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UNDERSTANDING CULTURE,

SOCIETY, AND POLITICS


HUMAN VARIATION
Environment and History
are two of the primary factors that shape the behavior of
human groups. This behavior, which serves as an
adaptive tool for the varied stimuli projected by the
environment, is influenced by beliefs, practices, and
materials possessions. Through constant practice, these
sets of behavior form human traditions, which are
passed on from one generation to the other.
As human group experiences differing environmental
conditions, cultural variations are established.
CULTURAL VARIATIONS

- refers to the differences in social behaviors that


different culture exhibit around the world. What may
be considered good etiquette in one culture may be
considered bad etiquette in another.
CULTURAL VARIATIONS
* The variation in human conditions
promotes diversity and plurality in
cultural traditions.
* This could lead to discrimination
and ostracism.
CULTURAL VARIATIONS
Ethnocentrism
- is a perspective that promotes an
individual’s culture as the most efficient
and superior; hence, the individual who
exhibits ethnocentrism feels that his or
her culture is the most appropriate as
compared with other cultures.
CULTURAL VARIATIONS
Cultural relativism
promotes the perspective that cultures
must be understood in the context of their
locality.
 using this perspective makes you tolerant
of the differing attitudes and practices of
others-a characteristics that is essential to
a highly globalized world that we live in.
CULTURAL VARIATIONS
Race - (17th to the early 19th century)the term
was used as a form of human classifications
that was based on observable human traits
and characteristics.
some of the earlier categories include
Caucasoid, Australoid, Mongoloid, and
Negroid.These categories merely reflect the
differences in skin color, size of skull, height,
body frame and other physical characteristics.
CULTURAL VARIATIONS

Mestiza/Mestizo- an individual whose


parents have differing ethno-
biological background.(Philippines)
NATIONALITY AND ETHNICITY

NATIONALITY - is the identity that is tied to


being part of a nation or country – a “group of
people who share the same history, tradition and
controlled by a government.
 can be acquired by being born in a country or by
the process of legal applications called
naturalization.
Ethnic groups
– are smaller cultural groups that share specific environments,
traditions and histories that are not necessarily subscribed to
by the mainstream culture. There are about 180 indigenous
ethnic groups in the Philippines and more than 100 tribal
groups who are mostly inhabiting ancestral domains in the
lowland, upland, and coastal areas.
Apart from the varying cultural back grounds and ethnicity,
human populations also experience social differences, which
include categories on gender, socioeconomic class (social
class and economic status), political identity, and religion.
Gender
Gender – refers to the socially constructed roles,
behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given
society considers appropriate for men and women.
Sex - which refers to the biological characteristic of
humans such as male or female.
Gender Categories – lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQ I+)
TYPES OF GENDER
Heterosexual - a person with this gender is inclined to be
sexually attracted to a person of the opposite sex.
Homosexual – a person is sexually attracted to a person of
the same sex.
Gay – a male who is romantically and sexually attracted to
another male
Lesbian – a female who is romantically and sexually
attracted to another female
Bisexual - are some individuals who are attracted
to both sexes
Asexual – are some who are totally incapable of
being attracted to any sex
Polysexual – are attracted to multiple types of
gender
Pansexual – accommodate all types of gender.
Transgender – are people whose gender identities do
not match their biological identity as male or female
Transsexual - these individuals believe that the
discord between their internal gender and the gender
role that they have to perform can be addressed
through medical reassignment.
SOCIO ECOPNOMIC CLASS

The concept of socioeconomic class varies


between societies as the ideas associated with
being poor or rich differ based on the collective
experiences of individuals.
 The typical determinants of one’s social status
include income, value of assets and savings,
cultural interest and hobbies, and economic status
of her/ his peers and relatives.
Philippines indicators of Social class

Mahirap
Medyo mayaman
Sakto lang
Mayaman
Note:

