The culture of smoking in Poland was such a regular part of daily life that three-quarters of Polish men aged 20 to 60 smoked every day, and nearly 30 percent of women had that severe habit. In the 1970s-1990s, tobacco-related economic operations were cheap and profitable for the government, and the unstable social times led citizens to use cigarettes to decrease anxiety. However, after the fall of communism, the opportunity to regulate the situation occurred, and Polish society started to switch the tobacco abuse culture to a healthier mode. Cigarette consumption was controlled by establishing age limits, restricting tobacco advertisements, printing warnings, providing free support for quitters, and more (Center for Global Development [CGDEV]). These legislative and social actions decreased smoking rates, lung cancer cases and improved health awareness among the Polish citizens.
In the 1970s-1990s, Poland was in devastating economic conditions that worsened when communism was abolished, and the markets fell. The political situation caused the unstable living conditions that forced citizens to develop the severe habit of smoking (CGDEV). A social factor that promoted smoking is the people’s example: although the lung cancer rates were growing, tobacco usage was still normalized as numerous Polish men and women did it. Different sets of reasons can cause health issues, thus society could reject cigarettes’ influence on their conditions. Besides, smoking was widely advertised in Poland, and the government thought that the profitable business was more important than healthcare for the country.
The difficulty of dealing with cultural bias depends on how crucial they are for a particular group, and I overcome them by providing convincing evidence regarding an issue. The groups whose cultural biases are tied to religious beliefs or traditions tend to support their views more persistently than the others. The cultural information helps people broaden their perception of their own culture and recognize others’ boundaries that need not be interrupted while communicating. The bias developed about certain groups can only lead to stereotyping if a person does not understand that every individual has a unique experience and worldview. Today, globalization impacted intercultural communication and increased my awareness of others’ backgrounds. I use that knowledge in my practice to show respect and build trusting relationships.
Reference
Center for Global Development. (n.d.). Curbing tobacco use in Poland. Web.