Cultural Diversity and Similarity

Why does Culture Change? All cultures experience change. Norms, values, and beliefs are relatively stable, but do change over time. For example, my grandparents didn’t go to college, my parents didn’t text as teenagers, it is ok for women with young kids to work outside the home. Culture changes for 3 reasons: discovery-finding something that already exists; invention- creation of something new; and diffusion- the borrowing of aspects of culture from another culture

These characteristics can be age, gender, or religion. Cultural Diversity Social categories- groupings of persons who share a social characteristic These characteristics can be age, gender, or religion. Certain behaviors are associated with these characteristics. For example, Catholics are expected to attend Mass regularly.

Subculture Subculture- a group that is part of the dominant culture but that differs from it in some important ways. Usually found in large, complex societies. For example, San Francisco’s Chinatown. Chinese immigrants brought much of their native culture with them and have attempted to retain it through the generations. They still have cultural patterns of their own, such as language, diet, and family structure. Can you think of any other subcultures? Youth, musicians, …

Counterculture Counterculture- a subculture deliberately and consciously opposed to certain central beliefs or attitudes of the dominant culture. Examples include the goth and punk scenes. Delinquent gangs, motorcycle gangs, and revolutionary religious groups may also form countercultures.

Ethnocentrism Ethnocentrism- Judging others in terms of one’s own cultural standards Once people learn their culture, they tend to become strongly committed to it. They often can’t imagine another way of life. An example could be the Olympic Games. Judging by how many medals a country wins may be seen as a reflection of the country’s status in the world. Another example is regional rivalries in the US. Texas thinking they’re the biggest and best. New York vs LA. Members of churches, schools, and political parties feeling that they’re ways of living should be adopted by others.

ethnocentrism Ethnocentrism offers advantages and disadvantages. People feel good about themselves and their group when they believe what they are doing is right and superior. Although if society is too rigid it doesn’t advance. Extreme ethnocentrism can prevent change for the better. Great Wall of China went up to keep both invaders and new ideas out. Civil Rights Movement came about from racial ethnocentrism. Hitler’s Final Solution is ethnocentrism at its worst. Today states have passed laws that increase penalties against people who commit violent acts based on race, orientation, and religion.

Cultural Universals Cultural Universals- general cultural traits that exist in all cultures Researchers have identified more than 70 of these. Some examples are sports, cooking, courtship, education, etiquette, funeral rites, family, government, housing, joking, language, medicine, marriage, music, religious rituals, and status differences. Because of this, societies are more similar than you think.

Cultural Universals Cultural Particulars- the ways in which a culture expresses universal traits Just because there are cultural universals does not mean they are always carried out in the same way. For example, caring for children. In the US, women have traditionally worked within the home, caring for the child and men have worked outside the home. Among the Manus of New Guinea, the man is completely in charge of taking care of the child. Among the Navajo and Iroquois Indians, men and women share equally in domestic and economic tasks.

Questions 1. Identify each of the following as a social category (SC), subculture (S), or counterculture (C). A. Chinatown in New York City B. Motorcycle gang C. Catholics D. Females E. Revolutionary Political Group F. the wealthy 2. Define ethnocentrism. 3. What are cultural universals and why do they exist? 4. Are you and your friends members of a subculture? If so, describe some specific elements of that subculture.

Problem Solving Early this morning your best friend calls you on the phone and she is crying. You eventually hear her say that her parents have told her that she is expected to follow the Philippino tradition of marrying a boy who was chosen for her at birth. She can not eventually marry her current boyfriend whom she loves. As soon as she turns 21 she is expected to marry a young man she has never met. Should Philippino traditions rule behavior when living in America? Whose values should be taken into consideration? Try to come up with a solution or advice that you would tell your friend. Evaluate its effectiveness in keeping peace in the family.

Have you ever cheated on an exam, no matter how long ago? Ideal and Real Culture Have you ever cheated on an exam, no matter how long ago? Why did you cheat? Why if everyone knows cheating is wrong, so many people do it anyway?

survey Read on pg 96 Identify some of the problems mentioned in this study. Create survey questions or statements. They must be measureable and not open ended. So maybe include strongly agree, agree somewhat, unsure, disagree somewhat, and strongly disagree. Statements could include “My parents are supportive of my efforts to complete my schoolwork.” Try to come up with at least 10 questions or statements that you could give to students around school.