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Cultural contracts refer to the degree that cultural values are exchanged between groups. [1] It extends identity negotiation theory and uncertainty reduction theory by focusing defining the negotiation experience from the persepective of minority groups when dealing with majority cultural norms. Cultural contracts theory was developed in 1999[2] by Dr. Ronald L. Jackson, an identity scholar and a professor in media and cinema studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Contracts

Cultural Contract Types
Ready-to-Sign
Quasi-Complete
Co-Created

Cultural contracts suggests that mainstream and marginalized identities are in natural conflict. In order to achieve communication, individuals must decide how much of their values will be negotiated. This results in one of three contracts by the minority identity: ready-to-sign contracts (assimilating to mainstream values); quasi-completed contracts (adapting marginalized values to accommodate mainstream values); and co-completed contracts (validating both mainstream and marginalized values).[3]. Most individuals are not aware that they create or sign cultural contracts.

Each contract is a “result of how identities have been personally and socially constructed and exposed."[4] The first contract is a ready-to-sign contract (assimilation), which result in replacing one value for another. There is no room for negotiating marginalized identity with mainstream ideals. For example, "fitting in to corperate America" is an example of a ready-to-sign contract, where employees are expected to consistently change their behavior, apperance, or other part of their identity to gain acceptance. The quasi-completed contracts (adaptation) result in temporarily incorporating a small part of a marginalized value to the mainstream value. In this example, a person attending a corporate event may feel pressure to agree to a certain standard of attire, but this is not expected beyond that instance. Lastly, co-completed contracts (mutual validation) result in blending values together. Cultural differences are acknowledged and valued in this contract.[5] In certain instance, values are deeply penetrated and are not up for exchange. Others are more surface and the perceived benefits of the contract do not conflict with our core identity. This will determine if an individual is willing to sign a cultural contract or remain in conflict.[6]The contracts can be signed one or two ways: the signee perceives a benefit in accomodating or assimilating, or the signee is forced to accomodate or assimilate.

Applications. In addition to identity research, cultural contracts theory has beeen used in higher education scholarship to explore the relationships between European American students and African American faculty[7][8][9] The theory has also been used to explore the cultural contracts African American women sign in their beauty and hair choices.[10]

References

  1. ^ Jackson, R. L. (2002). Cultural contracts theory: Toward an understanding of identity negotiation. Communication Quarterly, 50, 359-67.
  2. ^ Jackson, R. L. (1999). The Negotiation of Cultural Identity. Westport, CT: Praeger Press.
  3. ^ Jackson. R. L. (2004). Cultural contracts theory: Toward a critical rhetorical identity. In New approaches to rhetoric
  4. ^ Jackson, R. L. & Crawley, R. (2003). White Student Confessions about an African American male professor: A Cultural Contracts Theory approach to intimate conversations about race and worldview. Journal of Men's Studies, 12(1), 25-42
  5. ^ Hecht, M. L., Jackson, R. L., & Ribeau, S. A. (2003). African American communication: Exploring ethnic identity and culture, p. 248. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
  6. ^ Jackson, R. L. (2002). Cultural contracts are not unique and can either be short-term or long-term. This depends on the level of confidence a person has in her worldview. Although negotiation of cultural differences is expected, mutual validation is not always the goal or intent of human interaction. Cultural contracts theory: Toward an understanding of identity negotiation. Communication Quarterly, 50, 359-67
  7. ^ Jackson, R. L., & Crawley, R. L. (2003). White student confessions about a Black male professor: A cultural contracts theory approach to intimate conversations about race and worldview. The Journal of Men’s Studies, 12, 25-41
  8. ^ Harris, T. M. (2007). Black feminist thought and cultural contracts: Understanding the intersection and negotiation of racial, gendered, and professional identities in the academy. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 110, 55-64.
  9. ^ (2003, April). “Intercultural relationships work best when both sides treat each other as equals.” Science Blog. <http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/G/20035017.html>
  10. ^ Robinson-Moore, C. L. , 2008-11-20 "Beauty Perceptions and Identity Negotiations: Examining Black Female Beauty through Cultural Contracts Theory" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the NCA 94th Annual Convention, TBA, San Diego, CA Online <PDF>. 2010-03-11 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p260002_index.html

External links

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