Cultural Norms and Values

• Margaret Mead

  Said that one's gender is not determent by biology but is a socially constructed. She found that if the way we acted (our Gender) was biological then we should find females and males in different cultures acting similarly or at least having a similar role within society. What she found was that in some cultures females took on roles that we in the western world see as more masculine whilst males did mor feminine work.
• Bordieu (Marxist)

  Said that popular culture is a form of brainwashing in order to dumb down the masses of people who consume it so that they don't question their position in society, creating a "false consciousness".
• Tribe studied by Margaret Mead

  Tchambuli - women were dominant, not involved in childcare. Men timid and emotionally dependent. Aggressive men were seen as deviant.
• Culture

  Encompasses everything that is distinct to a particular society including language, traditions etc.

  e.g. In Britain we speak English, whereas in France they speak French.

  e.g. In the UK the most common religion is Christianity, In Saudi Arabia the ,most common religion is Islam.
• Norms

  Expected patterns of behavior that are based on the values of a culture.

  e.g. wearing clothes in public based of the value of modesty.

  e.g. queuing based on the value of politeness.
• Values

  A set of beliefs and ideas that a culture sees as important which are generally accepted by the majority of that culture.

  e.g. Modesty leads to the norm of wearing clothes in public.

  e.g. politeness leads to the norm of joining a queue.
• Subcultures

  This is a culture within a culture. A group with a set of norms or values that may differ from wider society.

  e.g. Mods- Italian suits, alternative music, scooters.

  e.g. Rockers- Leather Jackets, Rock music, motorcycles.
• High Culture

  Cultural products and activities that are viewed as having a high status within society. These are viewed as superior to popular culture.

  e.g. Fox hunting that has a higher status than football.

  e.g. Opera that has a higher status that reality television.
• Popular Culture

  Activities that are practiced by the majority within society. This contrasts to high culture which is considered to have a higher status.

  e.g. Football

  e.g. Reality TV such as Love Island.
• Global Culture

  Refers to the Breakdown of national barriers, leading to the creation of one culture, Influenced by people of all different nations.

  e.g. Ritzer- McDonaldisation.

  e.g. Mcluhen- Global Village.
• Consumer Culture

  A culture that is based upon the purchasing of goods. Conspicuous consumption is often present in this type of culture.

  e.g. Expensive watches such as Omega and Rolex.

  e.g. Expensive Cars such as Aston Martin.
• Cultural Diversity

  Refers to the variety or difference found within a culture. Intracultural= within a culture. Intercultural= between cultures.

  e.g. In Britain we regularly eat food from multiple different countries such as Italian, Chinese, Indian etc.,

  e.g. Cultures with a large amount of subcultures are more likely to be diverse- In Britain there are goths, punks, hippies etc.,
• Cultural Hybridity

  A merging of two or more things (cultures, ethnicity or nationality) to create a new hybrid culture influenced by both cultures.

  e.g. Sue Fox- Jafaican

  e.g. Johal- Brasains.