 The term Global North refers to the political


and economically advanced societies in the
world
The term Global South refers to the countries
whose political and economic indicators are
within the developing category.
UNDERSTANDING CULTURE,
SOCIETY, AND POLITICS
Significance of Studying
Culture, Society and Politics
CULTURE
According to Mark Banaag, culture functions
in the following ways and from which we can
realize the significance of culture as well:
1. Culture makes it possible for man to adapt
and integrate himself to his environment by
being creative and resourceful in coming up
with ways and means of survival.
2. Culture establishes patterns of acceptable
social behaviour such as etiquette, protocols,
good manners and right conduct, roles and
duties, etc. as established by folkways, mores
and laws.
3. Culture conveys and facilitates meaning
through verbal and non-verbal
communication, written and non-written
languages, forms of expression, and
symbolism.
4. Culture produces man – made things such
as clothing, tools, instruments, machines,
equipment, structures, etc. made possible by
technological know-how.
5. Culture contributes to overall human
satisfaction as we develop ways to make
life more enjoyable, more comfortable,
easier and more rewarding such as
recreational activities, leisure,
entertainment and Arts.
SOCIETY

Studying society provides us an idea


on its importance in creating an
equal, just, and humane society.
1. Representation of our identity
2. Characterize the totality of a territory
3. Symbol of political independence
4. Avenue for economic dependence
POLITICS
 1. Consensus and compromise
2. Society
3. Power and distribution
4. Art of government
5. Public affair
6. Academics
Hague defines politics in different ways but
whatever definition is attached to it.
1. Politics is a collective activity-involving
people who accepted a common
memberships or at least acknowledge a
shared fate.
2. Politics presumes an initial diversity of
views- if not about goals then least about
means
3. Politics involves reconciling
differences through discussion and
persuasion; and
4. Political decisions become
authoritative policy for a group, binding
members to decisions that are
implemented by force if necessary
The Rationale of Studying
Anthropology, Political Science,
and Sociology
Anthropology
derived from the two Greek words
antropos=human and logos= study
the study of people - their origins, their
development, and contemporary
variations, wherever they have been
found on the face of the earth”(Ember,
Ember, and Peregrine)
 is the branch of knowledge which
deals with the scientific study of man,
his works, his body, his behaviour and
values, in time and space (Palipis,
2007p.6) Also, it includes man’s
physical, social, and cultural
development that describes and
explains the phenomenon of human
life.
 - give us information concerning
concerning man’s behavior in
relation to his environment.
- promotes a holistic study of
humans
Five sub disciplines of
Anthropology
Archaeology
Examines the remains of
ancient and historical
human populations to
promote an understanding
of how humans have
adapted to their
environment and
developed.
Cultural anthropology
Promotes the study
of a society’s
culture through
belief systems,
practices, and
possessions
Linguistic anthropology
Examines the
language of a
group of people
and its relation to
their culture
Physical anthropology

Looks into the


biological
development of
humans and their
contemporary
variation.
Applied anthropology
Attempts to solve
contemporary
problems through
the application of
theories and
approaches of the
discipline.
Political Science
is a systematic study of a state and its
government, with relationship of men
in the community, with relations of
men and groups to the state itself, and
with the relations of a state with other
sovereign sates abroad(Palapis, 2009
p.14)
It emphasizes the use of power,
interest, influence, and
diplomacy which is important in
creating a well-ordered society
Political Scientist
 analyze how people attain political position in
society, how they maintain their position, and the
outcomes of their policy implementation within a
definite social territory.
* The primary goal of Political Science is
citizenship education. It requires the student to
understand and appreciate the duties and
obligations of being a member of a society.
IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
KNOWLADGE BASED - It provides the
students the knowledge and
understanding of a government, with
all its component curricula like public
law, political theory, public
administration, political philosophy,
and political dynamics
COMPETENCE BASED - Inculcates the
objectives and underlying principles
of the sate that should be abided by
the officials and its
SKILL BASED - Prepares the students
for future career path, be it in legal
profession, government service,
politic, teaching, and many more.
Sociology

is the scientific study of patterned,


shared human behavior(Jospeh
Fichter)
- It analyzes human interaction which is
essential in understanding man’s
cultural make - up
- It may focus its all attention on all
kinds of social interactions: social arts,
social relationships, social organization,
social structures, and social processes.

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