11. Gender Issues.

The Women's Liberation Movement began in 1960s. It was started by women who were concerned about their identity, their role in society, and their work.

This movement is not a political party. It is more like a forum or platform from which feminists speak out on women's issues.

Many women want full equality with men in every aspect of life. In marriage, they want husbands and wives to share all the work and responsibilities of a home and a family. In work, they want women and men to have the same jobs and the same chance to succeed. They want women to be paid just as much as men for the same work.

The Women's Liberation movement has not yet achieved all its goals, some of which are controversial even among women. The Women’s Liberation Movement helps these women to improve their views of themselves. The Women's Liberation Movement is trying to give women a chance to show what they can do.

GENDER PROJECTS IN BELARUS

In 1995, UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Social Welfare, initiated the "Women in Development" (WID) project for the women of Belarus. This initiative lead to the establishment of the "Gender Information and Policy Centre" (GIPC), and in 1997, GIPC came under the umbrella of UNDP and has a national agenda on enhancing the position of women in Belarus in all spheres of life through various activities and initiatives.

UNDP support has a huge impact in putting gender and women's issues on the national agenda. In particular, GIPC and Family and Gender Issues Department were successful in getting 16 documents approved by the Decrees of the President and resolutions of the Council of Ministers. These documents aimed at improving equality between women and men, strengthening social protection of women, family and children.

12. Cross-Cultural Communication.

• TYPES OF CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION. Contacts across cultural and national boundaries will increase. People are more mobile than ever. They travel from country to country and from continent to continent for both business and pleasure.

There are fourteen separate types of cross-cultural contact . Here are some of them: study.(students from all over the world are interacting with each other in increasing numbers.), business, embassy staff, Language interpreters, Technical assistance, Military people, Emigrants, Researchers, tourists and other.

• MAIN CONCEPTS OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

To understand the problems that are created from having contacts across cultural and national boundaries, it is important to understand the definition of a culture. Culture and language are so closely tied together they are inseparable. The structure of the language determines both thinking and behavior.

1. Culture

A culture is an identifiable group whose members share beliefs, customs, communication patterns, and a common history through communication behavior.

2. Subculture

In some ways, each subculture resembles the larger culture, but each one may be identified as unique and separate from the larger culture by certain distinct features. Race, age, geography, national origin, linguistic patterns, and a large number of vocational and avocational mores and norms identify specific subcultures.

3. Culture Shock

. Culture shock is the psychological reaction of stress that sometimes occurs when an individual enters a culture very different from their own.

4. Ethnocentric reactions

When we react ethnocentrically, we ignore the distinctions between our own culture and another person’s culture.

• SUGGESTIONS FOR THE CROSS-CULTURAL SOJOURNER

1. Learn the Rules of the New Culture.

Read about the culture, try to develop a respect for another's traditions

2. Assume Responsibility

Try to learn the language of the new culture. Learn to count. Learn the money system and to recognize and name the bills and coins. Learn to tell time. Learn to ask in the other language for help with a language translation.

3. Observe Carefully

The cross-cultural traveler should also be a careful observer.

4. Tolerate Differences

The first part of learning to be tolerant of differences is to identify one's own prejudices.

5. Develop Flexibility

Developing your flexibility implies opening yourself to the rich opportunities of a different culture. Try new foods. Try new sounds. Try new clothing and social activities.

• BRITISH AND AMERICAN CULTURE

One of the charms of the British is that they have so little idea of their own virtues, and nowhere is this more true than with their happiness. You will laugh to hear me say it, but they are the happiest people on earth. Honestly. Watch any two Britons in conversation and see how long it is before they smile or laugh over some joke or pleasantry. It won't be more than a few seconds.

All this is completely alien to the American mind. To an American the whole purpose of living, the one constant confirmation of continued existence, is to cram as much sensual pleasure as possible into one's mouth more or less continuously. Gratification, instant and lavish, is a birthright.