Comparative Cultural Analysis

Comparative Cultural Analysis

Saudi Arabia

Mexico

Date: 4 March 2025 GSTU 310: Final Project

Author: Page Yarbrough Professor: Ashley Slater

Index

07. Intercultural Cooperation

01. Demographics

04. Impact of Factors

08. Comparative Analysis

02. Cultural Practices

05. Emerging Trends

06. Cultural Sustainability

09. References

03. Social Structures

Demographics

Saudi Arabia

• The Saudi population has shifted from mostly nomadic to more urbanized after the discovery of petroleum in the 1930s (Centeral Intelligence Agency, 2025).
• Economic growth occured due to the discovery of oil, which led to a significant increase in the population(Ochsenwalk, et. al., 2025).
• The Arab slave trade also brought many Africans to the country.
• Currently, Saudi Arabia is the 3rd leading source of imported oil for the U.S.
• Saudi Arabia launched its Vision 2030 program in April 2016. This program is intended to diversify the economy through increased trade and investment with the U.S. and other countries (U.S. State Dept., 2023).

• Population: 33,607,000
• In 2023, approximately 24.1% of Saudi Arabia's population was between 0-14 years of age, 73% were between 15-64, and 3.8% were 65+
• Most citizens are ethnically Arab
• More than 40% are non-citizens from countries such as:
• Egypt, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Phillipines, Syria, Yemen, and South Korea
• The official and spoken language is Arabic (O'Neill 2025)

Demographics

Mexico

• Population: 130,861,000
• Approximately 24% of the population are between 0-14 years of age, 67% are between 15-64 years, and 8% are 65+
• It is difficult to identify the ethnic make-up of Mexico, as they do not include it on their census, however:
• 60% of citizens are Mestizo (Indigenous-Spanish)
• Less than 1/10 of the population are indigenous American Indians (Gannon & Pillai, 2015 p. 371)

• The official and spoken language is Spanish (O'Neill, 2025)

• Mexico has experienced several historical events that have shaped its demographics. Such events include:
• industrialization
• revolution
• war
• improved technology
• better health care
• After the Mexican War of Independence in 1821, Mexico was finally free from the rule of Spain.
• Improved health care standards and food supplies helped to significantly increase the population (Palerm, et. al., 2025).

02. Cultural Practices

Saudi Arabia

• Ramadan (Hassan, 2018)
• ninth month of the Islamic calendar
• holy month for all Muslims
• fast from dawn to dusk
• family gathers together to break their fast

• Etiquette (Goway, n.d.)
• remove shoes when entering home or mosque
• minimize use of your left hand
• avoid public displays of affection
• show respect for the elderly

• Hospitality (Gannon & Pillai, 2015 p. 62)
• guests often invited into their homes for a cup of traditional Arabic coffee or a meal
• customary to sample all dishes offered by your host
• bringing a gift for the host is not required but is a nice gesture

02. Cultural Practices

Mexico

• Dia de los Muertos (Gannon & Pillai, 2015 p. 320)
• celebration to honor deceased loved ones
• ofrendas
• Mexican Independence Day (Library of Congress, n.d.)
• September 16th
• commemorates the start of the Mexican War of Independence in 1810

• Las Posadas (Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d.)

• religious festival starting nine nights before Christmas to commemorate Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born

• Bullfighting is considered to be the national sport of Mexico (Bull Fighting Ring, n.d.)
• Jarabe Tapatio
• "Mexican hat dance"
• national dance
• mariachi music
• pinatas
• filled with toys and trinkets
• enjoyed at parties
• elders are highly respected (Palerm et. al., 2025)
• Catholicism is the primary religion, although it is not the official religion (Evason, 2018)

03. Social Structures

Saudi Arabia

• Family Structure (Evason, 2022)(Gannon & Pillai, 2015 p. 63)
• patrilineal and patrilocal
• Traditional gender roles
• Men hold the most authority
• Responsible for primary income, safety and security of the family
• Expected to work outside the home and provide for their family
• Women are responsible for the home
• Expected to look after the family
• Handles all domestic duties
• Parents and elders are highly respected

03. Social Structures

Mexico

• Mexican families tend to be quite large with traditional gender roles and are very devoted to their families (Zimmerman, 2022)
• Mexican families include not only immediate family but also grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and family friends (Palerm et. al., 2025)
• Parents and elders are highly respected
• Grandparents are seen as wise (Jimenez, 2024)
• Strong sense of loyalty to their families and communities

04. Impact of Factors

Saudi Arabia

• Saudi culture, specifically Islam, dictates everything that an individual does (Pier, n.d.)
• dress code
• gender segregation
• dietary restrictions
• prayer practices
• strict interpretation of Islamic law

• Men hold primary authority
• Women expected to dress modestly
• must adhere to strict dress code (Sayed, 2023)
• usually require a man when it comes to making key life decisions (Alhajri, 2020)
• homosexuality is forbidden and punishable by law
• blasphemy and conversion from Islam are consider serious criminal offense and are punishable by imprisonment, lashings, or even death

04. Impact of Factors

Mexico

• Patriarchal Structure

• Religion and spiritually greatly influence Mexican culture
• a vast majority of festivals and celebrations are religious based
• Holidays rooted in religion
• Christmas
• the Day of the Dead
• Las Posadas
• Religious teachings tend to shape family dynamics and place an emphasis on respecting elders, unity, and supporting their community (Evason, 2018)

05. Emerging Trends

Saudi Arabia

Mexico

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06. Cultural Sustainability

Saudi Arabia

Mexico

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07. Intercultural Cooperation

Saudi Arabia

Mexico

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08. Comparative Analysis

Saudi Arabia

Mexico

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09. References

1. O’Neill, A. (2025, January 30). Saudi Arabia - age structure from 2013 to 2023. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/275411/age-distribution-in-mexico/
2. O’Neill, A. (2025, January 30). Saudi Arabia - age structure from 2013 to 2023. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/262478/age-structure-in-saudi-arabia/

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09. References (continued)

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