Chinese Culture

Chinese Culture By: Mike Audi Phillip Aggarwal Madison Evans Michael Guterwill Sophie McFarland

Overview/ Heritage ● ●

Origin- Early Africans in East Africa traveled through south Asia to China 100,000 years ago. Residence- Typically one large room instead of multiple smaller rooms ○

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Apartments have generally large bedrooms and small living rooms ○

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Homes usually don’t have yards. Most have balconies.

Poorer rural familes live in bamboo framed houses

Overview/ Heritage ●

Topography- High mountainous regions, desert zones, flat fertile plains. ○ ○

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Economics- Dealt with the 2008 market crash easier than the U.S. ○ ○ ○

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Staircase descending from west to east. Tibetan Plateau forms highest part of country, ‘roof of the world’ Barely impacted China Growth has slowed Now risks a similar version of the 2008 market crash.

Politics- ran by the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee ○ ○

They have a monopoly on political power President- Xi Jinping

Overview/ Heritage ●

Education- 9 years of basic education is mandatory ○ ○

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University is the same as U.S. Foreign exchange students

Occupation- Teaching is a respected job. ○

Care about their education

Nutrition ● ● ●

Eating good food can bring harmony and closeness to the family and relationships Seasonal fruit as dessert Deep fried cooking-only to promote business ○ ○

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Red bean soup Steam papaya soup

Opposite of the fast food society of the U.S. ○ ○ ○

Live seafood, fresh meats, seasonal fruits and vegetables Dairy products are limited and substitute with tofu and soymilk Canned and frozen foods not common

Nutrition ●

Balancing Yin and Yang ○ ○ ○ ○

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Northern China cold and damp-hot and spicy foods (onions & garlic) Increase blood circulation Yin (“cold” food)- soybean,oranges,watermelon Yang (“hot” foods)- cabbage, eggplant, pineapple

“Yi xing bu xing” ○

By using any part of the animal, the same part of the human body can be strengthened (ex.monkey brains add wisdom)

Nutrition ● ●

Rice and noodles=potato and pasta in western diet Typical meal- rice, soup, 3-4 sides ○

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Seasonal vegetables, fresh seafood, very small amount of meat/poultry

Health ○ ○

Western medicine “too strong,” only for severe cases Traditional method-herbs and special soups to replenish energy level

Health-Care ●

Currently in China, 95% of the population has health insurance and out of pocket spending is only 35.5% of total expenditure on health.

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Healthcare spending is increasing rapidly, however, due to increasing incomes and government health care reforms.

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Their health care expansion is due to many factors including aging population, urbanization, and lifestyle diseases.

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The current system has weaknesses in quality of services and strength of primary care, but technology is on the rise.

Health-Care: Traditional Practices ●

Traditional Chinese medicine has evolved over time but consists of herbal medicine and mind and body practices such as tai chi and acupuncture.

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Acupuncture is commonly used and found to be effective and safe when done by a professional with sterile needles.

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Tai chi and other similar practices are generally safe.

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Herbal products can cause skin reactions, interact with medications, and have been reported to be contaminated with drugs and toxins.

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Not much scientific evidence is available to prove whether traditional methods work for what they are used for.

Health-Care: Pain/Sick Role ●

Chinese culture often will not complain or display pain in the face because of their cultural values of dignified self conduct.

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They do not believe in drawing attention to oneself in negative ways and complaining is viewed as a poor social skill. When an individual is in discomfort, pain, or sadness they do not make it obvious.

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They often will not question or complain to doctors or nurses because they are seen as high status and traditionally status differences are emphasized in their culture.

Health-Care: Mental Health Barriers ●

In a study of interviews conducted with 5,201 participants in Beijing and Shanghai by Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview, 92% of people diagnosed with DSM-IV disorders who did not receive any treatment perceived it as a low need it.

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Those who found a need for treatment reported structural barriers (service availability and financial coverage) at a rate of 47%

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83% reported stigma and attitudinal barriers

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Those with severe disorders reported higher structural barriers, 72%, than attitudinal barriers, 65%. This study shows high barriers in mental health in Chinese culture.

Health-Care: Self Medication ●

A study to find trends in self medication in China was conducted by China National Health Survey using 802,454 participants from 5 different years.

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Many in Chinese culture believe in traditional home remedies but most also use drugs. Recently, self medication is rapidly increasing, however it varies by many factors including, economic condition and location (rural or urban areas).

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There is a gap in professional medical services in china so more people are choosing to self treat and self medicate.

