 54 | 51.4 |
Yes, but not properly | 44 | 41.9 |
Very few | 6 | 5.7 |
Didn't learn | 1 | 1.0 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.9. Impact on religion:
Religion is one of the major components of society and culture. There can be observed the impact of western culture on religious behavior also in this point. It can be analyzed that young generation is less interested in religion than any former generation. It is a result of impact of western culture.
3.9.1. Agreement level of the respondents whether they think that religion is the part & parcel of life:
In this table, it is shown whether the respondents think that religion is very important or part and parcel of our life and society. Most of the respondents agreed that it is so. And very few disagreed with it. 32.4 percent agreed, 46.7 percent strongly agreed and 14.3 percent partially agreed about it.
Table 1.27. Percentage distribution of agreement level of the respondents whether they think that religion is the part & parcel of life
Agreement level | Number of respondents | Percent |
Agree | 34 | 32.4 |
Strongly agree | 49 | 46.7 |
Partially agree | 15 | 14.3 |
Disagree | 5 | 4.8 |
No comment | 2 | 1.9 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.9.2. Following the religious rules-regulation:
Here, in this table, it is shown that the respondents follow their religious rules-regulation in which way. Though most of the respondents think that religion is part and parcel of our life, but, most of the respondents don’t follow religious rules-regulations properly. And some respondent also answered that they follow them very rare or don’t follow. 30.5 percent follow properly, 55.2 percent follow partially and 12.4 percent follow very rarely religious rules.
Table 1.28. Percentage distribution of following the religious rules-regulation
Way of following | Number of respondents | Percent |
Yes, properly | 32 | 30.5 |
Yes, partially | 58 | 55.2 |
Yes, but very rare | 13 | 12.4 |
Don't follow | 2 | 1.9 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.10. Impact on communication and technology:
Communication and technology are now two important elements of society and culture now a day. It can analyze in this point the impact of western culture on communicative and technological behavior of young generation as radically changed rather than any older generation. They now use various technological components such as, Mobile phone (including PDA, Android and internet brows able handset), Internet service (including website, mailing, voice chat, live chat) etc. These technologies are part of western culture basically.
3.10.1. Types of technologies uses by respondents for daily needs, academic needs, communication etc.:
Here, it is shown what type technologies respondents use mainly for their daily needs, communicational needs, academic needs etc. About 97 percent of respondents use modern means of communication. 52.4 percent of the respondents’ uses Mobile phone (including PDA, Android, and Internet browse able handset) and 20 percent uses Internet service (including website, mailing, voice chat, live chat etc.).
Table 1.29. Percentage distribution of types of technologies uses by respondents for daily needs, academic needs communication etc.
Type of technology | Number of respondents | Percent |
Mobile phone(including PDA, Android, Internet browse able handset) | 55 | 52.4 |
Internet service (including website, mailing, voice chat, live chat etc.) | 21 | 20.0 |
Traditional service(including manual govt. mailing, analog phone) | 3 | 2.9 |
Mobile phone & Internet service | 26 | 24.8 |
(Source: field survey)
3.10.2. Agreement level of the respondents that these technologies are affecting traditional culture:
In this table, it is shown how respondents agreed with the issue that these types of technologies are affecting badly our traditional culture. Most of the respondents partially agreed with it. And some disagreed with it. However, many respondents considered these technologies as universal culture, not a part of western culture anymore. 20 percent of the respondents’ agreed, 28.6 percent partially agreed, 23.8 percent disagreed, 7.6 percent strongly disagreed and 11.4 percent didn’t comment about it.
Table 1.30. Percentage distribution of agreement level of the respondents that these technologies are affecting traditional culture
Agreement level | Number of respondents | Percent |
Agree | 21 | 20.0 |
Strongly agree | 9 | 8.6 |
Partially agree | 30 | 28.6 |
Disagree | 25 | 23.8 |
Strongly disagree | 8 | 7.6 |
No comment | 12 | 11.4 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.11. Impact on film and literature:
Film, music and literature are very important element of any country’s culture. Here, in this point it can be analyze the impact on western culture on young generation regarding film, music and literature. These tables show the choice and approach about film, music and literature of members of young generation.
