UCSP 234

• Cultural Relativism


  No universal standards of right or wrong; judgments relative to culture
• Cultural Relativism

  • Muslim polygamy vs. Christian monogamy
• Ethnocentrism

  Judging other cultures by own culture's standards
• Xenocentrism

  Opposite of ethnocentrism; belief other cultures are superior
• Ethnocentrism

  • Belief in own culture's superiority leads to tensions, racism, and prejudice
• Xenocentrism

  • People value foreign products, ideas over own culture; Influences self-perception and group attitudes
• Mitigating Ethnocentrism

  1. Recognize own culture's values but respect others

  2. Cultural relativism appreciates each culture's uniqueness without labeling as good or bad

  3. Understanding different perspectives helps address ethnocentrism's dangers
• Symbols

  Objects or images representing something else, agreed upon by groups; Convey shared meanings about cultural, social, political, and economic experiences, providing recognizable messages shared by societies
• Types of Symbols

  • Cultural Symbols
  • Social Symbols
  • Political Symbols
  • Economic Symbols
• Cultural Symbols

  • Represent beliefs, values, and shared experiences within a culture
• Social Symbols

  • Recognizable through human interactions like facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice, reflecting societal issues
• Political Symbols

  • Include banners, flags, songs, and hand symbols, representing political views and power structures
• Economic Symbols

  • Seen in goods and services, reflecting production, distribution, and consumption processes
• Functions of Symbols

  • Acts as a medium for the transmission of culture
  • Secures the preservation of the society
  • It promotes social harmony and social discord
  • Prevent social sentiment and ideals which are the basis of organized group's life from becoming vague and lifeless abstractions
• Practices

  Habitual or customary activities within a society, including any activity, manner, or processes that are considered habitual or customary to a group of people in a particular society
• Types of Practices

  • Cultural Practices
  • Social Practices
  • Political Practices
  • Economic Practices
• Cultural Practices

  • Traditional or customary practices within a culture or subculture, such as religious practices, artistic expressions, food, medical practices, and family values
• Social Practices

  • Ways of everyday socialization or interaction between people in society, including greetings, casual conversations, social regard, stereotyping, and authority
• Political Practices

  • How people participate politically, embodying ideologies, advocacy, or principles through activities like involvement in political parties, political dynasties, and election activities
• Economic Practices

  • Daily choices, procurement, and consumption of goods and services, such as prioritizing wants and needs, allocating resources, and responding to market incentives
• Cultural Practices in the Philippines

  • Religious: Traslacion and Fluvial Procession during Peñafrancia Festival in Naga City; The Colorful Street Dance and Parade during the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City; Reading/Singing of the Passion of Christ during Lent Season
  • Art: Traditional Tribal Tattooing in Kalinga with Apo Whang-od as the last mambabatok; Weaving abaca and Pinya; Traditional Dances during important occasions; harana as a form of courtship
  • Food and Flavors: Huge Rice Consumption; Regular Eating Schedule (at least three times a day); roasting whole pork (Lechon); Rice Cakes during prayers involving the dead or during parties celebrating life
  • Filipino Values: Use of Respectful words (Po at Opo) when talking to elderly and authority; Pagmamano; Prohibiting children to talk back to elders; Godparents during baptism, confirmation, and wedding; removing footwear when entering the house
• Social Practices in the Philippines

  • High Regard to Authority: Difficulty saying No; Expected reaction of Hiya or shyness when dealing with others; Pakikisama or getting along with people; Amor Propio; Strong Family Bonds; Considering others as Kapwa (integration of self with others); sharing food in the neighborhood; gossiping; Social-media Citizen; Emphasis on Status Symbols
• Political Practices in the Philippines

  • Many Political Parties; Political Dynasties with positions often inherited; Padrino and Palakasan System; Vote Buying Practices in some areas; Festival-like Political Campaigns; Celebrities in Politics; Presence of Armed Groups in conflict with the government; Practice of TraPo (Traditional Politics); People Power's Strength; Catholic Church's Political Influence
• Economic Practices in the Philippines

  • Many microfinance companies in barangays; Presence of Indian lenders known as Bombays with the 5/6 mechanism; Saving through alkansya and Paluwagan; Borrowing money during fiestas and events; Sari-Sari Stores as common businesses; Professionals involved in side jobs
• Emic View

  The view of an insider looking from within the culture; Investigates how local people think, perceive, and categorize the world, their rules for behavior, what has meaning for them, and how they imagine and explain things
• Etic View

  The view of an outsider looking in; Shifts the focus from local observations, categories, explanations, and interpretations to those of the anthropologist
• Types of Socialization

  • Primary Socialization
  • Secondary Socialization
  • Anticipatory Socialization
  • Professional or Developmental Socialization
  • Re-Socialization
• Primary Socialization

  • Occurs from birth to adolescence, where children learn societal norms from family and close friends; Examples include social symbols and toilet training
• Secondary Socialization

  • Happens when a person interacts with a small group within a larger community, learning appropriate behaviors; Examples include joining a school club or adapting to a new workplace
• Anticipatory Socialization

  • Transitions from childhood to adolescence, learning expectations for the future; Also involves preparing to join new groups by adopting their values beforehand
• Professional or Developmental Socialization

  • Early life process developing skills and attitudes for future roles; Focuses on social skill development, such as a Peer Facilitator teaching study habits to Grade 7 students
• Re-Socialization

  • Occurs when moving to a new group, requiring learning new values and beliefs while leaving behind old ones
• Parts of Socialization

  • Context
  • Content and Process
  • Results and Outcomes
• Context

  • Includes culture, language, social structures, and an individual's position; It involves history and the roles of people and institutions
• Content and Process

  • Content is what is passed on, while process is how new norms and values are taught
• Results and Outcomes

  • Refers to the effects and consequences on an individual after socialization
• Consequences of Socialization

  • Passes on cultural knowledge and traditions
  • Helps individuals become full society members, teaching norms like respecting elders
  • Through these processes, identity formation occurs
  • Shapes norms, values, and social status
  • Establishes concepts of right and wrong, creating a social contract
  • Contributes to the natural creation of roles and social strata