Over a century ago (between 1870-1890), the United States experienced an industrial growth expansion that brought people from around the globe. Leaving behind their homeland to embark on what could be considered, a promise for a better life. In reality, the late nineteenth and early twentieth century summed up poor approach to global diversity. The workforce was faced with many challenges when ethnocentrism, defined as, “exaggerated tendency to think the characteristics of one’s own group or race is superior to those of other groups or races”(World Campus 2018), is the most apparent form of leadership. Few leaders owned and controlled the majority of the industries, but people united and in doing so, paved the way for generations to prosper and grow.
Gilded Age
By 1910, a million patents had been issued in the United States, 900,000 of them after 1870. Goldfield et al. (2017). To manufacture these new products being invented, industries were filled with low-skilled workers. While gender roles are viewed differently now, during this time in history, masculinity/ feminity raised concerns among not just the reformers, but also the male workers needing employment. To hear and read about the tribulations of females can easily promote anger, but the future result is where progress rests. There still exists the gender roles some cultures hold onto. In the United States, equal pay has been on the forefront of the American workers. The group rather than the individual is where strength rests. Formed of many different cultures, but hold one belief, equality.
Culture
There were specific patterns of the various nations. East coast, West coast, immigration tended to be region specific. The desire of the new immigrants to retain their cultural traditions led contemporary observers to doubt their ability to assimilate into American society. Goldfield et al. (2017). A misinterpretation of the adaptability of the shared common factor that is the human race. Initially, groups tend to gather with likeminded and similar individuals to one’s self. Hofstede (2001) is quoted: “Culture is the collective programming of the mind that distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from another.” Landing on foreign soil with nothing but the clothes on their backs, the need for some sense of familiarity had to be overwhelming. The natural need for acceptance led immigrants to stay within their race and develop communities based on the cultural and religious beliefs.
Conclusion
Much like the Titanic, the story of immigration in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries has already been written. A defining time in history that has opened the doors to a new approach as to how twenty-first-century organizations can learn and improve from our past. Low wages, dangerous working conditions, and employees without a voice, all indicative of poor organizational communication. Monopolization and leaders who either did not understand others or just did not care showed the ugly side of business. Progression and the desire to succeed is what fueled the employers, no matter the cost. In a different way, those were the same driving forces of the employees. The strength and values of individuals and groups are what pioneered the way for our generation. Immigrants and migrants with the ability to see beyond the hurdles saw that unifying rather than separating was necessary for success. The importance of some things never change.
References:
Goldfield et al. (2017). The American Journey; A history of the United States. New York, NY: Pearson Education, Inc
Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture’s consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Pennsylvania State University (2018). Leadership in Global Context OLEAD410. Lesson 2: Introduction to Culture, Penn State World Campus, The Pennsylvania State University.
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