3.11.1. Type of film, movie, TV shows preferred by respondents which they watch:
Here, in this table it is shown type of film, music, movie and TV shows such as, Hollywood, Indian or Bangladeshi generally respondents like to enjoy. Most of the respondents still watch Bangladeshi Shows and movies and enjoys Bangladeshi music. But a big number of respondents enjoys Hollywood movies and TV shows and American and western music. Some respondents enjoy Indian movies, TV shows and music. 36.2 percent of the respondents’ enjoy Bangladeshi film, music, movie and TV shows, 29.5 percent enjoy Indian film, music, movie and TV shows and 32.4 percent enjoy Hollywood film, music, movie and TV shows.
Table 1.31. Percentage distribution of type of film, movie, TV shows preferred by respondents which they watch
Type of film, TV shows and music | Number of respondents | Percent |
No answer | 2 | 1.9 |
Bangladeshi | 38 | 36.2 |
Indian | 31 | 29.5 |
Hollywood | 34 | 32.4 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.11.2. Reading other books/literature beside academic books by respondents:
Here, in this table it is shown which type of book (e.g. Bangladeshi, Indian or Western literature) respondents mainly like to read beside educational books. About 14 percent respondents answered they don’t read other books beside educational books. The rest 85 percent read other books beside educational books. Among them, most like to Bangladeshi literature. Some like translated western literature and very few like Indian literature. Though there is big impact of western culture on young generation, but still most of them habituated to read Bangladeshi literature. 68.6 percent of the respondents’ read Bangladeshi literature and 20 percent read translated English literature.
Table 1.32. Percentage distribution of reading other books/literature beside academic books by respondents
Type of literature | Number of respondents | Percent |
Bangladeshi books/novels/poems | 72 | 68.6 |
Indian books/novels/poems | 11 | 10.5 |
Translated English or other European literature/novels/poems | 21 | 20.0 |
Original English books/novels/poems | 1 | 1.0 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.12. Impact on profession related issues:
Respondents who were chosen for this research were mainly student. Very few of them are not student and involve in professional life. But also the respondents have thinking about their future profession. And regarding this thinking, there also can be seen the impact of western culture.
3.12.1. Type of profession mainly preferred for present or future life by respondents:
In this table, it is shown that which type of profession respondents preferred for their future life. Most of the respondents preferred government service as profession. But a big number of respondents said they would like bank job. It is an impact of western culture. Because, older generation’s only choice was government service rather business as tradition of our country. Some respondents preferred private company job also. 37.1 percent of the respondents’ preferred government service, 16.2 percent preferred private company job, 24.8 percent preferred bank job and 8.6 percent preferred teaching as their future profession.
Table 1.33. Percentage distribution of type of profession mainly preferred for present or future life by respondents
Type of profession | Number of respondents | Percent |
No answer | 2 | 1.9 |
Government service | 39 | 37.1 |
Private company/corporate level job | 17 | 16.2 |
Bank job | 26 | 24.8 |
Teaching | 9 | 8.6 |
Business | 5 | 4.8 |
Self-entrepreneurship | 3 | 2.9 |
Going abroad | 4 | 3.8 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.12.2. Part time job performed/performing by respondents:
In this table it is shown if the respondents did or doing or not doing any part time job beside their study or other works to maintain his personal expenditure. As it is seen, almost 50 percent of the respondents doing part time job. It is another impact of western culture. In western countries, young people do part time job to maintain their personal costs. 41 percent of the respondents’ are doing part time job and 44.8 percent never did or doing any part time job.
Table 1.34. Percentage distribution of part time job performed/performing by respondents
Answer | Number of respondents | Percent |
Yes, I am doing | 43 | 41.0 |
I did before | 15 | 14.3 |
I never did | 47 | 44.8 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.13. Some psychological approach:
Psychology is such a fact which can include anything. The impact of any external culture can also affect the people’s psychology. There is also some psychological impact of western culture which can be analyzed from these tables.
3.13.1. Approach of the respondents about opposite gender:
Here, in this table it can be seen how respondents think about their opposite sex/gender. It can be said that, the psychological approach toward opposite gender of young generation is changed than any older generation. Most of the respondents think their opposite gender as friend or co-worker. Some also mentioned about physical need. 56.2 percent of the respondents’ appreciate their opposite sex as friend, 19 percent appreciate their opposite sex as co-worker, 11.4 percent appreciate their opposite sex for physical need and 10.5 percent appreciate their opposite sex as co-worker, friend & physical need all.
