Cultural UniversalsCultural Universals

Cultural universalsCultural universals are customs and practices that occur are customs and practices that occur across all societies. They include:across all societies. They include:

•Appearance Appearance •(eg. bodily adornment, hairstyles)(eg. bodily adornment, hairstyles)

•Activities Activities •(eg. sports, dancing, games, interaction)(eg. sports, dancing, games, interaction)

•Social Institutions Social Institutions •(eg. family, law, religion)(eg. family, law, religion)

•Customary Practices Customary Practices •(eg. cooking, folklore, gift giving, hospitality)(eg. cooking, folklore, gift giving, hospitality)

Components of CultureComponents of Culture

All cultures have 4 common (non-material) All cultures have 4 common (non-material) components of culture. components of culture.

These contribute to both harmony and conflict in These contribute to both harmony and conflict in a society. They are:a society. They are:

•SymbolsSymbols

•LanguageLanguage

•ValuesValues

•NormsNorms

SymbolsSymbols

•SymbolsSymbols – anything that meaningfully represents something else – anything that meaningfully represents something else(eg. wedding rings, flags, peace sign)(eg. wedding rings, flags, peace sign)

•Culture can’t exist without symbols; they help us communicate ideas such as Culture can’t exist without symbols; they help us communicate ideas such as love and patriotismlove and patriotism•However, sometimes symbols will be interpreted differently by different However, sometimes symbols will be interpreted differently by different culturescultures

ExamplesExamples::•In the Western world, purity is symbolized by the colour whiteIn the Western world, purity is symbolized by the colour whiteFor Indo-Canadians, however, purity is symbolized by the colour green.For Indo-Canadians, however, purity is symbolized by the colour green.

•To most people, the swastika represents hatred and intolerance. To most people, the swastika represents hatred and intolerance. To White Supremacists, however, it represents goodness and love. To White Supremacists, however, it represents goodness and love.

•Symbols can also affect our thoughts about gender, race and ethnicitySymbols can also affect our thoughts about gender, race and ethnicity

SymbolsSymbols

•Symbols can also affect our thoughts about gender, race and ethnicitySymbols can also affect our thoughts about gender, race and ethnicityExamplesExamples:: •The colour of clothing has symbolic meanings for male and female. The colour of clothing has symbolic meanings for male and female. Babies are almost invariably dressed according to whether they are boys (blue Babies are almost invariably dressed according to whether they are boys (blue or red) or girls (pink or yellow).or red) or girls (pink or yellow).

•Black and white are not the true colours of peoples’ skin, but we nevertheless Black and white are not the true colours of peoples’ skin, but we nevertheless make references to people at a racial level by using these terms. When we think make references to people at a racial level by using these terms. When we think of our thought-associations with these colours, ‘black’ is often viewed negatively of our thought-associations with these colours, ‘black’ is often viewed negatively while ‘white’ is viewed positively. Why don’t we say ‘pinkish-tan’ or ‘golden-while ‘white’ is viewed positively. Why don’t we say ‘pinkish-tan’ or ‘golden-brown’? brown’?

LanguageLanguage

•LanguageLanguage – a set of symbols that express ideas and enable – a set of symbols that express ideas and enable people to think and communicate with one anotherpeople to think and communicate with one another(eg. Verbal (eg. Verbal [spoken][spoken], non-verbal , non-verbal [written, gestured][written, gestured]))

•Language creates visual images in our headsLanguage creates visual images in our heads

Language and Social Reality:Language and Social Reality:•Does language Does language communicatecommunicate reality or does it reality or does it createcreate reality? reality?

•ExamplesExamples::•When we use the terms When we use the terms pro-lifepro-life or or pro-choicepro-choice, are we expressing reality as , are we expressing reality as it is or are we creating it? it is or are we creating it? •Some Aboriginal languages do not have personal pronouns for gender (ie. Some Aboriginal languages do not have personal pronouns for gender (ie. he / shehe / she). How would their use (or lack of use) of these terms shape their ). How would their use (or lack of use) of these terms shape their reality? reality?

LanguageLanguage

•Language and GenderLanguage and Gender•How does our language reflect our cultural assumptions about gender? How does our language reflect our cultural assumptions about gender?

•ExamplesExamples::•Gender-specific references to occupations (see p. 76). Gender-specific references to occupations (see p. 76). eg. eg. mankindmankind or or chairmanchairman

•Language, Race and EthnicityLanguage, Race and Ethnicity•How does our language reinforce our perceptions and misconceptions about How does our language reinforce our perceptions and misconceptions about race and ethnicity? race and ethnicity?

•ExamplesExamples::•Derogatory references to minority ethnic groups Derogatory references to minority ethnic groups eg. Negative associations with eg. Negative associations with ‘black’; ‘black’; Choosing words such as Choosing words such as primitiveprimitive or or IndianIndian in reference to Aboriginals in reference to Aboriginals

LanguageLanguage

• Language Diversity in CanadaLanguage Diversity in Canada

Response Questions (p. 76-78)Response Questions (p. 76-78)

1)1) We have seen how language is an extremely powerful force in both expressing We have seen how language is an extremely powerful force in both expressing and creating our reality. In what way has bilingualism had a unifying effect in our and creating our reality. In what way has bilingualism had a unifying effect in our country? In what has it had divisive effect? Do you believe that, overall, country? In what has it had divisive effect? Do you believe that, overall, bilingualism is bilingualism is helpinghelping Canada’s union between French- and English-Canadians Canada’s union between French- and English-Canadians or or hinderinghindering it? it?

