Heterogenous Globalization

2011-01-04

I've traveled a fair amount, and anytime I go to a different place I always notice local fashion. Often the differences in fashion between difference places are fairly subtle. Nonetheless they are significant enough to easily catch my eye. Certainly, people in different areas often have physical differences too, which may in turn influence fashion choices. Often though, the way people dress and project themselves seems to most greatly affects how they look. I first noticed this traveling from Taiwan to Hong Kong. Both populations largely share the same biological ancestry (Han chinese). I was surprised to find that people in Hong Kong looked significantly different to me compared to the Taiwanese. How could people who objectively were supposed to share the same physical traits subjectively appear to be so different?

Considering the amount of corporate globalization and the ubiquity of big-name fashion retailers today, it's surprising that fashion still differs by region. Often these differences are explained away as leftovers from a pre-globalized world. Total Assimilation is simply not yet complete. Sociologists have assumed from the beginning that globalization means that everyone and everything will become alike. Certainly, this is at least partially true. Many languages and traditions are dying out rapidly. Entire ethnicities have been wiped out by either violence or assimilation. But I have to wonder. Maybe local cultures can, do, and will persist and evolve despite globalization. Perhaps globalization does not mean the end to heterogeneous culture.

As much as we change our landscapes, nature still plays a large role in shaping local environment. For examples, how flat or mountainous an area is, or the kind and size of waterways substantially change how we build and navigate our cities. Our architectural choices likewise affect how we conduct our lives. Perhaps these local differences will persist despite globalization, along with local cultures.