Table 1.35. Percentage distribution of approach of the respondents about opposite gender
Approach about opposite sex/gender | Number of respondents | Percent |
Friend | 59 | 56.2 |
Co-worker | 20 | 19.0 |
For physical need | 12 | 11.4 |
Friend & Co-worker | 3 | 2.9 |
Co-worker, friend & physical need | 11 | 10.5 |
(Source: field survey)
3.13.2. The approach of inspiring to adopt various factors by respondents such as sexual relation, attending night club, taking drugs etc. which are found in Hollywood movies, TV shows & music videos:
From this table, it can be analyzed how various factors such as, sexual relation, attending night club, taking drugs etc. which are found in Hollywood movies, TV shows & music videos inspires respondents psychologically. Most of the respondents answered that these factors don’t inspire them but, some said that these factors inspire them psychologically. 17.1 percent of the respondents’ answered these factors inspire them sometimes, 17.1 percent answered these factors inspire them very rare and 61 percent answered these factors inspire them never.
Table 1.36. Percentage distribution of the approach of inspiring to adopt various factors by respondents such as sexual relation, attending night club, taking drugs etc. which are found in Hollywood movies, TV shows & music videos
Approach | Number of respondents | Percent |
No answer | 3 | 2.9 |
Yes, always | 2 | 1.9 |
Yes, sometimes | 18 | 17.1 |
Very rare | 18 | 17.1 |
Never inspire | 64 | 61.0 |
Total | 105 | 100.0 |
(Source: field survey)
3.14. Case studies:
There given three case studies from the respondents.
v Case study 1:
ü Name: Tarikul Islam Liton (Fictional).
ü Age: 24.
ü Sex: Male.
Tarikul Islam Liton is a student in profession. His educational status is higher secondary level. He is one of them who are trying to adopt the positive sides of western culture and avoid negative sides of western culture. He is devoted to our traditional culture, not to western culture. He definitely prefers Bengali as his main language. But he also thinks that English language is also necessary beside Bengali in our country. He thinks that, beside this necessity, English language is playing negative role to our indigenous culture.
He reads in Bengali medium. And the curriculum type under which he reading is western influenced. He doesn’t think that education system of our country should be western or European type. He said he have learnt fully about our traditional culture from the education system. And he can identify our traditional culture from western culture differently. He mainly differentiates them by life style.
He likes homemade food items as food. And in his house homemade food items means the traditional food items basically. He agreed partially that traditional food items are abolishing because of fast food or western type food items.
He generally wears shirt-pant as his usual dress. But he also likes Panjabi-pajama as a traditional dress of our country. And he doesn’t prefer western dress over traditional dress. He thinks that traditional dress pattern of our country is replacing by western dress pattern.
His family type is joint or extended type. He knows that nuclear family pattern is basically western culture. He likes or prefers joint family rather than nuclear family to live in. Because he enjoying various facilities in living joint family. His parents look after him with proper love and affection. They are also flexible to him.
He follows our traditional social customs and norms such as, respecting elders, be affectionate to youngers, do proper duty over neighboures etc. partially. He can’t afford to follow them properly. He thinks that his locality follows such social customs also. He learnt about these social customs from family and educational institutions properly.
Liton agreed partially that religion is part and parcel of our life. He follows his religions’ rules and regulations partially, not fully.
His view about opposite gender is as friend. He looks ladies or girls as friend. He strongly agreed with the issue of equal participation and rights of both male and female.
He uses various Internet service (including website, mailing, voice chat, live chat) as his main medium of communication and to fulfill academic needs. He partially agreed that these technologies are in collision with our traditional culture.
He mainly likes to watch Hollywood movies and TV shows. But he likes to enjoy Bangladeshi music. Various cultures which we can see such as drinking wine, sexual relation, attending night club, taking drugs etc. in Hollywood movies and TV shows, inspires him sometimes.
He has habit to read various books beside his academic books. He likes to read Bangladeshi books/novels/poems very much. He thinks that foreign literature is acquiring the traditional literature of our country day by day.
He preferred government service as his future life profession. And he is now performing a part time job beside his study to maintain his own expenditures.
However, he supports the traditional living pattern and life style of our country. He also thinks that overall culture & tradition of our country is appropriate for present time and situation. He said there is no necessity to convert it into western type.
v Case study 2:
ü Name: Adnan Rashidul Islam (Fictional).
ü Age: 28.
ü Sex: Male.
Adnan Rashidul Islam is a Supervising Officer in a private company. He has completed graduation level. He is also one of them who are trying to adopt the positive sides of western culture and avoid negative sides of western culture. He prefers Bengali as his main language. But he also thinks that English language is also necessary beside Bengali in our country. He disagreed that English language is playing negative role to our indigenous culture.
