1. Culture and society Dr Samira Alsenany

2. Culture The knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person and from one generation to the next in a human group or society The knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person and from one generation to the next in a human group or society

3. A society is a large social grouping that shares the same geographical territory and is subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations.

4. Culture Culture is the combination of all the physical and behavioral aspects of a society. To study the people within a society, how they function, and what they value, gives the sociology student a more thorough understanding of society Culture is the combination of all the physical and behavioral aspects of a society. To study the people within a society, how they function, and what they value, gives the sociology student a more thorough understanding of society

5. Culture Those qualities and attributes that seem to be characteristic of all humankind. Humans evolve and adapt primarily through culture rather than changes in anatomy or genetics. Humans evolve and adapt primarily through culture rather than changes in anatomy or genetics. Culture survives if it can accommodate to changing conditions. Culture survives if it can accommodate to changing conditions. Culture is viewed as a macrosystem. Culture is viewed as a macrosystem. Binds a particular society together, and includes its manners, morals, tools, and techniques. Binds a particular society together, and includes its manners, morals, tools, and techniques.

6. Nature of Culture Culture is a group phenomenon. Culture is a group phenomenon. Cultures evolve from the interaction of person with others, and a person’s belief or behavior becomes part of the culture when it is externalized and objectified Cultures evolve from the interaction of person with others, and a person’s belief or behavior becomes part of the culture when it is externalized and objectified

8. Sociological Imagination The ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society The ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society

9. Reflection Why is culture important? Why is culture important?

10. Material World Material Culture Material Culture The physical or tangible (see, touch) that members of a society make, use, and share The physical or tangible (see, touch) that members of a society make, use, and share Raw Materials → Technology → Stuff Raw Materials → Technology → Stuff Non-Material Culture Non-Material Culture The abstract or intangible human creations of society that influences people’s behavior The abstract or intangible human creations of society that influences people’s behavior Language, beliefs, values, rules of behavior, family patterns, political systems Language, beliefs, values, rules of behavior, family patterns, political systems

11. Cultural Universals Customs and practices that occur across all societies Customs and practices that occur across all societies

12. Components of Culture Symbols Symbols Anything that meaningfully represents something else Anything that meaningfully represents something else Language Language A set of symbols that expresses ideas and enable people to think and communicate with one another A set of symbols that expresses ideas and enable people to think and communicate with one another Values Values Collective ideas about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in a particular culture Collective ideas about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in a particular culture Norms Norms Established rules of behavior or standards of conduct Established rules of behavior or standards of conduct

13. What is this?

14. How about this?

15. Or this?

16. What ideas are being communicated by these gestures? Do you think these mean the same thing in all places?

17. Symbol Symbols represent something else. Symbols represent something else. A symbol can be a sign, a place, a gesture, or even a person. A symbol can be a sign, a place, a gesture, or even a person. A symbol can be local, regional, national, or international. A symbol can be local, regional, national, or international. Each culture has its own unique symbols. Each culture has its own unique symbols. Symbols are often controversial. Symbols are often controversial.

18. Language Defined A set of symbols that expresses ideas and allows people to think and communicate with each other. A set of symbols that expresses ideas and allows people to think and communicate with each other. Can be verbal or nonverbal. Can be verbal or nonverbal.

19. Language and Culture Language is an important way to transmit culture. Language is an important way to transmit culture. Through language children learn Through language children learn about their cultural identity. about their cultural identity.

20. How important is it for members of one country to speak the same language How important is it for members of one country to speak the same language How should a society balance respect for individual cultures and a need for unity? How should a society balance respect for individual cultures and a need for unity?

21. Proverbs are one example of how culture is conveyed through words Flies never visit an egg that has no crack.” (Chinese proverb) A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

22. Language is a set of symbols, which allows people to communicate with each other (both verbal and nonverbal) Language is a set of symbols, which allows people to communicate with each other (both verbal and nonverbal) Language can be a source of discrimination. Language can be a source of discrimination. Language is a common source of confusion, even among members of the same culture. Language is a common source of confusion, even among members of the same culture. Language is a vital means of transmitting culture. Language is a vital means of transmitting culture.

