Cultural Comparison - Amish Teenager and Myself
“What are the most significant differences between your life and that experienced by a typical Amish adolescent?”
Though living in the same time period during the twenty-first century, my life and the life of a typical Amish adolescent are vastly different. Old Order Amish distinguish themselves from other, less-conservative communities by their avoidance of most modern innovations and their traditional dress. These differences between my life and that of an Old Order Amish teenager can be explored in terms of family, roles and status, conflict and decision making, as well as gender, communication, power and authority.
Family
A large part of the closeness and survival of Amish communities lies in the fact that the members are mutually dependent upon each other. This is particularly evident amongst the family, as each part of the household work together and contribute as a functional whole. In keeping with their traditional gender roles, the father is the ‘breadwinner’ and head of the household, while the wife is subservient to him and takes care of preparing for the family. This is supported by Velda Bontrager, an old-order Amish woman who explained, “We believe that the man is the head of the household...the woman is the weaker vessel and you should have as many children as you can,” (Devil’s Playground). Being the only child of a single mother, my reality is vastly different from an Amish woman’s. With almost the entirety of my extended family living in Melbourne, my mother has been the sole provider and carer for me. While also giving me the skills to eventually move out of home and provide for myself, my mother has also demonstrated independence and the ability to be strong by yourself. She, as the head of the family has shifted my potential ideas of family to a more matriarchal approach, contrasting that of an Amish society.
Roles and Status
In the Western world, a significant social precedence is set on education. In my life, education
Though living in the same time period during the twenty-first century, my life and the life of a typical Amish adolescent are vastly different. Old Order Amish distinguish themselves from other, less-conservative communities by their avoidance of most modern innovations and their traditional dress. These differences between my life and that of an Old Order Amish teenager can be explored in terms of family, roles and status, conflict and decision making, as well as gender, communication, power and authority.
Family
A large part of the closeness and survival of Amish communities lies in the fact that the members are mutually dependent upon each other. This is particularly evident amongst the family, as each part of the household work together and contribute as a functional whole. In keeping with their traditional gender roles, the father is the ‘breadwinner’ and head of the household, while the wife is subservient to him and takes care of preparing for the family. This is supported by Velda Bontrager, an old-order Amish woman who explained, “We believe that the man is the head of the household...the woman is the weaker vessel and you should have as many children as you can,” (Devil’s Playground). Being the only child of a single mother, my reality is vastly different from an Amish woman’s. With almost the entirety of my extended family living in Melbourne, my mother has been the sole provider and carer for me. While also giving me the skills to eventually move out of home and provide for myself, my mother has also demonstrated independence and the ability to be strong by yourself. She, as the head of the family has shifted my potential ideas of family to a more matriarchal approach, contrasting that of an Amish society.
Roles and Status
In the Western world, a significant social precedence is set on education. In my life, education