He read in Bengali medium. And the curriculum type under which he read is western influenced. He disagreed that education system of our country should be western or European type. He said he have learnt something about our traditional culture from the education system. And he can identify our traditional culture from western culture differently. He mainly differentiates them by social customs.
He likes homemade food items as food. He agreed partially that traditional food items are abolishing because of fast food or western type food items.
He generally wears shirt-pant as his usual dress .And he also likes it. He prefers partially western dress over traditional dress. He agreed that traditional dress pattern of our country is replacing by western dress pattern.
His family type is nuclear type. He knows that nuclear family pattern is basically western culture. He likes or prefers nuclear family to live in. His parents look after him very intimately and with proper love and affection. They are also relaxed and flexible to him.
He follows our traditional social customs and norms such as, respecting elders, be affectionate to youngers, do proper duty over neighboures etc. partially. He thinks that his locality follows such social customs also partially. He learnt about these social customs from family and educational institutions not properly.
Adnan agreed partially that religion is part and parcel of our life. He follows his religions’ rules and regulations partially.
His view about opposite gender is as friend and also for physical need. He agreed with the issue of equal participation and rights of both male and female.
He uses Mobile phone (including PDA, Android and internet brows able handset) as his main medium of communication and to fulfill official needs. He partially agreed that these technologies are in collision with our traditional culture.
He mainly likes to watch Bangladeshi movies and TV shows. He also likes to enjoy Bangladeshi music. Various cultures which we can see such as drinking wine, sexual relation, attending night club, taking drugs etc. in Hollywood movies and TV shows, never inspires him.
Overall, he supports the traditional living pattern and life style of our country. He also thinks that overall culture & tradition of our country is appropriate for present time and situation. He thinks that it should not be like western culture.
v Case study 3:
ü Name: Sonia Sharmin (Fictional).
ü Age: 22.
ü Sex: Female.
Sonia Sharmin is a student in profession. Her educational status is graduation level. She prefers Bengali as her main language. But she strongly agreed that English language is also necessary beside Bengali in our country. She strongly disagreed that English language is playing negative role to our indigenous culture.
She reads in English medium. And the curriculum type under which she reading is western influenced. She strongly agreed that education system of our country should be western or European type. She said she have learnt something about our traditional culture from the education system. And she can identify our traditional culture from western culture differently. She mainly differentiates them by dress pattern, social customs and life style.
She likes traditional food items. She strongly agreed that traditional food items are abolishing because of fast food or western type food items.
She generally wears Salwar Kamiz as her usual dress. But she also likes Sari as a traditional dress of our country. And she doesn’t prefer western dress over traditional dress. She strongly agreed that traditional dress pattern of our country is replacing by western dress pattern.
Her family type is nuclear type. She knows that nuclear family pattern is basically western culture. But she likes or prefers joint family rather than nuclear family to live in. Her parents are very relaxed and flexible to her.
She follows our traditional social customs and norms such as, respecting elders, be affectionate to youngers, do proper duty over neighboures etc. properly. She also agreed that her locality follows such social customs. She learnt about these social customs from family and educational institutions properly.
Sonia strongly agreed that religion is part and parcel of our life. She follows her religions’ rules and regulations properly.
Her view about opposite gender is as friend and co-worker. She strongly agreed with the issue of equal participation and rights of both male and female.
She uses various Internet service (including website, mailing, voice chat, live chat) and Mobile phone (including PDA, Android and internet brows able handset) both as her main medium of communication and to fulfill academic needs. She partially agreed that these technologies are in collision with our traditional culture.
She mainly likes to enjoy Bangladeshi movies, TV shows and music. Various cultures which we can see such as drinking wine, sexual relation, attending night club, taking drugs etc. in Hollywood movies and TV shows, never inspires her.
She has habit to read various books beside her academic books. She likes to read Bangladeshi books/novels/poems mainly. She agreed that foreign literature is acquiring the traditional literature of our country.
She preferred business as her future life profession. And she never performed any kind of part time job.
She doesn’t support the traditional living pattern and life style of our country. She also thinks that overall culture & tradition of our country is not appropriate for present time and situation. She said that it should be based on technology. But she strongly disagreed that it should be like western type.
