Transcript Chapter Two
Chapter Two Cultural Diversity The Meaning of Culture Section One What is Culture? A. Physical Objects = material culture • Examples: clothes, books, cars B. Abstract Creations = nonmaterial culture • Examples: language, family patterns, beliefs C. Society = Culture • Even though WE use these to mean the same thing, they mean different things to sociologists • Society is the people • Culture refers to the products The Five Components of Culture Basic parts represented in all cultures A. Technology 1. Definition: a combination of rules and objects 2. Example: wearing goggles in lab B. Symbols 1. Definition: something that represents something else 2. Examples: includes any words, gestures, images, sounds, physical objects, events, or natural events C. Language 1. Definition: the organization of written/spoken symbols in a standardized system 2. Examples: Binary, Chinese, American English D. Values 1. Definition: shared beliefs 2. Determines the character of a culture’s people 3. Examples: i. The Yanomamo Farmers: live in Brazil and Venezuela; value war and male strength; 30% of deaths are from battles ii. San Groups: based on cooperation; all work together equally and respect each other’s lands E. Norms 1. Definition: shared rules of conduct that tell people how to act in specific situations 2. Refers to expected behavior, not what actually happens 3. Two types: i. Folkways: common customs • Shaking hands, eating with a fork • The world doesn’t end if they’re not followed ii. Mores: have great moral significance; often are formalized as laws • Murder, dishonesty, fraud Examining Culture A. Culture is dynamic—it’s always changing B. Sociologists study the features of a culture— its level of complexity A. Look at the chart on page 27. Copy it into your notes and explain each part. Cultural Variation Section Two Introduction A. There are more than 220 different languages in the world with more than 2 million speakers. B. Variations of the English language include: American English, British English, Australian English, Canadian English What do we have in common? A. Basic features developed by all cultures are called cultural universals. B. George Murdock studied hundreds of cultures to find common traits. 1. When? In the 1940s 2. He found 65 universals Examples: economy, institutions, arts, language, environment, recreation Family A. Definition 1. Varies culture to culture 2. Western world’s definition: one or both parents and their children, may include grandparents 3. Other options: one man, several women, and their children B. Purposes 1. Decides how young children will be cared for 2. Ensures new members will be added to the society Variations Among Societies A. Study of cultural variation 1. Performed by: Margaret Mead 2. When? The 1930s 3. Purpose? To see if differences are from inherited traits or cultural influences 4. Complete the chart using the information on pages 32-33. The Arapesh The Munduoumore Studying Variations A. Ethnocentrism 1. Definition: when we think our own culture or group is superior to all others 2. Example: your program is better than another B. Cultural Relativism 1. Definition: the belief that cultures should be judged by their own standards rather than comparing 2. Example: not judging those in India for not eating cows despite a food shortage Variations Within Societies A. Subcultures 1. Description: a group in society whose values and behaviors are not shared by all of society 2. Developed by Edwin Sutherland in the 1920s 3. Examples: teenagers, Democrats, wealthy B. Countercultures 1. Description: replaces society’s norms with new ones 2. Examples: mafia, 1960s’ hippies Wedding Clothing America Africa Japan China India Mongolia Korea Oman