23. Come Up with Your Own With a partner, generate a list of the following components of culture With a partner, generate a list of the following components of culture Symbols Symbols Language Language Values Values Norms Norms

24. Values defined standard by which members of culture define what is desirable or undesirable desirable or undesirable good or bad good or bad beautiful or ugly beautiful or ugly acceptable or unacceptable acceptable or unacceptable

25. Values Adornments for the mouth can include tattoos and jewels for the teeth. Adornments for the mouth can include tattoos and jewels for the teeth.

26. Values Here beauty accents are focused on the face and head… Here beauty accents are focused on the face and head…

27. Values  Values are standards set by the members of a society.  Values are often highly contested.  Values can change significantly over time.  Values can differ within one society and around the world.

28. What is Diversity? Cultural diversity refers to the wide range of cultural differences found between and within nations Cultural diversity refers to the wide range of cultural differences found between and within nations Can be a result of natural circumstances (climate, geography) or social circumstances (technology or demographics) Can be a result of natural circumstances (climate, geography) or social circumstances (technology or demographics) Societies can be homogeneous or heterogeneous Societies can be homogeneous or heterogeneous

29. Reflection Would you like to live in a place where everyone: Would you like to live in a place where everyone: Is the same? (Homogeneous) Is the same? (Homogeneous) or or Is different? (Heterogeneous) Is different? (Heterogeneous)

30. Have you ever been made to feel like an outsider? When societal tensions arise, people may look for others on whom they can place blame or single out persons or groups who are the “outsider”, who do not belong. When societal tensions arise, people may look for others on whom they can place blame or single out persons or groups who are the “outsider”, who do not belong.

31. Personal Reflections How does it feel to belong to a group? How does it feel to belong to a group? Have you ever had the opportunity to finally belong to a group you had wanted to join? What was the experience like? Have you ever had the opportunity to finally belong to a group you had wanted to join? What was the experience like? Have you ever been excluded from a group? If so, how does it feel? Have you ever been excluded from a group? If so, how does it feel?

32. Personal Reflections Provide examples from your own life when you have felt: Provide examples from your own life when you have felt: Powerless Powerless Hopeless Hopeless Angry Angry That you just can’t win That you just can’t win

33. Subculture A category of people who share distinguishing attributes, beliefs, values, and/or norms that set them apart in some significant manner from the dominant culture A category of people who share distinguishing attributes, beliefs, values, and/or norms that set them apart in some significant manner from the dominant culture

34. Counterculture A group that strongly rejects dominant societal values and norms and seeks alternative lifestyles A group that strongly rejects dominant societal values and norms and seeks alternative lifestyles

35. Cultural Relativism The belief that the behaviors and customs of any culture must be viewed and analyzed by the culture’s own standards The belief that the behaviors and customs of any culture must be viewed and analyzed by the culture’s own standards

36. Culture is Relative Culture is a way of life Material Objects Ideas Attitudes Values Behavior Patterns “Everything that people have, think, and do as members of a society” (Ferraro, 2008)

37. Culture or civilization, taken in its wide ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired my man as a member of society. E. B. Tylor 1871 Culture or civilization, taken in its wide ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired my man as a member of society. E. B. Tylor 1871 E. B. Tylor 1871

38. cultures change According to Erikson, cultures change through the action of persons whose ideas and behavior “fit” the culture. According to Erikson, cultures change through the action of persons whose ideas and behavior “fit” the culture. Change can also occur as a result of cataclysm, either physical as in famine, war, epidemic, or disaster. Change can also occur as a result of cataclysm, either physical as in famine, war, epidemic, or disaster. It can also change as a result of a “paradigm shift” in fundamental understandings by those in the culture It can also change as a result of a “paradigm shift” in fundamental understandings by those in the culture

