Cultural Kaleidoscope
Social Culture in the U．S．A
The United States is a large country with a diverse social culture．However，there are some social characteristics and ideals that span the breadth of social cultural identities in the United States．
All people are considered equal in the United States．While divisive notions based on class，race，gender，and sexuality do exist，they aren’t embraced or necessarily accepted by the general public．Ideally，and in theory，all people in the U．S．are equal and therefore deserve 100 percent equal treatment．Discrimination is not acceptable and often illegal．Speaking poorly of people or treating them differently because of perceived differences is not acceptable and is entirely offensive in most social circles．In many cases，discriminating against people because of age，race，class，gender，sexuality，or any other social assignment is illegal and punishable by law．
Because the United States is so diverse，social norms can vary by family，social circle，community，city，state，or region．One thing to know about social norms in the United States is that there are no concrete social norms．This is for three main reasons：first，the United States’inception came through a collective of cultures and through time，that cultural diversity has been embraced as one of the United States’key characteristics．Second，the United States is large and，because of a series of historical events and migrations，divided by cultural regions that each embrace and express different social norms．Third，the U．S．Constitution guarantees certain freedoms that have allowed citizens of the U．S．to declare and establish a multitude of ideas，beliefs，and practices that have come to be understood as social norms．Because of these three things（and other events and circumstances—taking U．S．history classes will help you fully understand why the U．S．is the way it is），people in the U．S．express and embrace a huge array of social“norms”．The most“normal”social attitude in the U．S．as it relates to this phenomenon is to accept the country’s wide variety of social norms．While you certainly aren’t expected to embrace or even agree with every social norm you encounter，you are expected to allow people to live life as they want to live it，even if their way of life seems distinct from or incompatible with your own．
One of the greatest opportunities afforded to students who travel and study internationally is getting to witness and experience lifestyles distinct from their own．To participate in U．S．social culture，and to engage in the opportunity to witness and experience a culture distinct from your own，follow the following guidelines：
Be open-minded．Imagine that there is no“right”or“wrong”way to live—just different ways to live．Try to identify what is good and beautiful in every way of life，even if you don’t plan to embrace it in the long run．
Be curious．Ask lots of questions，conduct research，and engage in conversations to better understand social norms and cultures distinct from your own．
Be respectful．You don’t have to agree with every social or cultural norm you witness in the United States．In fact，you might be appalled by some of the social or cultural norms you witness in the U．S．You can，however，engage in a practice of respecting people’s rights to live the way they want to live．
Be courteous and generous．In the United States，courtesy and generosity are always welcomed and can be applied to any social setting．When in doubt，treat people well with kindness．(https://www.daowen.com)
美国的社会文化
美国是一个具有多元社会文化的大国。然而，在美国有一些社会特征和理想获得了广泛的社会文化认同。
所有人都被认为是平等的。虽然基于阶级、种族、性别和性取向的分裂观念确实存在，但这些观念却未必得到广大民众的欣然接受。在理想状态下，并从理论上说，美国所有的人都是平等的，因此应该得到百分之百的平等对待。歧视是不可接受的，而且往往是非法的。由于感知到别人的差异而说对方坏话或区别对待他们是不可接受的，在大多数社交圈是完全冒犯性的行为。在许多情况下，因年龄、种族、阶级、性别、性取向或任何其他社会地位而歧视他人是非法的，会受到法律的惩罚。
由于美国是如此多样化，社会规范会因家庭、社交圈、社区、城市、州或地区而有所不同。至于美国的社会规范，需要知道的一点是，这个国家没有具体的社会规范。这有三个主要原因：第一，美国的诞生是在多种文化的共同作用下产生的，而且随着时间的推移，这种文化多样性已被视为美国的主要特征之一。其次，美国幅员辽阔，由于一系列历史事件和移民，被文化区域划分开来，每个文化区域包含并表达不同的社会规范。第三，美国宪法保障美国公民的某些自由，允许其宣布和建立多种思想、信仰和习俗，这些思想、信仰和习俗已被理解为社会规范。因为这三方面（以及其他事件和情况——上美国历史课会帮助你完全理解为什么美国是现在这个样子），美国人表达并接受了大量的社会“规范”。对于这种现象，美国最“正常”的社会态度是接受这个国家各种各样的社会规范。你当然不会接受甚至同意你遇到的每一个社会规范，但你应该允许别人按照他们想要的生活方式生活，即使他们的生活方式与你的不同或不相容。
对于出国旅行和学习的学生来说，最大的收获之一是有机会见证和体验不同于他们自己的生活方式。要想融入美国社会文化，并有机会见证和体验一种与你自己的文化不同的文化，请遵循以下指南：
心胸开阔。想象一下，生活方式并没有“对”与“错”之分——只是生活的方式不同而已。试着去发现生活中每一方面的善与美，即使你不打算长期去接纳它们。
保持好奇心。多问问题，做研究，参与对话，以更好地理解与自己不同的社会规范和文化。
尊重他人。你不必认同你在美国看到的每一种社会或文化规范。事实上，你可能会被你在美国看到的一些社会或文化规范吓到。不过，你可以做到尊重他人想要按自己方式生活的权利。
做到彬彬有礼，落落大方。在美国，礼貌大方总是受欢迎的，而且适用于任何社交场合。当你不确定的时候，善待他人。