Cultural Homogenization

Introduction.
With Globalisation and the aid of space shrinking technologies, the globe is rapidly getting interconnected, allowing for cultures to be easily shared across spheres. Some have argued that it has paved the way for Cultural homogenization, a phenomenon that leaves everyone in the world living, thinking and acting in very similar ways (Block, n.d). For example, in the 1950s the Americans revolutionized the fast food culture and dominated the market with brands like McDonald’s who engineered the “Speedee Service System” with the aid of a standardized menu (Schlosser, 2001). Few contemporary societies can remain beyond the global reach of the fast food industry, as the regimented service model that fast food runs on, transfers

With that in mind, we can relate the theory to the Fast Food culture that was addressed previously. One cannot argue that McDonalds is a global brand, to date McDonalds owns up to over 35,000 restaurants worldwide, spreading a culture that emphasizes efficiency, convenience, standardization, quantity over quality and predictability to over 100 countries (Sharkey and Ritzer, 2000). However, that is where the homogenization ends, and Glocalization takes over. McDonald’s outlets in various countries adopt different qualities that locals of the host country can relate

Taking a closer look into the Malaysian fashion landscape, we can see that there are emerging western influences, particularly among the younger, not so traditional, generation. The Kebaya is a traditional blouse that is usually loose fitting and conservative so as to observe modesty, in abidance with Muslim standards. However there has been a rising trend to alter the Kebaya to be skintight so as to accentuate the curves of a lady, a largely western concept, neglected in traditional Muslim fashion landscape. Though the result of this hybridization has brought up issues that challenge the religious standards of the Muslim faith, with the lack of modesty in dressing, it does still prove that the theory of cultural hybridization exists even in the strictest of cultures. Through these examples, we can observe how even the world of fashion has exemplified signs of Cultural Hybridization on a global