Chapter 1

Starting points for the

Understanding of Culture,
society and politics
 LESSON 1

z
Our Social and
Cultural
Backgrounds
 Commencement Address at
American University in June 10,
1963
z
Differences, in a wider scope, can be
seen as languages, color of skin, foods,
music, family patters, beliefs and
morality. For instance, some of the
Indians believed in reincarnation. It is
their belief that there is life after death in
another form which is considered as a
cycle of life. Filipinos who belong to
Roman Catholicism believe in purgatory.
They believe that when a person dies,
his soul undergoes purification in order
to attain holiness before entering
heaven.
z
▪ Diversity

The differences of qualities

and characteristics of
individuals within a society
such as beliefs, ways of
clothing, behaving, and
other culture. These varied
ways of living of people
can be called as cultural
variation or social
differences.
z Panopio and Rolda (2007) describe below the
factors contributing to cultural variation or
social differences.

▪ GENDER
It refers to the personal
traits and social
positions that members
of a society attach to
being female or male.
z
▪ SOCIO-ECONOMIC
CLASS
This refers to a composite
ranking based on variations
dimensions of social inequality.
This class could be based on
income, wages or salary and
earnings from investments. The
social class is divided into the
following: upper class, middle
class and lower class.
▪ ETHNICITY
z

It is considered as a
shared heritage.
For example, in a
Filipino race, there
are different
ethnicities such as
Manobo, B’laan,
Mandaya.
 z

▪ RACE
It is a socially constructed
category composed of
people who share
biologically transmitted
traits that members of a
society consider important.
For example, the color of
the skin of Filipinos is
different from that of the
Americans.
z

▪ RELIGION
It a social institution
involving beliefs and
practices based on
conception of the
sacred.
z

▪ NATIONALITY
It is a person’s birth
nation, i.e., Filipino
z
CULTURAL ELEMENTS

▪ Cultural and social differences

may vary from place to place
according to the following
cultural elements: symbols,
language, beliefs, values and
norms.
 Schaefer (2009)
z
Panopio and Rolda,
2007
▪ Recognizes symbol as one of
▪ Symbols occur in different
the important elements of
culture. forms.
▪ It may be verbal or
▪ He describes symbol as
anything that carries a nonverbal (such as saying
particular meaning recognized “hi” or waving of hands
by people who share a culture. and other gestures),
written or unwritten
Symbols therefore can be anything (words on the page,
that conveys a meaning. drawings, pictures)
 z

Language
▪ These are culturally
▪ Is a symbol which allows people to
defined standards that
communicate.
people used to decide
▪ This element can be verbal or non-
verbal.
what is desirable, good,
and beautiful and that
▪ As a symbol, language is
communicated in a form of words, serve as broad guidelines
gestures and other signs. for social living.
▪ Diversity in language is evident in (Javier et al.2002)
cultural variations.
 z

▪ Are rules and

▪ Are specific thoughts or ideas that
people hold to be true. expectations by
which a society
▪ Accordingly, values are abstract
standards of goodness, and beliefs guides the behavior
are particular matters that of its members
individuals consider true or false. (Baliao and Parcon,
(Abelos, 2014) 2011)
 z
The diagram below shows the connection of
the elements of culture. This is based on
Schaefer’s (2009) discussion.

VALUES
CULTURE SYMBOLS LANGUAGE NORMS
IDEAS

Symbols found in all cultures represent meanings to things and

events. These symbols are conveyed to what we call
language. Language expresses the beliefs and values of a
culture. Values are ideas which are translated into norms.
Norms then concretely defines how one should behave in the
society.