4.1. Key findings:
The focus on this study was on impact of western culture on young generation basically. After analyzing the answers and information of respondents it can be said that, young generation is influenced in many ways by western culture. They are now habituated with English language beside Bengali. And many of them are also reading in English medium. He curriculum type under which they are reading/read is also western influenced. Beside this, most of them didn’t learn properly about our traditional and indigenous culture properly. Some of them are habituated with fast food. But still most of the young people like traditional food items. Young people are very much habituated with western dress pattern such as, shirt. T-shirt, pant tops, skirt etc. But still some of male are habituated with traditional dress like Panjabi, pajama. Mostly the females are still habituated with traditional dresses such as, Sari, Salwar Kamiz etc. The family under which young people are growing is also western influenced. Most of the families are now nuclear family in our country which is basically western culture. But the behavior of parents toward their children is still positive. Most of the parents looks after their children with proper love, affection and intimacy. Though there is touch of modernization in their behavior such as, they are very relaxed and flexible to their child which is contradictory to our tradition. But it is not negative. The young people now a days follows partially our various traditional social customs and norms such as, respecting elders, be affectionate to youngers, do proper duty over neighboures etc. But the rate of following these customs among young generation is decreasing. It’s one of the causes is their locality or community is also not practice these customs properly. Another cause is young people are not learning about these customs properly from educational institutions and family. Young people, most of them, partially agree that religion as a significant part of our life. And the rate of following religious rules-regulation among young generation is average partially. Young people think about their opposite gender more moderately now. Most of them look their opposite gender as friend and co-worker. It is also an impact on their psychology of modernization and westernization. There also can fond impact of western culture in using rate of technology of young generation. Most of them use Internet service (including website, mailing, voice chat, live chat) and Mobile phone (including PDA, Android and internet brows able handset) both for their educational, communicational and other needs. The refreshment or entertainment behavior of young generation is also western influenced. Though many of the young people like to watch Bangladeshi movies, dramas, listen Bangladeshi music and to read Bangladeshi literature, but many of them also habituated to watch Hollywood movies, listening English songs and reading translated English literature.
It can be revealed that, the indigenous culture have been lost mostly among young generation from this discussion. But it is a matter of to be enthusiastic that, most of the members of young generation still have positive view about our traditional culture. The criteria of culture which they are habituated is now a part and parcel of their daily life, They can’t avoid them, but many of them are still be aware and many are concerning about our traditional culture. Many of them are avoiding the bad sides of western culture such as, drinking wine, free sexual relation, going to DJ party etc. But it is a matter of great sorrow that many of them already acquired these cultures. But there is hope that the consciousness is growing among them. Even now, many of young people don’t prefer western foods, dresses and education system over our traditional foods, dresses and education system. And most of them also support our traditional living pattern and life style of our country. They think that overall culture & tradition of our country is appropriate for present time and situation. They don’t see it like western culture.
After reviewing different findings, it can be just focus on ‘The Impact of Western Culture on young generation’ from three different angles. These are:
ü Impact of socio-cultural Globalization.
ü Positive impact of westernization.
ü Negative impact of westernization.
Impact of socio-cultural Globalization:
Now a day’s every country in this world is treated as village, you can imagine whatever you can. That’s the way people are communicate easily to each other make things differences. Globalization has only one overarching feature–integration. It is all about collectiveness and ever increasing interconnectedness. It in effect influences everything, whether it is a company or a country. But here is a fact, is globalization all the way keeps help to connect to each other or build a strong communication in “borderless world”? If it is a question, then how it impacts in our society as well as in our culture?
The Cable television has made different attraction in around the world as well as in Bangladeshi household. Foreign movies have come and have reflected their culture in it. This has made a huge impact on the minds of the Bangladeshi people. The internet has opened up opportunities for young people to learn more about foreign cultures and places. Globalization has broken all borders. As a result, the new generation of Bangladesh is more knowledgeable, more aware and more interested in the world around them.
In our society, young women who were once the exploited and ignored part of the population, now assert their rights of being a woman. They now have more access to education and know more about their rights and their identity as a woman. Nowadays, you find women in the society who work alongside men. Men-dominated fields see the coming up of the woman. Men and women are slowly being treated equally. However, this does not mean that all Bangladeshi women are fully free. In many places, exploitation still continues.
Positive impact of westernization:
Due to globalization, westernization is spreading out all over the world. Westernization has been placed in different countries because of globalization and needless to say, it has had an impact on the Bangladeshi young generation. It has out-rooted the traditional Bengali culture and the rate at which westernization is happening to Bangladesh is surprising. Regional languages are on the process of redefined. In many ways instating of regional language people have been used to English especially in urban areas youngsters. It had started get fixing with western clothing, western languages, western mannerisms and everything else westernized.
