Cultural norms play a significant role in shaping our aspirations and relationships. These are the norms through which our shared beliefs, values, and behaviors come forward.
But how exactly does that happen? Let's find out!
Cultural Expectations and Aspirations
You would agree that cultural norms dictate what is considered desirable or acceptable within a specific society. Through these expectations, our personal aspirations and the paths we choose to pursue are deeply influenced.
For a brief moment, take the example of Croatia. Croatian culture is known for its strong emphasis on academic achievement and professional success, leading many people to prioritize academic achievement over other aspects of life.
In Milutin Nehajev's "Fugue: A Tale of One of Us," we are introduced to Duro, a talented and aspiring writer who abandons his studies in Vienna to take up a teaching position in Senj, a small coastal town in Croatia.
The book further shows how family and community are also prioritized in the culture. Whichever culture you belong to, understanding your cultural expectations is important as you can start to better navigate your aspirations and make choices that align with your values and desires. You must develop critical thinking, empathy, and a willingness to challenge the existing norms when they perpetuate inequalities or limit your potential.
Relationships and Cultural Norms
Each culture has its own relationship norms. They provide a framework for how we interact, communicate, and express intimacy.
In some cultures, arranged marriages are still prevalent, whereas in others, individual choice and autonomy of relationships are prioritized. Therefore, your culture's norms ultimately influence your expectations of love on some levels. They also influence commitment and gender roles within partnerships.
Like Duro's tale in "Fugue: A Tale of One of Us," where his aspirations include marrying a woman from Zagreb, but his plans are thwarted when her family objects to his proposal simply because of the absence of an inheritance he had hoped for.
Duro faces various struggles throughout his life. He has to navigate his personal aspirations and the societal expectations placed upon him. How would he do that? How does anyone do that?
Well, Duro is a man of strong principles and high determination. He strives to improve his circumstances and make a meaningful impact on the world around him. Little does he know that it could be a matter of time before his – ambition, love, societal pressures, and the clash between personal dreams and external constraints – could all ultimately come crashing down.
It could, but will it?
Or will Duro's determination help him overcome his challenges in pre-World War I Austro-Hungary?
Find out in "Fugue: A Tale of One of Us"!
