"Conventional manners are a kind of literacy test for the alien who comes among us"
About this Quote
Katharine Fullerton Gerould's quote, "Conventional manners are a type of literacy test for the alien who comes among us", offers a poignant reflection on the role of social customs in examining and incorporating outsiders into a neighborhood. This declaration underscores the concept that societal standards and behaviors act as an unspoken requirement, or "test", by which individuals brand-new to a community are judged and evaluated.
The comparison of manners to a "literacy test" suggests that just as literacy is often seen as a vital ability for browsing and comprehending texts and interaction, so too is the understanding of traditional manners crucial for the successful navigation of social environments. To the "alien", or newcomer, this recommends that being perceived as qualified or capable within a society is contingent upon their capability to master these unspoken social codes.
Gerould's use of "alien" indicates someone who is foreign or unknown to the societal standards of a particular group-- this might be an actual immigrant from another nation or merely somebody from a different cultural or social background. For these individuals, understanding and adopting the traditional good manners of the new environment can be the key to approval and combination. Stopping working to do so may lead to social alienation or misconceptions, comparable to the method illiteracy can impede interaction and understanding.
Furthermore, the quote can be viewed as a critique of the implicit barriers neighborhoods established, frequently unknowingly, by sticking to stiff social norms. It highlights the obstacles dealt with by those who must take in into a new culture and suggests a requirement for empathy and openness from the established members of society. In essence, it calls attention to the sometimes exclusive nature of social conventions and the pressures they place on beginners attempting to suit.
Gerould's observation motivates reflection on how societies can unwittingly produce barriers to inclusion, and it underscores the importance of multicultural understanding and versatility in an increasingly interconnected world.