Besides, the festival of Pohela Baishakh, people is now celebrating like other western cultural festivals especially in young group such as:
ü Valentine’s Day,
ü Friendship Day,
ü Mother’s day,
ü Father’s day.
ü And other international celebrations.
Now a day, young people are concern about how we think about globally, what the other country are doing in their cultural issue, just we observe and absorbing them. There is lot of issues that we automatically know about it; even he/she has a little knowledge about westernization. But, young people are moving with it in all the way.
Negative impact of westernization:
At the side of the positive, Bangladeshi young people are involving day by day with negative activities which our own culture because of following western culture. However no matter have occurred by this way, what young people are doing in our society.
With Globalization and westernization of our culture, Bangladesh now has access to things like adult movies, pornographic material, sex toys and other sexual content from all around the world especially in young group of people. Bangladeshi’s population has been corrupted by easy access which has been brought about by westernization. In fact, this has gone to such limits that now pornographic material is even made in Bangladesh also. These perverted habits have raised a population who sometimes are so full of hunger for that they choice to rape. It is a fact that rape cases have risen since the spread of globalization.
So that, western dress is another factor that creates an imbalance in our society especially for woman group (whenever girls wear a shirt, t-shirt, and pant in our society, due to feel or sensation of comfortable) which does not permit within our culture as majority of Muslim nationality. For wearing that kind of dresses young men are mostly thinking in negative sense.
The previous findings have reported results on the western culture effect on urban youth generation in our society. However, according to above mentioned circumstances, the present study takes the initiative to conduct an empirical investigation based on the impact of western culture on young generation includes their thought according their status, how the Bengali culture is becoming a westernized and which factors are related with that. The findings from this study will work as valuable guidelines to give respect our own culture and to be a wholesome Bangladeshi member of young generation.
4.2. Recommendations:
As most of the findings are discussed yet, it can be said that impact of western culture is a part of modernization. But it can be consider as a problem also in our country’s perspective. Because many of young people of our country are addicted day by day to the negative sides of western culture. Below, there given some recommendations:
ü There should be vast opportunities for young people to know and learn more about our traditional culture.
ü They should be made aware what is traditional culture and what western culture is.
ü There should be awareness program through various media like print and electronic media for young generation concerning them about bad sides of western culture and significance of our traditional culture.
ü Motivation program should be held encouraging for preserving of our traditional culture.
ü There should be government’s steps to prevent elements such as pornography, drugs, and hard drinks from reaching to young generation.
ü Moral value of young generation should be increase through motivation programs.
ü Exercise of obtaining religious rules-regulations should be increased among young generation.
ü Family members especially parents should be aware of what their children doing in their room, which type of company he/she keeping and where he/she goes etc.
ü Proper knowledge should be spread among young generation about the negative sides of western culture, the significance of our traditional culture and not to adopt western culture. It is the responsibility of educational institutions, teachers and parents mostly.
ü Patriotism should be spread among young generation.
ü Bangladeshi festivals should be observed with more importance nationally.
ü Bangladeshi entertainments such as movies, music etc. should be more advanced and up-to-date so that young people will attract to it.
ü Easy access of western culture into our country should be more restricted by government.
ü Lacking and needs of young people should try to fulfill by government, society and family.
Conclusion:
Eventually, it can be concluded that, this research has found a lot of significant issues that is Western culture is not a curse to our society but it can bring a lot of negative effects. We must understand that the young generation is the future image of our country. So, it is necessary to enlighten them about our own cultural values which will make our nation proud.
Now a day’s the production and consumption of cultural goods and services has become commodities, along with the essentials of social life (marriage and family life, religion work and leisure). What once was an element of the way of life becomes a product, rather than something unique men had made to suit their own needs and circumstances. In urban Bangladesh, technology of multi-channels TV began in 1991 and hence satellite broadcasting has been delivering 'lots of channels to viewers'. Cultural domination by electronic media within the society thus has eventually become a major concern of sociological inquiry. The present study is one of such effort to look at how the urban people, mostly youth has accepted and responded to their access to Western culture.
