Taboos in Indonesia and America

Shantika Erina Azel
CCU TASK
  1. Mention some taboos ( in Indonesia) which are not considered taboos in America.


  1. Kissing in Public Place
In Indonesia kissing your couple in a public area is considered as something that is not permitted to do. But in America it is a common thing to do to show love and affection.
  1. Girls are not allowed to back home over 0.00 A.M
In Indonesia parents command her daughters to come back home before midnight in order to prevent bad things happened. But in America they have their own freedom about it.
  1. Going to night club
In Indonesia some people still considered going to night club as a taboo because there are a lot of girls wearing short dresses, people drinking alcohol and others which can make they become drunk that will leads into bad things. But in America, Going to night club it is okay, because it is one way of entertaining themselves.
  1. Wearing sexy swimsuit at the beach and public swimming pool
In Indonesia Wearing sexy swimsuit at the beach and public swimming pool is taboo but in America it is a common thing.
  1. Leaving your job and work in a new place for a better life and experience and then come back to your old office.
In Indonesia it is considered as taboo because we have to be loyal with our company or office. But in America it is not a big deal, they will accept you as what you are as long as you got the capability, good skill, and competence to work there.




  1. Mention some taboos in America which are not considered as taboos in Indonesia


  • Asking someone age
In america this is considered as impolite when you ask someone age, except for document use or data. For instance, asking someone age for driving license, ID card and so on. It is not problem if you ask someone age for those things, but it will be different if u ask it directly at the first meeting. The person will feel annoyed by that kind of question.
  • Asking about how much money someone earns
In America it is considered as taboo cause it is impolite to ask how much money someone earns. The person will feel annoyed when you ask about it. But in Indonesia it is not a big deal.
  • Asking about their religion directly
It is considered as taboo because american think that you intimidate and make prejudice about themselves relating to their religion.

  1. Mention some taboos that might be considered universal


  • Asking too personal question at the first meeting


Asking too personal question at the first meeting is considered as impoliteness. Because people has their own privacy that they dont want to tell about it at the first meeting.


  • Asking about menopause


Asking a woman whether she got menopause or not is considered as impoliteness in many countries.


  • Showing the soles of your feet
In many Arab, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist countries, showing the soles of your feet is a sign of disrespect, as they’re considered the lowest, and dirtiest part of the body, since they touch the dirty ground. Men should cross their legs with caution.
  • Wearing shoes inside
In some places, shoes are not worn inside a house. Because some people think that you want to make their floor become dirty by your shoes.


  1. Mention some possible sources of misunderstanding among people around the world.


  • Hand Gestures
    Hand gestures such as throwing a thumbs up. In a lot of countries, especially in the Middle East, Latin America, Western Africa, Russia and Greece, a thumbs up basically has the same meaning as holding up a middle finger does for Americans.
  • Different Tone of Speaking
Different tone of speaking can also cause misunderstanding. Some people in certain countries usually talk in high intonation although that others will think they are angry but in fact they are not.
  1. Why do you need to study Cross Cultural Understanding as a subject ?
What advantages can you get from it ?

To learn about others culture that has differences to our country so I can prepare myself well before going abroad in order to avoid misunderstanding that can leads into bad things, for instance : fight and war. The advantages that I can get from studying Cross Cultural Understanding are I can get a lot of knowledge about others culture, I can prepare myself well before going abroad so I will not shock because of differences of our culture with others culture, I can adjust myself with their culture in their country and avoid misunderstanding happened.

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