Culture is relative. Like many of the traditions and social behaviors depicted in this world, culture is not something that can be embedded within an individual at birth, it is simply not biological. Certain ceremonies and traditions practiced around the world have various meanings and gestures in comparison to one another. Kinesics and Proxemics are very terms that describe the behaviors and patterns depicted by individuals in a certain culture and are likewise relative.
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Kinesics is the interpretation of body movement and gestures, such as facial expressions or any nonverbal movement related to behavior. Kinesics is an important part of non-verbal communication behavior. The movement of the body, or separate parts, conveys many specific meanings and the interpretations may be culture bound. As many movements are carried out at a subconscious or at least a low-awareness level, kinesics movements carry a significant risk of being misinterpreted in an intercultural communications situation.
Also in tune with various cultures, proxemics is one of the subcategories for nonverbal communications. There are several aspects built into nonverbal communication such as, haptics (touch), kinesics (body movement), vocalics (paralanguage), and chronemics(structure of time). However, proxemics can be identified mostly as the individual’s use of space and their elaboration of their culture. Social distance is relative and subjective to the norms of an individual culture. Social distance between people is reliably correlated with physical distance, as are intimate and personal distance.
Culture observed in the Middle East has no issue with speaking upfront and in someone’s face, nonchalantly entering their “personal space;” there it is looked on with admiration as the person is engaged into the conversation. However, when personal space is concerned in the United States, having a conversation with someone at such a close proximity is looked at as being rude and invading one’s “personal bubble. ” The personal bubble is quite an imperialistic invention, widely popularized in American culture especially.
A personal bubble generally consists of having a certain distance away from the individual on all sides (creating a bubble) which then identifies their personal space. Invasion of this personal space is frowned upon and not welcome, something an Arab would disagree with. As observed, both kinesics and proxemics are relative to the culture they inhibit and can change accordingly. Some of the most widely practiced cultures and rituals around the world are associated with Hinduism. Hinduism is practiced by nearly 75% of India’s population and has been cherished for years.
One of the iconic aspects that set aside Hinduism is its religious ceremonies, mostly those present inside of the Temple. Swaminarayan is a cultural sect that inhibits Hinduism and is one of the most practiced cultural beliefs in India today, along with Jainism. Once entered inside the temple, the immediate cultural and proximal difference noticed is the forced segregation of men and women. Both men and women not only have separate bathrooms, but they also have separate places to put their shoes, clothes and where they sit.
Such segregation is not simply a matter of asserting physical distance, but it is a strong idea that has been embedded in Swaminarayan culture for years, the idea that men and women are not to be seen together in the eyes of the lord. Men are automatically given a higher preference and standard, for they are allowed to sit on the side that faces the religious idols and deities. Another proxemics aspect that differentiates Hindu culture is the distance at which woman are to be from the statues of the idols themselves.
In ancient Hindu culture, women are seen to be the sole child bearers of the man and there forth second class citizens automatically. Women experience menstruation and birth and are seen as being uncleanly and cannot approach the idol symbolisms of God. This is one of the reasons that priests or “sadhus” will cover their eyes and never touch a female. Females are to be as far as possible from anything that holds religious symbolisms to the Gods. Kinesics is a very important aspect of religious Hindu ceremonies as well.
When praying to the deities one must always fold their hands and bow their head in gratitude. This universal sign applies as a greeting as well, when saying “Namaste” to one another. Bowing one’s head in gratitude gives humbleness to the human while power and respect to either the idol or a religious figure. Men often times during the end of a prayer fold their hands together and either kneel to the ground or completely lay face down and rest their folded hands in front of them. Once again, this is a sign to show respect and give power to the object in reverence.
One of the unique body movements observed in Swaminarayan culture is that towards the end of a prayer both men and women touch the feet of their neighbors while repeating the prayer. This is an indication of praying for the well-being of one’s neighbor, or in this case whoever is closest while seated. Younger children touch the feet of their elders and parents to gain blessings, and in return the elders will touch the head of the child with both hands to confirm that the blessing has been given.
This small act is not subjected solely to being part of the temple, but is often used universally to gain blessing in India. An extremely important body movement preformed when inside of the temple is circling one’s hands over the “holy flame” or Diya. The diya is a symbolism factor of the presence of God in all his light, since he is the creator of light, his mere presence can be found in the symbolic representation of a small flame.
After the prayer this small flame is brought around by numerous men and women to take the blessings and money of the people around them, to donate to charity. After thoroughly observing the kinesics and proxemics patterns of a traditional Hindu religious ritual, I have noticed that gender plays an extremely important role when it comes to faith. Men and women are separated at every aspect and women especially are deprived the privileges given to men simply because of their gender.
Understandably these rituals have been practiced and repeated for generations; however even in modern times such brutality within cultures for gender differences is obvious and revered by the practitioners. It has become such an important aspect of Swaminarayan culture that any change will not be welcomed with open arms. This goes to emphasize the point that kinesics and proxemics are relative to culture and are extremely important parts of it. Although embedded within minor occurrences, they can easily define the limitations and behavioral practices of a culture.
