In pretty much any country around the world, you’ll find American movies, music, TV, and food. It’s so common that it may feel familiar even to those who have never been to the country. While the real American culture shares a lot with the stereotypes presented in popular media, it is also much more varied and complex. This is a culture shaped by centuries of immigration, history, and regional differences.
At Remitly, we love to celebrate and enjoy cultural differences. In this article, we’re going to provide an overview of key aspects of American culture. Whether you’re planning to travel to the States, thinking of moving there, or just want to know more, this guide is for you.
Core values in American culture
The core values in any culture shape people’s everyday behaviour, social expectations, and beliefs. These values can usually be traced back to the founding of the country, but they continue to define how people live, work, and interact today. Let’s have a look at some of the most important values in American culture.
Individualism and independence
Individualism remains a core value for most Americans. This is the belief that every person is responsible for their own success and happiness. Most of the time, Americans admire self-reliance and personal achievement.
It’s part of why there is so much respect in America for those who have “made it,” especially if they become successful after coming from humble beginnings. In fact, many rich and famous Americans will exaggerate the challenges they faced in the past, because overcoming obstacles through hard work is something Americans deeply admire.
From an early age, American children are encouraged to express their opinions, make decisions, and take care of themselves. For example, teenagers often get part-time jobs or move out of their parents’ homes to go to college. There are even parents who insist that their children leave home once they reach adulthood at 18. This is very different from many cultures around the world, especially the family focus of many Asian cultures, where adult children commonly live at home and support their parents.
Equality
America was founded on the idea of equality. In the Declaration of Independence, you’ll find the phrase, “all men are created equal.” Back in the 18th century, when it was written, this was an astonishingly new idea. It was what made America different from European kingdoms ruled by kings and queens.
At the same time, America has a dark history of slavery and discrimination. Still, the movement toward equality is one of the major themes shaping society. It can be traced through the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and the LGBTQ+ movements of today.
Although the country hasn’t always achieved its ideals, the belief in fairness and equal opportunity remains a core American value. And this is a value that, over the centuries, America has aimed to export around the world.
Diversity
America is famous for being a melting pot. The United States brings together people from hundreds of different ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. Immigrants have shaped the nation’s food, music, traditions, language, and holidays. For example, St. Patrick’s Day in New York or Cinco de Mayo in Los Angeles show how diverse groups have contributed to the cultural richness of America.
This is part of why it’s hard to talk about American culture accurately. Different parts of the country and even different areas of the same city can have a completely different feel, thanks to the immigrant groups that call it home.
Patriotism…
Many Americans feel a deep sense of national pride. In neighbourhoods around the country, you’ll see the American flag in homes, schools, workplaces, and vehicles. The national anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner, is played at all major sporting events, and audiences are expected to stand to show respect.
Historically, this focus on a shared national identity is part of what allowed so many different groups of people to come together and build one nation.
…and criticism
At the same time, Americans often criticise themselves and their country very openly. From late-night TV shows making jokes about the President to documentaries exposing the dark side of the American dream, America shows its own weaknesses in public constantly.
This can actually give a false impression of what life is really like in the country. When people visit the country from abroad, many find that the society is not as negative as it’s sometimes portrayed in popular culture.
Consumerism
Consumerism is also a major part of American culture. Shopping, branding, and material goods are more than just economic activities. They can be expressions of identity and lifestyle, with the brands you choose and the places you shop at telling others something about you.
Consumerism isn’t necessarily a bad thing. For example, look at the American tradition of Black Friday, a retail-themed unofficial holiday that is becoming more and more common around the world. Although it can lead to excess, it can also be seen as an expression of success and abundance that helps drive the economy.
How Americans communicate
Directness and informality
It’s not easy to generalise about a country of 340 million people. But it’s fair to say that American culture values clear and open communication. After all, the freedom to say what you like is part of the country’s Constitution, appearing in the First Amendment.
That’s not to say that Americans are impolite. Manners are important in the States, but being too indirect can sometimes be seen as confusing or evasive.
Generally, when you talk with Americans, the tone will be informal. People often use first names, even with teachers, managers, and older colleagues.
It’s also common to make small talk with strangers. Chatting about the weather, weekend plans, vacations, or sports often happens even with total strangers.
Enthusiasm
One of the most noticeable aspects of American speech is its focus on being upbeat and enthusiastic.
