Crossing Cultures: Peruvian Culture Brief Overview for PMs
Before your arrival to Cusco, it is highly suggested that you spend some time discovering Peruvian culture. Peruvians prioritize aspects of their life differently than Americans. While work and success may be extremely important to Americans, Peruvians tend to enjoy life and “not sweat the small stuff.” Similarly, while Americans may really enjoy their alone time, Peruvians are far more likely to function as a unit, not succeeding without friends and family.
Below is a chart that compares the different drivers of Peruvian culture with those of the United States. Take a few minutes to read over the explanations and examples and imagine how you might react to certain situations here in Cusco. We will chat more about cultural differences during the incountry orientation.
Peru In comparison with the United States
1. Power distance is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.
Some observers trace back Peru´s PDI score to the tightly structured and centralized Inca empire; others point out that it has been fostered by colonial and authoritarian governments as well as the church. However, subordinates still perceive superiors as difficult to access and do not trust them. Superiors consider subordinates as being of a different kind and ask for respect – particularly if the latter are of black or indigenous origin.
Example: Discrimination is not uncommon in Peru, specifically with those of black or indigenous origin. As a gringa you will automatically be assumed to have money and to come from a higher class. You may be asked to be a godmother in the hopes that you will financially support a child. You will be constantly be asked to “gift” small, often personal items to children that we work with or even just to kids on the street. It is accepted in Peruvian culture that you are a foreigner and therefore must come from a higher status.
2. Individualism is the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with whether people´s selfimage is defined in terms of “I” or “We”. In Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to ‘in groups’ that take care of them in exchange for loyalty.
With a value of 16 Peru shows a very collectivistic score, in line with most other Latin American countries. Among other consequences, it is interesting to highlight that in general people here find large companies attractive and that, particularly among blue collar workers, the involvement with the company is moral – and not calculative. Managers endorse more traditional points of view and only slowly start supporting employee initiative and group activity. In general they aspire to conformity and prefer having security over having autonomy in their position.
Example: Peru is very much a collectivist society and in some ways this is refreshing. You will find that people are generally and sometimes genuinely, helpful. You will also find that things you consider personal, are not personal here and are appropriate to ask about. Taxis will constantly ask you if you are married, in a relationship or single. If you are in a relationship, why aren’t you married already? If you are married, why don’t you have children? If you are single, are you looking for a Peruvian man to marry?
3. Masculinity is the dimension that determines what motivates people, wanting to be the best (masculine) or liking what you do (feminine).
At 42 Peru is a rather feminine society. This trait has been the source of many cultural clashes and misunderstandings. For expatriates, locals were aloof or downright lazy. The actual reasons, however, were the locals weaker achievement motivation, their preference for human contacts and family over recognition or wealth, and the marginal role awarded to work by large sectors of the population.
Example: The mentality to “work to live not live to work” is more prominent in Peruvian society. Things happen much slower here which makes organizing events much more difficult. When dealing with administration at Pacca, you will find it hard to create an agenda and set dates because the culture is so relaxed and can even feel lazy or unmotivated.
4. Uncertainty Avoidance is the extent to which the members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have created beliefs and institutions that try to avoid these is reflected in the UAI score.
At 87 Peru scores high on UAI – and so do the majority of Latin American countries that belonged to the Spanish kingdom. These societies show a strong need for rules and elaborate legal systems in order to structure life. The individual’s need to obey these laws, however, is weak. Corruption is widespread and the black market is sizeable.
Example: Peru scores an 87 for a reason! The black market is very sizeable in Cusco so be careful if you visit it. As a gringa you will be targeted. Do not bring bags with you. If you carry money, keep it in a shoe or in another hidden area. Thieves will try to distract you by pouring dirt on your head or even spitting on you. A group of Peruvians will likely try to “help you” after witnessing such an act, but in reality, the could be robbing you.
Most Peruvians also don’t like to be unsure of anything, they will often give you the response they think you want to hear even if they have no idea what the answer is. When asking if a store is open you will likely here “Si! Por supuesto!” and then the store will be closed. This may also spawn from the history of colonialism and the prior need to always please foreigners. On the other hand, Peruvians do not tend to worry about the future, which can be frustrating when trying to plan events. While there may be a lot of official rules, it does not feel as though there is a lot of order.
5. Pragmatism describes how every society has to maintain some links with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and future, and societies prioritise these two existential goals differently.
With a low score of 25, Peruvian culture is more normative than pragmatic. People in such societies have a strong concern with establishing the absolute Truth; they are normative in their thinking. They exhibit great respect for traditions, a relatively small propensity to save for the future, and a focus on achieving quick results.
Example: Peruvians tend to be extremely traditional and can have some strange beliefs from the perspective of a gringa. Many Peruvians believe that the first 12 days of August represent the 12 months of the year. If it rains on the 2nd of August, that is because it represents the month of February and that is in the middle of the rainy season. They seem to always have a reason or an excuse for everything, even if the question or discussion doesn’t require an excuse. As mentioned above, they like to please and are generally not negative.
6. Indulgence: One challenge that confronts humanity, now and in the past, is the degree to which little children are socialized. Without socialization we do not become “human”. This dimension is defined as the extent to which people try to control their desires and impulses, based on the way they were raised. Relatively weak control is called “indulgence” and relatively strong control is called “restraint”. Cultures can, therefore, be described as indulgent or restrained.
Peru has an intermediate score of 46 on this dimension.
Example: A lot of Peruvians do not think a lot about the future. They live in the moment and rarely plan. A friend here got a new job as a photographer in a few clubs and restaurants. They gave him an advance and the first thing he did was go on Amazon and order a lot of new electronics and clothes from the United States (of course this is not all Peruvians, it is just an example!).
Most of this information was taken from the Hofstede Center: Cultural Comparisons. Visit: http://geerthofstede.com/countries.html to learn more! Another interesting model to consider is the Lewis Model. Find Peru and the United States. The following page will contain an explanation of each cultural type. Do you agree with the descriptions after reading about Hofstede’s cultural drivers? Does it match your expectation of Peruvian culture?
Images were taken from: http://www.amchamvietnam.com/30441704/thelewismodelhowtounderstandeveryc ultureintheworld/ Visit the site to read more about the Lewis Model and different cultures around the world!