Culture, Respect, and all those other words we throw around...

Akwaaba! That is, WELCOME to Ghana (well, at least to the blog written while Nate and I are in Ghana). After spending a little over a week in Kumasi (the city in which we are staying), I have at least picked up a little Twi, the local dialect spoken by the Ghanians here. Although I may be an "obroni" (a white person), it is important to me that I make an honest attempt to show my respect for the Ghanian culture - and part of that is learning to speak with the people. In addition to speaking the language, we of course sample the local foods (lots of fish, plantains, yams, and fried things), and I have asked our "boss" Albert countless questions about the traditions, history, and life of the Ghanian people. It is through these conversations with Albert, alongside my own frustrations as an American comfortably accustomed to the ways of American culture, that I began to consider the concepts of culture and respect - terms that we as Stritch students are all too familiar with thanks to PCM and our yearly lectures on what it means to be a "culturally competent" physician. But what do these terms REALLY mean - not just to me, as a visitor in the country of Ghana - but what does culture mean to the Ghanians.

Of course the culture of Ghana includes the rich flavors and spices of the food, the twi, fanti, and pigeon dialects, the huge market and countless vendors selling their goods, and the traditions of the ruling Ashanti kingdom. In speaking with Albert (our "boss" that is working on the research project with us and also serving as a fabulous guide to Kumasi and informant of Ghanian history), I have found that not all Ghanians perceive their culture as good and, in fact, find the traditional ways of their culture restrictive to the growth of the country. Of course, there are the "right and left wingers" who will argue opposite ends of the spectrum concerning the growth of the nation, just as in any heated debate. I continue to consider Albert's words as I continue my experience in Ghana and reflect on his words in the following example:

In Ghana (and this is a very generalized statement), the women are initially "cold" - that is, it takes a while for them to open up and have a conversation. The men, however, are very open and welcoming at the onset of interaction. Albert explained that this is because women are slow to trust others, due to the history of male dominance (that persists) in the Ghanian culture. During my visit in Ghana, I empathize with the women here as I have experienced the culture of male dominance that I am not at all used to as an American. Instead of asking for something, things are demanded (without a please or thank you...which, I realize happens in the U.S. as well, and perhaps I am speaking simply as a product of my upbringing). And in just listening to some of the surrounding conversations, I am made aware of the inferiority experienced by the women here. I do not know if this is what Albert was referring to when he mentioned the way in which components of the Ghanian culture restrict its growth, but in my short experience here (and because I come from a place where I do not feel such inferiority), I might suggest that perhaps it is.