In Bangladesh perspective, since it is the one of very few and one way concentration on the impact of western culture, it is precise that this thesis contains the groundwork of further research, which may find useful tools considering the probable findings in the long run. No study has been done at before. However, for doing this research best analysis was used to make the research as full proof but due to short sample, it cannot be recommend as full proof. That’s why; it is recommend for further modification as it is a phrase valid that research is a never ending process.
References
Gale, F. and Stephanie Fahay (2005). “Youth in transition: The challenges of generational change in Asia”. The Association of Asian Social Science Research Councils (AASSREC) in association with The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA).
Gomes, G. and Mohammad Nafiur Rahman (2010). “Impact of Western Culture in Bangladesh”. American International University Bangladesh; Research Methodology - Summer 2010.
Lamare, L. (2009). “Cultural Globalization: What is it?” Montray Kréyol SPIP 2.1.10 [17657].
Dengar, K. N. (1996). “America: Past to Modern”. Trans. By: Hossain, F. (1999). Bangla Academy, Dhaka.
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Appendix
A Questionnaire on
Impact of Western Culture on Young Generation
Schedule no………. Date:
1. Gender of the respondent:
1. □ Male 2. □ Female
2. Age of the respondent:
1. □ 16-18 2. □ 18-20 3. □ 20-22 4. □ 22-24 5. □ 24-26 6. □ 26-28
3. Education status of the respondent:
1. □ Illiterate 2. □ Primary level 3. □ Secondary level
4. □ Higher secondary level 5. □ Graduation level
4. Which language you prefer to use?
1. □ Bengali 2. □ English
5. Do you think English is more useful and necessary than Bengali in our country?
1. □ Agree 2. □ Strongly agree 3. □ Partially agree 4. □ Disagree
5. □ Strongly disagree 6. □ No comment
6. Do you think English language is playing negative role to our indigenous culture?
1. □ Agree 2. □ Strongly agree 3. □ Partially agree 4. □ Disagree
5. □ Strongly disagree 6. □ No comment
7. In which medium you read in?
1. □ Bengali 2. □ English 3. □ Others
8. Under which type of curriculum you read in/reading?
1. □ Traditional 2. □ Western influenced 3. □ No answer
9. Do you think that education system should be Western or European type?
1. □ Agree 2. □ Strongly agree 3. □ Partially agree 4. □ Disagree
5. □ Strongly disagree 6. □ No comment
10. Have you learnt anything about our traditional culture from this education system?
1. □ Fully learnt 2. □ Something learnt 3. □ Very little learnt
4. □ Nothing learnt
11. Can you identify our traditional culture and western culture differently?
1. □ Yes, I can 2. □ I can, but not properly 3. □ No, I can’t
12. If yes, how can you differentiate them (multiple response)?
1. □ By dress pattern 2. □ By food habit 3. □ By film and literature
4. □ By social customs 5. □ By life style 6. □ By family pattern
7. □ Others
13. If no, why you can’t differentiate them?
1. □ I don’t know what western culture is
2. □ I don’t know what traditional/indigenous culture is
3. □ I haven’t learn anything about indigenous culture
4. □ No comment
14. What type of food you usually prefer to eat?
1. □ Local food items 2. □ Fast food items (western food)
3. □ Traditional food items 4. □ Homemade food items
15. Do you think that local/traditional food items are abolishing because of fast food (western foods)?
1. □ Agree 2. □ Strongly agree 3. □ Partially agree 4. □ Disagree
5. □ Strongly disagree 6. □ No comment
16. What type of dress you generally like to wear?
1. □ Shirt-Pant 2. □ Panjabi-Pant/Pajama 3. □ T shirt-Pant
4. □ Fotua-lungi 5. □ Sari 6. □ Salwar Kamiz 7. □ Tops-Skirt
17. Do you prefer western dress over traditional dress?
1. □ Agree 2. □ Strongly agree 3. □ Partially agree 4. □ Disagree
5. □ Strongly disagree 6. □ No comment
18. Do you think traditional dress pattern of our country is replacing by western dress pattern?
1. □ Agree 2. □ Strongly agree 3. □ Partially agree 4. □ Disagree
5. □ Strongly disagree 6. □ No comment
19. What type of family you living in?
1. □ Nuclear 2. □ Joint
20. Do you know that nuclear family pattern is basically western culture?
1. □ Yes 2. □ No
21. Which type of family you prefer to live in?
1. □ Nuclear 2. □ Joint
22. Your parents look after you (multiple response)_
1. □ Very intimately
2. □ With proper love and affection
3. □ They don’t give you proper time
4. □ They are very relaxed and flexible about you
5. □ They are very rigid about you
23. Do you follow the traditional social customs and norms such as, respecting elders, be affectionate to youngers, do proper duty over neighboures etc.?