Family and Social Roles - Hierarchical Order - Man is head of the household -

Responsible for making the living and final decisions

- Social hierarchy

Family Roles: Roles of the Aged - Family treats them with a very high degree of admiration and obedience - Elderly give wisdom and advice to younger generations

Family Roles: Gender Roles - Men: -

(Superior to women) → make the income, pay for children and education until marriage

- Women: -

Seen by the public eye as childrearing and organizers of family functioning Tend to take care of elderly Contain some power in family decisions Some work→ traditional Confucianism scolds working women especially with high positions

- Children: -

Go to school and get a job Girls tend to help take care of elderly

Family Roles: Extended Family - Many children will live with parents until marriage - Once married→ living arrangements are moved into the groom's home for a short stay before moving into their own home

Family Roles: Alt. Lifestyles, Goals and Development - Many full grown children with kids or multiple generations live under one roof -

Very common compared to the US

- Modern China: decisions of a child are all managed by the parent -

Small level or no freedom at all Studies, career, friend and social/ personal free-time

- This causes: -

Diminished free thinking and trouble making decisions on their own in the workplace

- More likely to switch jobs more often -

Short periods of work Switch for happiness or larger paycheck

Pregnancy ●

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Pregnancy is considered a normal but also expected for women who become married. During the early phase of pregnancy, Chinese women are encouraged to rest as much as possible, avoid heavy work, and eat well to ensure a healthy pregnancy and therefore, a healthy baby. ○

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Taking prenatal vitamins are increasingly accepted as a norm ○

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Women are told to avoid various activities and follow strict practices while choosing what to eat Women don’t talk about abortion openly with family/friends but will seek it when in need.

Men don’t traditionally play a major role during deliveries. ○ Husbands or expectant fathers usually don’t go into the labor room until the baby is born (somewhat changing with younger generations).

Pregnancy ●

Once pregnant, a woman guards her thoughts. ○

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It is believed that everything she does and sees will influence her unborn child.

Chinese women believe strongly in postpartum practices. ○ ○ ○

A period of care right after the delivery ranging from one to three months is known as the "sitting month". Regiments and practices vary regionally Avoid cold drinks and food during and after pregnancy

Pregnancy - According to Chinese custom, a husband should carry his bride over a pan of burning coals when they enter their home for the first to to ensure she will have a successful pregnancy. ● The Chinese Zodiac ○

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The hour, day, month and year the baby is born dictate which of the Eight Characters he is born under.

Up until thirty days after childbirth, the new mother is expected to stay in bed and not do any heavy work, including housework.

References Carteret, M. (n.d.). Cultural Aspects of Pain Management. Retrieved November 22, 2016, from http://www.dimensionsofculture.com/2010/11/cultural-aspects-of-pain-management/ China Topography. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2016, from http://www.china-tour.cn/National-Geography/ Health care for 1.3 billion. An overview of China’s health system. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/ministere/observatoiresss/ index.php?health-care-for-13-billion-an- overview-of-chinas-health-system&print= 1 Lee, S., Guo, W., Tsang, A, et al. (2010, December 1). Perceived barriers to mental health treatment in metropolitan China. - PubMed - NCBI. Retrieved November 25, 2016, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/21123413/

References Nofri, E. M. (2015, November 13). The Chinese Healthcare System: How It Works And Future Trends. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.albertoforchielli.com/2015/11/13/the-chinese-healthcare-system-how-it-works-an d-future-trends/ Traditional Chinese Medicine: In Depth | NCCIH. (2013, October). Retrieved November 22, 2016, from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/chinesemed.htm

References ● ● ● ● ●

O'Sullivan, K. (2012, August 10). The Role of Women in China - Fair Observer. Retrieved November 26, 2016, from Upton- McLaughlin, S. (2013, June 21). The Significance of Family in China. Retrieved November 26, 2016, from https://chinaculturecorner.com/2013/06/21/the-chinese-family/ University of Washington (1995-2016). Chinese Food Cultural Profile. Retrieved November 20, 201from Https://www.babble.com/contributor/leah-m-brown/. "Chinese Childbirth Traditions." Babble. N.p., 23 Sept. 2014. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. "Chinese Cultural Profile." Chınese Cultural Profıle— EthnoMed. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. .6

References "Traditional Chinese Beliefs about Pregnancy and Childbirth." Gbtımes.com. N.p., 26 Mar. 2015. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. . ● Traditions - Festivals and Customs. (n.d.). Retrieved November 26, 2016, from http://traditions.cultural-china.com/en/214Traditions12270.html https://ethnomed.org/clinical/nutrition/chinese_food_cultural_profile ● Hays, J. (2013). HOMES IN CHINA:TRADITIONAL HOMES AND MAO-ERA HOUSING. Retrieved November 27, 2016, from http://factsanddetails.com/china/cat11/sub71/item154.html ● T. (2004, November 27). Ancient Chinese. Retrieved November 27, 2016, from http://www.trinicenter.com/FirstChinese.htm