Ever Growing Ever Changing

What does it mean to be a cultured, sophisticated, or elegant woman? Does that even have a place in today’s society? In the Caribbean? In Jamaica?

Maybe it’s just me, but it almost seems like a race to the bottom these days in terms of who can be the loudest, most boorish, or most ignorant. Good manners seem to be outdated. People rudely shut down any opinion that does not agree with theirs. Women seem to gravitate to loud hair, inappropriate attire, and overdone makeup. Now don’t get me wrong: I dare not tell anyone what to wear, but I just think that sophistication and refinement are still a beautiful thing. I strive for that personally. If you do too, read on.

The concept of being “cultured” can feel outdated, conjuring images of stuffy museum visits, ballroom dancing,  and elitist social circles. But in today’s world, I think the underlying principles are still relevant: cultivating curiosity and appreciating different perspectives, while embracing lifelong learning and things of excellence, and fostering positivity and understanding.

In this first article in the series, I propose five key characteristics of a cultured Jamaican woman.

1. She reads widely

Reading teaches us a lot about the world, other people, and ourselves. Have you ever wondered how some women seem to know so much? Chances are they are not smarter, but simply more well-read. Read various genres and books from different countries. Start with Jamaican and Caribbean authors. This Jamaican runs a book club and makes some excellent recommendations, or you can check this link from Bocas Literary Festival.

2. She appreciates different cultures

Now we know that Jamaica has a large cultural influence, and yes, our food is spectacular, but being cultured forces you to acknowledge there’s more to the world than your backyard. In today’s world there are simply no excuses for ignorance. Of course, you can’t know everything about everywhere, but put some effort into knowing a little more about world cultures than you currently do. How much do you know about the Caribbean islands, including the ones closest to us, like Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Haiti, for example? Start by exploring the vibrant tapestry of the Caribbean countries, and gradually expand your horizons through travel, documentaries, or cultural events. The Caribbean Beat magazine from Caribbean Airlines is a good starting point.

3. She appreciates art

In other words, she appreciates beautiful and creative things. Art does not have to be limited to paintings or drawings hung on a wall. Fashion, architecture, dance, and music are also worth exploring. Learn about iconic paintings, discover a new musical genre, or find inspiration in local fashion designers. The internet is your oyster, but don’t forget to explore local art galleries and museums too, like the National Gallery, with its wide  and beautiful collection of Jamaican art.

4. She can converse on any subject

Reading helps significantly in exposing you to the information necessary to have meaningful discussions on politics, culture, society, and finance, etc. There are, however, myriad ways to learn about the world, such as the radio, TV panel discussions, documentaries, podcasts, and certain vlogs. Even in this modern age, with so many options, I still like listening to Beyond the Headlines on RJR or watching All Angles on TVJ, because of the information and analysis they provide. While the aim is not to be an expert on everything, the idea is to know enough to formulate an opinion or to critically analyse the opinions of others. So, next time you don’t have to personally attack someone who disagrees with you, just because you can’t come up with a logical rebuttal.

5. She is courteous and polite

If you take nothing else away from this lengthy article, please at least pay attention to this. As I said before, people are becoming so much more uncouth and ill-mannered, and that seems to be trendy these days. On top of that, you know that in Jamaica traditionally, we “nuh tek nuh chat” and we do have a propensity to “chuck badness”. More and more motorists grudgingly stop for pedestrians, if they do; drivers swear aggressively at each other;  and don’t make the mistake of stepping on someone’s foot. I can’t say that anger has really got us anywhere, except fostering more aggressiveness. A soft answer still turns away wrath, I find, and I pray you can still be courteous even when no one else seems to be.

Let me know below if any of this resonates with you and what you are doing in your own journey towards being more cultured.