1. □ Follow properly 2. □ Follow partially 3. □ Don’t follow
24. Do you think that your locality or community follows such customs?
1. □ Agree 2. □ Strongly agree 3. □ Partially agree 4. □ Disagree
5. □ Strongly disagree 6. □ No comment
25. Have you learnt properly through your family or educational institution about these social customs?
1. □ Yes, properly 2. □ Yes, but not properly 3. □ Very few
4. □ Didn’t learnt
26. Do you think that religion is part and parcel of our life?
1. □ Agree 2. □ Strongly agree 3. □ Partially agree 4. □ Disagree
5. □ Strongly disagree 6. □ No comment
27. Do you follow your religion and its rules-regulations?
1. □ Yes, properly 2. □ Yes, partially 3. □ Yes, but very rare
4. □ Don’t follow
28. What do you think about your opposite sex/gender (multiple response)?
1. □ Rival 2. □ Friend 3. □ Co-worker 4. □ For physical need
29. Have you ever been a victim of sexual torture from your opposite gender?
1. □ Yes 2. □ Never
30. Do you agree with equal participation and right of both male and female?
1. □ Agree 2. □ Strongly agree 3. □ Partially agree 4. □ Disagree
5. □ Strongly disagree 6. □ No comment
31. Do you support the traditional living pattern and life style of our country?
1. □ Agree 2. □ Strongly agree 3. □ Partially agree 4. □ Disagree
5. □ Strongly disagree 6. □ No comment
32. If you don’t support, do you think it should be changed?
1. □ Yes, it should be modernize
2. □ Yes, it should be based on technology
3. □ Yes, it should be like western country
33. What type of technology you use for your daily needs such as academic needs, communication needs etc. (multiple response)?
1. □ Mobile phone (including PDA, Android and internet brows able handset)
2. □ Internet service (including website, mailing, voice chat, live chat)
3. □ Traditional service (including manual govt. mailing, analog phone)
34. Do you think these technologies are in collision with our traditional culture?
1. □ Agree 2. □ Strongly agree 3. □ Partially agree 4. □ Disagree
5. □ Strongly disagree 6. □ No comment
35. What type of film, movie, TV show and music you mainly prefer to watch?
1. □ Bangladeshi 2. □ Indian 3. □ Hollywood
36. When you watch violent movies (mainly Hollywood movies and TV shows), does it inspire you to do any violent work?
1. □ Yes, sometimes 2. □ Very rare 3. □ Never
37. In Hollywood movie’s TV shows and music videos, there we can see various cultures such as drinking wine, sexual relation, attending night club, taking drugs etc. Are these factors influence or inspire you?
1. □ Yes, always 2. □ Yes, sometimes 3. □ Very rare 4. □ Never inspire
38. Do you read other books beside your academic books?
1. □ Yes 2. □ No
39. If yes, what type of books you mainly prefer to read?
1. □ Bangladeshi books/novels/poems
2. □ Indian books/novels/poems
3. □ Translated English or other European literature/novels/poems
3. □ Original English books/novels/poems
40. Do you think foreign literature is acquiring the traditional literature of our country?
1. □ Agree 2. □ Strongly agree 3. □ Partially agree 4. □ Disagree
5. □ Strongly disagree 6. □ No comment
41. What type of profession you mainly prefer for your present or future life and carrier?
1. □ Govt. service 2. □ Private Company/Corporate level job 3. □ Bank job
4. □ Teaching 5. □ Business 6. □ Self-entrepreneurship 7. □ Going abroad
42. Do you perform any kind of part time job to help yourself or your family?
1. □ Yes, I am doing 2. □ I did before 3. □ I never did
43. Do you think every member of a family should income when they become matured like western countries?
1. □ Agree 2. □ Strongly agree 3. □ Partially agree 4. □ Disagree
5. □ Strongly disagree 6. □ No comment
44. Do you think the overall culture & tradition of our country is appropriate for present era and situation?
1. □ Agree 2. □ Strongly agree 3. □ Partially agree 4. □ Disagree
5. □ Strongly disagree 6. □ No comment
45. If no, do you think it should be like western culture?
1. □ Agree 2. □ Strongly agree 3. □ Partially agree 4. □ Disagree
5. □ Strongly disagree 6. □ No comment