For example, Americans will typically greet each other by saying things like, “How are you?” or “How’s it going?” This is generally a way to start the conversation more than it is an actual request for personal details. For a greeting like this, the expected response is something short and positive like, “Good, thanks!” or, “Fine, how about you?”
You’ll also hear words like awesome, amazing, and great used frequently. At first, if you’re from another country, this can seem over-the-top. But actually, it’s an expression of the American culture of optimism and friendliness. Americans value hope, energy, and positivity, which is reflected in how people talk to each other.
Social etiquette and customs
Every society has its own unwritten rules. Understanding them can help you feel more comfortable and confident when you visit. American culture places a strong emphasis on respect, friendliness, and individual boundaries. Here’s how that shows itself in daily life:
Tipping
This is one of the most noticeable customs that makes the culture in the US different. Although tipping is common in many places in the world, including Australia, tipping in the United States is very different.
Tips are an important part of the income for many workers, from taxi drivers to hair stylists to servers and bartenders. In fact, it’s legal to pay servers in restaurants less than minimum wage because a huge portion of their income comes from tips. They may even be taxed on the level of tipping the government expects them to receive.
That means that, unlike in other countries, tips are not just optional here, but expected.
Tipping 15% to 20% of the total bill is standard at restaurants. For taxi drivers, bartenders, and hotel staff, you can usually leave smaller amounts, maybe a few dollars at a time. But not leaving a tip will often be seen as rude.
Personal space
In everyday interactions, Americans usually prefer more personal space than people from some other cultures. Standing too close to someone or touching them if you don’t know them well can make them uncomfortable. Often, people in conversation stand an arm’s length away from each other.
Americans are warm and friendly, but physical contact like hugging and touching is usually reserved for close friends and family. However, this can vary by region and even by generation. If you’re not sure how to act, model the behaviour you see around you. Note where people stand in relation to you and try to maintain a similar distance.
Time and punctuality
Time is often viewed as a valuable resource. This aspect of culture in the US means that punctuality is seen as a sign of respect and reliability. That’s true at work, but it’s also true in social situations. So, for example, if you’re invited to dinner at a certain time, you should do your best to show up at that time, or as close to it as possible.
Being punctual shows that you respect the time of other people, whether they are your boss, your family, or even just your friends.
Work life in America
Another key to understanding Americans is by looking at their attitude to work. Hard work is often viewed as the key to success. People take pride in being productive and dedicated to their jobs, which means long hours are common.
At work, employees are encouraged to set ambitious goals, pursue promotions, and stand out from the pack. There’s also a huge cultural focus on and respect for entrepreneurs. The idea of starting your own business and becoming successful is a key part of the American dream.
Americans tend to take less vacation time than workers in many other Western countries. It’s also common to expect workers to keep answering emails or phone calls even outside of their regular working hours. These American social norms are changing over time, but the idea of working hard to become successful remains a core part of US culture.
Embracing American culture
Because America is so diverse, with so many different communities all contributing in their own ways, it’s hard to talk about American culture as a whole. What we can say is that American culture is diverse, individualistic, and generally informal.
American culture has had a huge influence on other countries around the world, particularly Western and English-speaking countries like Australia. That makes many aspects of American culture feel familiar.
Part of the reason to travel is to encounter new cultures and ways of doing things. So if you’re considering taking a trip to the United States or even emigrating, it’s important to keep an open mind and a sense of curiosity. American culture is rich and fascinating, and exploring it at a deeper level is always rewarding.
FAQs
What are the main characteristics of American culture?
Individualism, equality, patriotism, and a strong work ethic are some of the key characteristics of US culture. Punctuality and respect for personal space are also important American social norms.
How do you adapt to American culture?
Adapting to US culture can be relatively easy or quite difficult, depending on the culture you’re coming from. It helps to understand social customs like tipping, respecting personal space, and punctuality. Be open, upbeat, and friendly.
Is tipping required in American culture?
Yes, tipping is a big part of American culture. It’s expected that you leave a tip of around 15% to 20% of the total bill for good service in a restaurant. Smaller tips are common for bartenders, hotel staff, and taxi drivers.
What role does diversity play in American culture?
Diversity is one of the fundamental values of American culture. The US is populated by people from just about every ethnic, religious, and cultural background you can imagine, and you can see this diversity reflected in the nation’s food, music, traditions, and holidays.