Monoculturalism is a term often used in sociology to describe group dynamics. It refers to a culture that is dominated by a single shared objective, belief or other elements that define a group.
In a monocultural frame, one sees the world with their own experiences as the definition of “normal”. Therefore, any notion that deviates from this belief is seen as wrong and socially inacceptable.
A prime example of this is Germany in the 1930s, where the monoculture is easily identifiable. What people accepted to be good and evil at that time and place was shown to be far from the truth. As we often identify good and bad based on our surroundings, developing the objectivity required to look past our monocultures is a complicated task. Once an idea is deeply ingrained in one’s mind as true, it no longer registers as “cultural” or “subjective”.
So how does this concept pertain to our daily lives?
On a deeper level, monoculturalism is what breeds stereotypes and stigmas. The deeply ingrained notions of what “normal” looks like inherently clash with alienated concepts which may not exist in our culture but may exist in others.
For example, the man – the husband and father - is usually the pillar that holds the house together. A pillar’s job is to hold the structure together and keep it from falling apart. Therefore, a defective pillar – one that can no longer support the weight on its back – loses its value. Similarly, the idea of the supporting pillar seeking support – in the form of therapy – is inherently alien, as it is seen as a sign of weakness – the polar opposite of what a man should resemble.
On a more personal level, we often believe that in order to live our best lives, we should decide what we want and go after it. The inherent flaw in this belief is that we are psychologically incapable of predicting what makes us happy. Your brain cannot fathom what you have not experienced – which is why you wake up if you “die” in your dreams.
When you choose what you want for the future, you are simply recreating an already existing solution or a past ideal based on your experiences.
When things don’t go as planned, you automatically assume that you failed, when in reality you just failed at recreating something you perceived as ideal. You may have recreated something that is even better, yet your brain interprets it as foreign and therefore “bad”.
This is why people often preach that one should “Live in the moment” and to “experience new things”, as it is the only way to think outside the box that just happens to be your skull.
This topic also relates to another common misconception: that “problems” are the walls between where we are and where we want to be.
As Marcus Aurelius points out: “The impediment to action advances the action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” This means that problems are in fact pathways, not barriers.
Facing a problem forces you to take action to resolve it. That action leads you to thinking differently, behaving differently and choosing differently.
The “problem” becomes the catalyst for your progression. It simply pushes you outside your comfort zone.
In a world that values individuality and personal growth, it's essential to recognise the limitations of monoculturalism.
By acknowledging and embracing a range of personal experiences, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and others.
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