2)2) What role has language played in Aboriginal tradition and history? How has the What role has language played in Aboriginal tradition and history? How has the disappearance of some Aboriginal languages adversely affected their tradition disappearance of some Aboriginal languages adversely affected their tradition and history?and history?

3)3) How is language viewed as important from a Functionalist perspective? How is language viewed as important from a Functionalist perspective? 4)4) How is language viewed as important from a Conflict perspective? How is language viewed as important from a Conflict perspective?

ValuesValues

•ValuesValues – collective ideas about what is right and – collective ideas about what is right and wrong, good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in a wrong, good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in a particular cultureparticular culture(eg. Equality, fairness, tolerance, dialogue, diversity, Canada’s natural (eg. Equality, fairness, tolerance, dialogue, diversity, Canada’s natural beauty, Canada’s global image)beauty, Canada’s global image)

•Values typically come in pairs of positive and negativeValues typically come in pairs of positive and negative(eg. brave vs. cowardly; hardworking vs. lazy)(eg. brave vs. cowardly; hardworking vs. lazy)

•Value contradictionsValue contradictions•These are values that contradict with one another or are mutually exclusiveThese are values that contradict with one another or are mutually exclusive

•For example, 84% of Canadians feel that “people who are poor have a right to For example, 84% of Canadians feel that “people who are poor have a right to an adequate income to live on,” but many of them still show strong support for an adequate income to live on,” but many of them still show strong support for governments that cut budgets in order to reduce deficitsgovernments that cut budgets in order to reduce deficits

ValuesValues

•Ideal vs Real cultureIdeal vs Real culture•Ideal cultureIdeal culture refers to the values and standards of behaviour that people in a society refers to the values and standards of behaviour that people in a society profess to holdprofess to hold

•Real cultureReal culture refers to the values and standards of behaviour that people actually refers to the values and standards of behaviour that people actually followfollow(For example, we might think of ourselves as “good citizens”, but still drive above the (For example, we might think of ourselves as “good citizens”, but still drive above the speed limit or do engage in other illegal activities - however seemingly harmless.) speed limit or do engage in other illegal activities - however seemingly harmless.)

NormsNorms

•NormsNorms – established rules of behaviour or standards of conduct – established rules of behaviour or standards of conduct(eg. pay taxes, don’t talk while you eat, say please and thank you, don’t drink and drive)(eg. pay taxes, don’t talk while you eat, say please and thank you, don’t drink and drive)

•Formal vs informal normsFormal vs informal norms•Formal normsFormal norms are written down and involve specific punishments for violators (eg. are written down and involve specific punishments for violators (eg. Laws)Laws)

•These may be enforced by These may be enforced by sanctionssanctions, either positive (from simple praise to , either positive (from simple praise to medals of honour) or negative (ranging from mild disapproval to life medals of honour) or negative (ranging from mild disapproval to life imprisonment)imprisonment)

•Informal norms are unwritten standards of behaviour understood by people who Informal norms are unwritten standards of behaviour understood by people who share a common identity. When they are violated, other people may apply informal share a common identity. When they are violated, other people may apply informal sanctions (eg. a frowning gesture, a public scolding, etc.)sanctions (eg. a frowning gesture, a public scolding, etc.)

FolkwaysFolkways

•FolkwaysFolkways – informal norms or everyday customs that may be – informal norms or everyday customs that may be violated without serious consequences within a particular cultureviolated without serious consequences within a particular culture

•These are rules of conduct that aren’t necessarily essential to a society’s survival. These are rules of conduct that aren’t necessarily essential to a society’s survival. (eg. brush your teeth, don’t wear white after Labour Day, wear deodorant, etc.) (eg. brush your teeth, don’t wear white after Labour Day, wear deodorant, etc.)

MoresMores

•MoresMores – strongly held norms with moral or ethical connotations – strongly held norms with moral or ethical connotations that may not be violated without serious consequences in a that may not be violated without serious consequences in a particular cultureparticular culture

•These are based on These are based on culture valuesculture values, so they are considered , so they are considered crucialcrucial to to a society’s well-beinga society’s well-being

•TaboosTaboos•Taboos are mores so strong that their violation is considered to be extremely Taboos are mores so strong that their violation is considered to be extremely offensive and even unmentionable. offensive and even unmentionable. (eg. Incest)(eg. Incest)

LawsLaws

•LawsLaws – formal, standardized norms that have been enacted by – formal, standardized norms that have been enacted by legislatures and are enforced by formal sanctionslegislatures and are enforced by formal sanctions

•Civil law vs. criminal lawCivil law vs. criminal law•Civil lawCivil law deals with disputes among persons or groups. Usually involves deals with disputes among persons or groups. Usually involves compensation or fines as restitution. compensation or fines as restitution. (eg. minor traffic accident)(eg. minor traffic accident)

•Criminal lawCriminal law deals with public safety and well-being. Usually involves major fines or deals with public safety and well-being. Usually involves major fines or prison sentences as restitution. prison sentences as restitution. (eg. murder)(eg. murder)

Changes in law often reflect changes in culture.Changes in law often reflect changes in culture.(eg. Racial or religious hate crimes, more liberal definition of marriage)(eg. Racial or religious hate crimes, more liberal definition of marriage)