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Forman Christian College(A Chartered University)

Research Paper: Final Draft

Influence of western culture in Pakistan

Presented by Presented toShahid Ali Naeem Miss Zara Zamir

15-10403 ENGL103

Section J English Dept.

03 -06-2012

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Introduction:

Numerous studies have been conducted on the influence of western culture on our

culture. Cultural invasion happens when people get fascinated by other cultures and people

starts forgetting their moral values, traditions, etc. Culture is something by which people get

identity as a nation. Previous research blamed media for the influence of western culture in

Pakistan, the research stated that broadcasting of some television programs is sometimes

problematic for culture (Effects of cable television on women in Pakistan: a comparative study

of heavy and light viewers in Lahore, 2007).Other studies suggested Globalization raises mixing

cultural and leads to the removal of the negative aspects of culture (Globalization, Culture and

Identities in crisis, 2002).Some Author stated Culture exists in the mind of the members of the

society. It can be visible in the behavior of individuals (Culture and Self). British as the latest

brought many changes in our culture and Lahore as a main city has much more influenced

culture. Every society has its own culture which is different from the other ones. Thus, a nation

possesses a specific culture and has its own identity which we can call national culture. Our

country has plenty of different traditions. This is because our country has been invaded by many

different people belonging to different nations including the Turks, Persians, and British etc.

Western culture in Pakistan has replaced traditional and cultural values.

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LITERATURE REVIEW:

S. MacBride, et al., (1980) discussed the threat to cultural identity in the

MacBride Commission. The commission saw cultural identity endangered by the strong

influence of some dominant cultures; however the influenced nations may have more

ancient richer culture. (International Commission for the study of communication problems,

1980).

According to G. Yuan, D. Lihe, (2006) there are two types of culture

according to the region, eastern culture and western culture. A Western culture as a

dominant and more attractive one is being adopted in the Eastern regions (P. 242).

The conclusion drawn from these two researches is that the western culture is

more powerful as compared to the eastern culture, that’s why people are more likely to

adopt western culture.

According to a previous research Hollywood is a much more advanced industry; their

moral values are different from eastern moral values. Now it is media which is responsible for

the flow of culture. A channel of influence flows from Hollywood to Bollywood and then to our

Pakistan to affect cultural identity. (Effects of cable television on women in Pakistan: a

comparative study of heavy and light viewers in Lahore 2007). Media plays a vital role; the

youth of Pakistan is indulged in western media. The people have abandoned their own media

which highlights their glorious culture and is based upon their own lifestyle, whereas the

western media has nothing to do with the social background of Pakistanis. The hypnotizing

characters draw the attention of adults and children alike to indulge into hours of worthless

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entertainment. Due to their media the music industry doesn’t keep a balance between adult and

family programmers.

Johnson (1980) stated that the educational institutions play a very important role in

promoting culture.

According to a report Ulema, (Islamic scholars) said that the western

Influence on culture is due to the growing impact of western culture in the educational

institutions and ignorance of Islamic teaching in the country. The number of practicing

Muslims has decreased. Nowadays far less number goes to mosques than it did a decade

back. (Press TV, 2011).

From the above report and research it seems clear that government is

responsible for promotion of western culture, like media is under control of government so

government can open such channels, which can promote our culture.

According to a book culture get influenced when people have a belief of

Xenocentrism. It is the belief that “when people of a certain area start thinking that their

ideas and life styles are inferior to the foreign.” (Culture and Society). Here we all are

victims of xenocentrism because here we feel shy to take cultural food and cultural dresses.

Even we feel shy to listen to our cultural music as well.

Agreeing with the above phenomenon J. Marsella, G. Davos, F. Hsu (1985)

culture is strongly related to the minds of people. According to them some researchers have

found the occurrence of insanity in non-western culture due to inferiority (P. 283).

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According to another author M.I. Rabbani (2005), Pakistani culture is mixed

culture. There is great influence of Hindu and British cultures on the present Pakistani

society due to the British invasion and also we shared the same country with Hindus in past

(P.152). Our way of life, traditional and cultural values are totally different, but now these

all are changed and one day it will be fully changed. We have to promote our culture not

western culture.

