Comparing the Us and the Netherlands
By: hannahcworkman • December 5, 2016 • Research Paper • 3,959 Words (16 Pages) • 1,147 Views
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Comparing the US and the Netherlands
Hannah Workman
Macroeconomics
Summary
My name is Hannah Workman and I am currently a junior studying Food Marketing and Supply Chain Management at Western Michigan University. During the spring semester, I took part in a study abroad program in the Netherlands. I lived in Utrecht, Netherlands for approximately five months where I studied International Marketing Management at Hogeschool Utrecht. On top of studying, I was able to truly immerse myself into many aspects of the Dutch lifestyles and culture which has changed my perspectives on many areas of life back in America.
This Research Report goes into depth about the research I’ve conducted comparing the US with the Netherlands. In doing so, I wanted to highlight the main differences and also what the two cultures have in common. The purpose of this research was not only to see differences but also to draw conclusions from the data collected to point out any significant correlations between the two cultures. I used qualitative types of research when collecting data. On top of using literary sources, I interviewed a number of individuals (Americans) who have spent significant amounts of time in the Netherlands.
Table of Contents
Summary
Introduction
Literature Review
The pleasure society – tolerant or indifferent?
On Gender, Generations and Personal Relations
On Images and Stereotypes
Research Design
Qualitative Research Approach
Procedures
Analyzing Data
Research Tools
Conceptual Framework
Data Collection and Analysis
Conclusion
Bibliography
Introduction
This report contains the results and findings from the research I’ve conducted in depth. In the first section, the Literature Review, you can find detailed information regarding the culture and behavioral norms found throughout Dutch society and my personal comparisons to culture and behavioral norms in the US. I also address many gaps in between the two societies that drew my attention that need to be filled in order to answer my main research questions. My primary source for the Literature Review is the book, Dealing with the Dutch by Jacob Vossestein.
In the next section, Research Design, I will go more into depth about the methodology of my research. I will explain not only the type of research used, but also why I chose to use this method. I will also include any additional tools I used in doing my research (i.e. surveys, interviews, questionnaires, etc.) I will go on to explain how I analyzed the data I collected from my research and also how I will present my analysis of my data. I will include examples of the methods used as well, in this case it is mainly qualitative in the form of interviews.
In the third section, Research Tools, I will present the main components I used in order to conduct my research. I will begin by stating the exact questions that formed the basis of my research. In this section, you can find the exact questions that was asked to my interviewees. In addition, you can find the conceptual framework used for my research.
In the following section, Data Collection and Analysis, I provide a thorough presentation of the data I collected during my research. I will describe the techniques I used to collect and analyze my data. Furthermore, I will provide visuals (i.e. tables, graphs, charts, etc.) to make the results easier to interpret.
In the last section, Conclusions and Discussions, I will finally link my results to my main research questions. I will then go on to conclude what I know based on the findings that have been analyzed. Then, I will provide recommendations based on my findings.
Literature Review
The pleasure society – tolerant or indifferent?
Authority
As the author mentions, the attitude of many Dutch citizens is that they “wish to be their own boss” (Vossestein, 160). Since everyone is treated as equals that goes for police officers and those that work in uniform. Often times, disputes are handled with calm discussions and police force is only used when absolutely necessary. Coming from America, this is very different because so often you see in the media police using a lot of force even when unavoidable and many disputes are handled with interrogation, arrests, and in the worst cases violence. I believe that the more peaceful approach that the Dutch use is much more effective because you are not taught to fear the police, they are truly there to help when needed.
Political backgrounds: pluriformity
Politics in the Netherlands I find, is much different than politics in America. It seems to me to be much less competitive and Dutch citizens don’t simply stay with one political party but rather, vote for leaders who they truly believe will benefit their country. In addition, there seems to be much less corruption, which is a huge problem in the world of American politics. The author states, “Corruption in government circles is extremely rare and widely published if it ever occurs. In my opinion, the biggest problem with American politics is the competition between parties that results in lack of compromise and also the mindset that “money is power.” Rather than parties helping each other like in the Netherlands, parties in America just like to tell each other “I’m right, you’re wrong.”
Drugs Policy
Another subject that is very different compared to America, is the attitude towards drugs. In America, no matter what drug you use and how much you possess, you are treated as a criminal in society. In addition, rehabilitation programs are extremely expensive and often times users of drugs just end up in jail rather than receiving help and once they leave jail, they return to the streets and continue to use drugs and eventually end up back in jail, a sad, deadly cycle. Here in the Netherlands, unless you possess massive amounts or are displaying addictive behavior, most people will leave you alone. Also, since drugs are so tolerated, there is a much lower number of addicts and teenage drug use. This all just makes so much more sense to me and I wish there were more people in America that had this sort of mindset.
On Gender, Generations and Personal Relations
Women in Dutch Society
It was very surprising to me to read that women in the Netherlands rarely hold managerial positions, “only one in twenty,” (Vossestein, 202). In America, it is very common for women to hold management positions, depending on the field of work, of course. In my personal experience at my internship last summer where I worked in purchasing for an automotive supplier, the Director of Purchasing was a woman and so were many of the other Directors of other departments. It was also surprising for me to read that the women that do hold management positions, most are foreign. It makes me wonder if there are a shortage of women in the Dutch workforce to the point where they have to hire in women from other countries?
Women at Work
It seems that up until the past 50 years, women in the Netherlands had limited independence. The author states, “married women in NL were not allowed to independently sign contracts or other legal documents until 1957” (Vossestein, 203). I found this to be interesting because I never would have imagined such a thing in the Netherlands because most Dutch women I’ve met seem to be very independent. Another factor I found to be surprising was the pay gap between genders in the Netherlands, women only being paid 77% of male colleague’s hourly salaries. There is quite a large pay gap in America, but I never imagined it would be this significant here! Lastly, I found it interesting how women are four times more likely to become dependent on social benefits. I found this interesting again because women in the Netherlands seem to be hardworking and independent and I would have thought that they would try to avoid dependence on social benefits at all costs.
On Images and Stereotypes
Before I arrived in the Netherlands, I too, was under the impression that it was an extremely easy-going country where anything goes. Since I had never been to the Netherlands (or Europe for that matter) I had nothing to base my assumptions off of other than what you see in the media. After arriving here and living here for a few months now, my perceptions have of course changed. I will reflect on the stereotypes I found to be significant in this section.
The permissive, lenient image
As mentioned above, I previously saw the Netherlands as a place where anything goes. I had no knowledge about the laws or any other city really besides Amsterdam. All I heard about was the lax drug laws and the Red Light District and assumed the rest of the country was similar to that. Even though I was extremely wrong about this, I am not disappointed by it, I love Amsterdam for all that it is but I think it would be too much if the entire country were to be like this.
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