By: Fatima Winniclare Jayme
Anelle, a 40-year-old immigrant from the Philippines living in Chicago, navigates the tension between the collectivist traditions of her homeland and the individualist ethos of America. She reads Pew’s report indicating most Americans find significance in family, job, church and friendships; others in hobbies, nature, or community service.
Anelle is a nurse by profession, and she finds security and a sense of service in her work. But she feels torn. Meaning was woven throughout extended family reunions, bayanihan (community togetherness), and religious ceremonies in the Philippines. In the US, she observes coworkers discussing meaning in terms of personal fulfillment, job progression, and individual interests.
One evening, Anelle attends a reflection circle at her church. Participants discuss their anchors in life. “I find meaning through creativity and self-expression,” says a young American teacher. Anelle says, “Meaning for me is caring for others—but I wonder, is that really mine or inherited from culture?
The group pauses. They know that meaning is not a destination but a conversation between heritage and choice. Anelle learns to perceive her life as a tapestry, woven with strands of Filipino collectivism and American individuality. The paradox is obvious—meaning is both personal and societal.
Discussions and learnings
Cultural Dilemma: Is one expected to discover value in the legacy of one’s background or in the prevalent standards of the society of one’s affiliation?
There is a deep tension in the field of inquiry. The search for meaning as a universal is always formed by the specifics of culture, history and situation.
Pew’s categories are based on American paradigms of society and may not fully encompass the complexities of collectivist or spiritual traditions in other countries.
Generational Bias: The younger generation values hobbies and self-expression, while the older generation values family and church, raising questions about whether the importance of these values shifts with age or is impacted by societal changes.
Reflexive Questions:
- Is meaning discovered or invented?
2. How can cultural practices shape our most cherished values?
3. Is meaning both social and individual without contradiction?
DISCLAIMER: Names and characters are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Places are non-fiction; the characters are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or individuals, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
REFERENCES:
Alper, B. A. (2024, July 10). Environmentalism, individual actions and the morality of energy use. Pew Research Center. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/11/17/environmentalism-individual-actions-and-the-morality-of-energy-use/
Goodwin University. (2024, December 13). Is There Job Security in Nursing? Yes, and Here’s Why. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://www.goodwin.edu/enews/job-security-in-nursing/
Mitchell, T. (2024, April 14). Where Americans find meaning in life. Pew Research Center. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2018/11/20/where-americans-find-meaning-in-life/
© 2026 Cleverpens. All rights reserved.
Leave a Reply