Another article states that today, due to globalization, Pakistani culture is largely

influenced by the western society. Our traditional dress is ‘Shalwarkamiz’ which is mostly

turned in to shirt and trousers. This main influence is due to the fact that many Pakistani are

living abroad and they come back with this change. (Pakistani Culture, social and ethical

values of Pakistan). When someone uses to sit in foreign country for two years, then he

adopts their language and overall tradition. When he back to Pakistan he implement foreign

traditions here. Which is has a negative effect on our culture.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY:-

To add more importance to study about influence there was a survey. For this

purpose there were students of Forman Christian College University Lahore, as my research

is about the influence of western culture on Pakistan culture. The main objective of this

research is to observe the effects on the lives of people of Lahore.

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Method

Participants:-

The participants who filled out this questionnaire were selected from FC College

University Lahore; these are the students who are doing their bachelor’s degree under western

faculty and environment. Out of the 40 participants there were 18 females and 22 males,

between the ages of 18-22 with the mean age being 20. And these are all from University level.

P = Baccalaureate students of FFCU, N = 40, m = 22, f = 18, Location = FCCU Lahore.

Measures:

The method used for collecting information was a questionnaire which consisted of 11

questions both general and specific. The questions ranged from close-ended to open-ended.

Procedure:

The data from the questionnaire was grouped and the answers analyzed and

converted into percentages. The 40 participants were chosen randomly. The participants were

willing to fill out the questionnaire when it was asked of them. The 40 questionnaires were

distributed to the participants where they sat and were briefed about what the purpose of this

questionnaire was. At the end the participants were thanked for their participation.

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Results:-

Q.1 Do you think Lahore's culture is influence by western culture?

The graph shows 93.33% yes result and 6.66% no result with different reasons like

our dress, food, music and even language changed which shows that western culture is

influencing in Lahore culture.

Q.2 What do you think makes a culture?

The participants’ views showed that values have a great importance in our lives.

And it is one of the pillars of culture. And also life style plays a very important role in making

of culture. 46.66 % participants favored values, language, music, 36.66% said life style, norms,

standard of living and festivals while no one bother to click food as culture making, 10%

participants stated that religion is responsible for making of culture while 6% participants

focused traditions, habits and ideas.

Q.3 What are the main reasons of this influence?

The results for this questions shows that media is responsible for the western

influence on Pakistan’s culture. 83% participants blamed media as a medium of influence while

very few were likely to choose the educational institutes, government and visiting abroad.

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Q.4 Are these changes positive?

The result shows ‘no’ response mostly for this question they think that we are

forgetting our own identity due to these changes and these changes has pessimistic effect on us.

Q.5 Is it affecting our religion?

In the most participants point of view western culture is affecting our religion. 73

% showed yes response while 26% showed ‘no’ response because those values are contradictory

to Islam.

Q.6 Do you think Lahore culture is more influenced by western culture as compared to other

cities of Pakistan?

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The participants helped us figure out the most influenced city by western culture.

76.66 percent of the participants responded yes while very few said no.

Q.7 Is it taking us towards modernity?

Here participants responded equally for both of the choices. Half of the participants

said that yes, western culture is taking us towards modernity while half of the participants said

no.

Q.8 Do you think we can be developed by adopting western culture?

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Mostly the participants took side of our own culture. 76.66% said No, we cannot

be developed by adopting western culture but by following our own moral values and culture.

Q.9 Which side of our culture is more influenced?

Most of the participants choose the most influenced part of our culture as a dress.

66.66% of the participants give their views that our dressing style has more influenced as

compared to others.

Q.10 How can our culture be more Pakistani?

The result of this question shows that by following religion our culture can be

more Pakistan and by celebrating our cultural festivals. Some of the participants wrote their

different opinions. For example, by following our norms and values. If we stop watching media

that is western channel then our culture be more Pakistani.

Q.11 Why do we prefer to wear jeans and eat burger or sandwiches?

There were different options like its style to wear jeans; they don’t get dirty if we

wear then for one week. Regarding eating they were saying that it’s a quick source of energy

and its fashion too as well.

Analysis:

Q.1 Do you think Pakistan’s culture is influenced by western culture?

