social groups, language, and religion
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Social Groups, Language, and Religion. Chapter 4, Section 2. How Society is Organized. Every culture has a social structure A way or organizing people into smaller groups Each smaller group has particular tasks Work together to get food Protect the community Raise children - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Social Groups, Language, and Religion
Chapter 4, Section 2
How Society is Organized• Every culture has a social structure– A way or organizing people into smaller
groups• Each smaller group has particular tasks– Work together to get food– Protect the community– Raise children
• Social structure helps people work together to meet the basic needs of individuals, families, and communities
Kinds of Families• Different cultures have different
definitions for “family”• Nuclear family a mother, father, and
their children– Common pattern in industrial nations such
as the USA, Great Britain, and Germany– Adults work outside of the home– Usually have money to buy what they need– Depend on the work of machines
Kinds of Families• Extended family several
generations– Parents and their children, with
grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives who live close by
– Older people are very respected– Pass on traditions
• As rural people move to cities, nuclear families are becoming more common.
Nuclear Family
Extended Family
Kinds of Families• Cultures also differ when deciding who
is in charge of families– Patriarchal families men make most
family decisions– African and Native American cultures
matriarchal• Women have more authority than patriarchies
• Today, men and women have started to share family power and responsibility
Matriarchal Family
Patriarchal Family
Social Classes• Social classes rank people in a
culture• A person’s status may come from
such things as wealth, land, ancestors, or education
• Today, people can improve their status– Get a good education–Make more money–Marry someone of a higher class
Language• All cultures have language• Every culture is based on language
lets people communicate everything they need to share in their culture– A culture’s language reflects the things
that its people think are important
Language• “snow” – English vs. Inuits of North
America– English = several adjectives for the
white stuff that falls in some places in winter
– Inuits = where they live, snow covers the ground for a good part of the year, making snow n important part of their environment than it is to people of other cultures; created words to meet their needs
Language• In some countries, people speak
different languages– Culturally different in some ways from
other people in their country–May celebrate different festivals, wear
different clothes, or have different customs
Ways of Believing• Values and Religion• Religion helps people understand the world– Can provide comfort and hope for people
facing difficult times– Helps answer questions about the meaning
and purpose of life– Helps define values that people believe are
important• Religion guides people in values, standards
of accepted behavior.
Ways of Believing• Religious beliefs vary.– Christianity and Judaism = one god– Other religions worship more than one
god• All religions have prayers and rituals• Every religion celebrates important
places and times.