As the United States is very individualistic, it is also distinctively masculine, while Israel, once again found in the center of the scale is more feminine. The two characteristics go hang in hand. High masculinity believes in achievement and judging individuals on their performance, just as individualist cultures do. Feminine cultures believe more in life choices and equality between the sexes is normal. It is made clear that both feminine and masculine qualities exist in Israel. When is comes to household responsibilities in the both Israel and the United States they are traditionally divided along gender lines. Women spend more time performing unpaid family work than men do (Kulik). Due to the fact that women see equality between the sexes normal, men tend to see things more stereotyped then women. When it comes to the armed forces, is where we start to see the difference between the two different cultures. The United States armed forces are made up with a majority of men with the exception of some recent occurrences. In Israel, “The land is their ‘promised land,’ fighting for it is more important than life itself.” In fact all Israeli Jews, men and women, are required to serve in the armed forces (Gibson). The military is extremely important. “Having the constant struggle to maintain their culture and land helps fuel the strong patriotic and spiritual movements” (Gibson).
The government of both Israel and the United States are very similar, as they both have relatively low PDI scores. It is common in the United States for people to challenge authority, it happens in the classroom, in the household, and even towards the government. However, as common as it is for the United States, it is even more common for Israeli’s. Though it is common to question authorities in Israel, rebellion against parents is rare, mainly because it is seen as rebellion against society and above all religion. While this may seem like a result of strict parenting, parents in Israel are extremely laidback (Gibson). A big difference in the two governments is the separation and lack of separation of church and state, while a similarity is the “belief in the importance of minimizing social or class inequalities (Lustig, 122). They tend to accept small power distances and a decrease of hierarchy. As much as the United States can claim that is does not prefer power distances and hierarchies, they do exist in our everyday life. Our wealth is not distributed very evenly and our middle class is slowly depleting. The United States is very similar to those countries with a high PDI score as well, this is because those with the ‘social status have a right to use their power in whatever ways they seem desirable,’ (123). Granted we do vote for most of those with ‘social status,’ it is still overall in the government’s hands. The Israeli laws consist of the same freedoms of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. You have freedoms to life, body, dignity, and liberty. You have the right to your privacy, though this rule is not kept as well in the United States as it should because of the paparazzi and journalists everywhere. Another law of Israel’s that should be followed better in the United States, is that government authorities are to respect the laws that everyone else must abide by (Gibson).
The tolerance for uncertainty avoidance is where Israel and the United States differ the most. Israel has a very low tolerance for uncertainty and doubt. “Rituals play an important role in the Israeli culture, more so that the dominant Western culture. These small ceremonies and everyday practices serve to reiterate and substantiate their religious beliefs and customs” (Gibson). Israel has developed many rules to control social behaviors, many of them being religious orientated. Their eating habits is a common practice mainly among the Jews, though other Israeli’s tend to practice this tradition as well due to the surrounding restaurants. According to Jewish law, any meat eaten must come from an animal that was blessed by a rabbi before it was slaughtered. Another rule is that the meat and dairy may not be served together. One of the most important traditions of the Jews is the Sabbath or Shabbat. They celebrate Shabbat on Saturday from midnight to midnight. Jews do not work or cook on the Sabbath, even housework is minimized (Gibson). In the United States there is much more tolerance for uncertainty avoidance. There are less rules and daily rituals to follow as well. A few of our big national holidays that everyone participates in include Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Memorial Day. Israel also has a Memorial Day but it is nothing like the celebration the United States is used to. In Israel, the observation of Memorial Day is a very serious event. The entire country stands still for two minutes while sirens blare across the country to mourn and remember all soldiers and civilians who have died fighting for freedom (Gibson). This is not a day for cookouts or picnics as in the United States, no parties or festivities are held.
After researching both Israel and the United States I came across some great information. Things I had never learned before. I had already imagined that they were very similar cultures but there are some great differences as well. Some of the information I was finding did not always agree with the Hofstede scale, but all in all it is a wonderful way to categorize the many different countries. Even after all this research and information I still have not fully decided whether I am going to attend the Birth Right program this year. I do though that if I decide to go I have a newfound cultural background and understanding to take with me. It is nice to know that not only is it more of a feminine country than the United States is, there is a great deal of equality. Hopefully if I do decide to attend the trip this summer I will no longer be a typical tourist, but I will now be a knowledgeable visitor.
USA ISRAEL
Memorial Day: BBQ, celebration, Memorial Day: day of mourning,
parades serious event
Government and politics run the country Military is the center of the country
Everyone must serve in armed forces
Drinking age is 21; smoking 18 No drinking or smoking age
Children rebellion is natural Children rebellion is rare
(self-expression) (rebellion against society)
New Years: celebration, fireworks New Years: in temple praying, fasting
Schooling mandatory till 18 Schooling mandatory till 16
Independent @ 18 Independent @ 16
USA very accepting and safe Israel scary to visit, lots of terrorists
Women and man can have a Only men can have a Bar Mitzvah
Bat/Bar Mitzvah
Primary Language: English Primary Language: Hebrew
USA ISRAEL
Power Distance: -90 -214
Uncertainty Avoidance: -87 60
Individualistic/ Collectivist: 200 45
Masculine/ Feminine: 63 -16
Works Cited
Davis, Nancy. Their Brothers’ Keeper? Orthodox Religionists, Modernists, and
Economic Justice in Europe. (1999). The American Journal of Sociology, 104, 6,
retrieved October 6th, 2005, from infotrac database.
Gibson, Nathan. The Team of Israel: A Team Project. (1997). www.math.utk.edu.
Koester, Jolene. Lustig, Myron., Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication
Across Cultures. NY. Pearson Education Inc, 2006.
Kulik, Liat. The impact of family status on gender identity and on sex-typing of
Household tasks in Israel. (2005). The Journal of Social Psychology, 145, 3,
Retrieved October 6th, 2005, from infotrac database.