The result shows that Lahore’s culture is heavily influenced by western culture

because 93% of the participants declare that yes, the culture of Pakistan is influenced by

western culture.

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Q.2 What do you think makes a culture?

The result showed that values have a great importance in our lives. It is one of

the pillars of culture, and also life style plays a very important role in the making of culture.

46.66 % participants favored values, 36.66% said life style while no one bother to choose food

as a culture maker; 10% participants stated that religion is responsible for making of culture

while 6% participants chose all options.

Q.3 What are the main reasons of this influence?

The results for this questions shows that media is responsible for the western

influence on Lahore’s culture. 83% participants blamed media as a medium of influence while

very few were likely to choose the educational institutes and because of people visiting abroad

and bringing the western culture with them back to the country.

Q.4 Are these changes positive?

Graph result showed ‘No’ result mostly for this question because the changes we

are having now in our culture because of the western influence can’t be positive. The young

generation seldom cares for the old parents and so, sadly, old age houses have been established.

Obsession with English is so much that many Pakistanis, who speak and write English well, are

unable to understand Urdu.

Q.5 Is it affecting our religion?

Most part of our culture is religious. So the result shows that western culture influencing

means changes in our religion. Pakistan was formed on the name of Islam and to ensure that

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Muslims can have a peaceful environment where they can practice their religion without any

hindrance. It is really affecting our religion by changing our norms and values.

Q.6 Do you think Lahore culture is more influenced by western culture as compared

to other cities of Pakistan?

Lahore’s culture is of course influenced by western culture, and this is shown by

the graph result. Almost 80% of the participants responded that yes, Lahore is the main city that

is heavily influenced by western culture, and if we go back through history, we will figure out

that Lahore was an important city in British rule, so the English had their culture here adopted

the most.

Q.7 Is it taking us towards modernity?

For this question the graph results were equal for both of the options. If we see

the results, we will figure out that western influence is taking us towards modernity while on the

other hand we figure out that that it is leading us away from our religion and our own national

culture.

Q.8 Do you think we can be developed by adopting western culture?

From the graph results we conclude that development does not depend on culture

and by putting our own culture aside and adopting any other culture doesn’t mean that we are

among developed countries.

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Q.9 Which side of our culture is more influenced?

The results show that the most influenced part of our culture is our dressing

style. 66.66% of the participants give their views that our dressing style has been more

influenced as compared to others like language, food, etc.

Q.10 How can our culture be more Pakistani?

The results of this question shows that by following religion our culture can be

more Pakistani and by celebrating our cultural festivals our culture can be more Pakistani.

While some of the participants wrote their different opinions. For example some of the

participants said by following our norms and values.

Q.11 Why do we prefer to wear jeans and eat burger or sandwiches?

Result shows that, mostly they use it as style and fashion. Some students were saying

that, we wear jeans for look good and fast food for balanced diet. It shows that in our culture

food and dress been changed.

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Conclusions:-

From the previous researches and studies it is concluded that it is difficult

to be safe from culture influence because it is the nature of us that when something fascinates us

we want it to be ours and try our best to get it. Culture is just like something that we fancy and

then we adopt it and don’t even think about the problems that we are going to face because of it.

The western culture being the most attractive and dominant of all the cultures, we try to adopt it.

We need to promote our culture and moral values in schools or college’s level so that, the youth

should know what the national and cultural identity is.

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Works Cited

1. Johnson, N. B. The Material Culture of Public School Classrooms: The Symbolic

Integration of Local Schools and National Culture: Springer, (1980).

2. Kahn, M. A. Media Imperialism and Its Effects on Culture of Pakistan: Global

Media Journal, (2006).

3. Lieber, R. J, Weisberg, R. E. Globalization, Culture and Identity in Crisis: Springer,

(2002).

4. Marcella, G, Davos, G, Hsu, F. Culture and self, (1985).

5. MacBride, S International Commission of Communication Problem: UNESCO,

(1980).

6. Rabbani, M. I. Introduction to Pakistan: Carvan Press, (2005).

7. http://insideoutpakistan.blogspot.com/

8. http://www.essaydepot.com/doc/44955/Influence-Of-Western-Culture-In-Pakistan