39. Characteristics of Culture  Culture is learned  Culture is unconscious  Culture is shared  Culture is integrated  Culture is Symbolic  Culture is a way of life  Culture is Dynamic  Culture is Relative

40. Why do humans have Culture? What is its function?  To communicate - makes the actions of individuals intelligible to others  A tool  gives meaning to differences  Identity  Adaptive

41. Language and Communication Language is defined as any transfer of meaning, but general usage refers only to spoken and written messages. Language is defined as any transfer of meaning, but general usage refers only to spoken and written messages.. Language structures reality Language structures reality Form and variability determine how members of the culture will view reality and structure their thoughts. Form and variability determine how members of the culture will view reality and structure their thoughts.

42. The Family as Human Universal The family is biologically based and is the primary social unit. The family is biologically based and is the primary social unit. Family is constant; the form of the family is variable. Family is constant; the form of the family is variable. The development of culture exists because culture is transmitted from one generation to the next through education not through the genes. The development of culture exists because culture is transmitted from one generation to the next through education not through the genes.

43. Social Organizations: Society and Roles All cultures, being social systems, have organization. All cultures, being social systems, have organization. Three aspects operating to define social class: Three aspects operating to define social class: Economic status Economic status Social status Social status Political power Political power Social class suggests a group consciousness on the part of members. Social class suggests a group consciousness on the part of members. Emergence of a permanent “underclass” in American society. Emergence of a permanent “underclass” in American society.

44. Social Stratification A system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy based on their access to scarce resources. A system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy based on their access to scarce resources.

45. Four Basic Principles of Social Stratification: It is a characteristic of society, not simply a reflection of individual differences. It is a characteristic of society, not simply a reflection of individual differences. It persists over generations. It persists over generations. It is universal but variable. It is universal but variable. It involves not just inequality but beliefs It involves not just inequality but beliefs

46. Social Stratification

47. Cultural beliefs serve to justify social stratification Cultural beliefs serve to justify social stratification That is part of the reason why it persists That is part of the reason why it persists

48. People are stratified based on the following Income Income Prestige Prestige Wealth Wealth Education Education Power Power Reflection: Example? Reflection: Example?

49. Early Sociologists  Karl Marx 1. “All human history thus far is the history of class struggles.” 2. Emphasizing economic inequality & its influences on social changes 3. The ruling class exploited the working class and the working class struggled to overcome that exploitation. 4. A classless system.

50. Early Sociologists Max Weber Max Weber 1. Emphasizing Durkheim's notions of social values and ideas. 2. Values and ideas, such as those of religion and science, can shape a society. 3. Rationalization of social and economic life 4. Bureaucracy-efficiency and red tape 5. Sociology of religion

51. Social Structure Patterns of social behavior Patterns of social behavior E.g., divorce, substance abuse, aging, immigration, unemployment, underemployment, overwork, lower pay etc. However, they are public issues at the societal level. Social structure is an active & constantly changing social force. Social structure is an active & constantly changing social force. It varies across space & time. It varies across space & time.

52. Culture structure Social World Human behavior & thinking Social World Human behavior & thinking such as such asSocialization Social interaction Social interaction Social organizations & institutions Social inequality Environment

53. How Can Sociology Help Us in Our Lives Understanding social circumstances provides us a better chance of controlling them. Understanding social circumstances provides us a better chance of controlling them. Sociology provides the means of increasing our cultural sensitivities. Sociology provides the means of increasing our cultural sensitivities. We can investigate the consequences of adopting particular policy programs. We can investigate the consequences of adopting particular policy programs. Sociology provides self-enlightenment, offering groups & individuals an increased opportunity to alter the conditions of their own lives. Sociology provides self-enlightenment, offering groups & individuals an increased opportunity to alter the conditions of their own lives.

54. Reflection Think of 10 ways in which we use the culture concept in our lives.

55. Any question ? Thanks