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ne, increased cultural interaction has led to the development of “rank” within certain societies. Specifically, this “rank” assumes that members of other cultures are not as sophisticated as others. As a result, these lower ranked cultures are viewed as not being able to attain certain levels of achievement compared to more highly ranked cultural group members (“French Strangeness”, 2006). This concept of “rank” is unique to D’Iribarne and it lends itself quite well to the overall narrative.

However, this paradigm may be more prevalent than one would like to admit. Individuals engage in some form of “cultural rank” throughout their daily lives, it is just that most individuals consider it “stereotypes” and these “stereotypes” can be both positive and negative. Each ethnic group has their own stereotypes, however it is a question of whether those stereotypes or “cultural ranks” are noted by others .Clearly in this narrative, Sylvia had no problem noting her own preconceived stereotypes and expressing her thoughts regarding where Nicky’s culture “ranked” in relation to her own world view. As a result, Sylvia’s actions conclusively demonstrated a lack of “freedom” in terms of assuming that those from different cultures were not as sophisticated as her own.

Individuals who normally would not have to concern themselves with interacting with individuals and groups from other cultures and backgrounds now find themselves struggling to accurately define the identity of these individuals within the broader construct of society (Hunsiger, 2006, 104). Often, these definitions are the result of negative assumptions and incorrect analysis predicated on faulty assumptions of group behavior.

Logically deducing, the actions of Sylvia from this narrative represent a faulty definition of cultural identity. Her comment toward Nicky assumed that she had a faulty predilection that individuals from Nicky’s cultural background were unable to attain the same level of achievement as members of Sylvia’s cultural group had apparently become accustomed to. The question then becomes whether or not Sylvia felt threatened by the fact her worldview had become threatened by the integration of someone from another background.

Moreover, it is very easy for an individual who has preconceived stereotypes regarding certain cultures to develop a level of prejudice involving these same cultural groups. Either those groups that are “perceived” to be different based on race, ethnicity, religion or political views can fit conveniently into the stereotypical group dynamics. However, if an individual feels threatened by those who permeating their cultural matrix, an individual feels distinctly different. These stereotypes may venture into dangerous prejudices that can lead to incidents similar to one described in the narrative, where members of one cultural group falsely and incorrectly assume that members of another are neither as smart nor hard working as members of the so-called “majority”.