Understanding

Culture, Society,
and Politics
Created By: Mr. Brian C. Baldon “Teacher Amber”

Academic Year 2023-2024

Note: Please do not share this module as it is manually made by Teacher Amber

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Lesson 1: Sharing of social an cultural backgrounds of students as acting subjects or social
actors, agents, and persons

Objectives:

 Discuss the cultural backgrounds of students as social beings, cultural diversity, and social
differences
 Demonstrate the topic by means of collaborative approach
 Reflect the importance of social and cultural backgrounds of students as acting subjects or
social actors, agents, and persons

Students as Social Beings

The categories that we possess as individuals are “labels” that are ascribed or given to
us individually and collectively are a testament to the operation of these forces which leave us
unsuspecting of their intrusive and punitive implications in our lives. Our categories as male or
female, rich or poor, tall or short, and even the problematic effect of the color of our skin are
evidences of the operation of these social forces. These “labels” function as tags which our society
read our value and worth. These are socially constructed.

Our world is already being organized by society. Boys and girls are assigned
appropriated colors, toys, clothes, mannerisms, etiquette, careers to pursue, and choice of mate
(husband/wife)

In short, our society has already been constructed for us.

Cultural Diversity
Refers to “that complex whole which encompasses beliefs, practices, values, attitudes,
laws, norms, artifacts, symbols, knowledge, and everything that a person learns and shares as a
member of society.
Social Differences
refers to situations where people are discriminated on the basis of social, economic,
gender, and racial inequalities. This is usually equated to social stratification.

Major Types of Social Stratifications

1. Caste - Hereditary endogamous social group on which a person;s rank and his rights and
obligations are ascribed or on the basis of his birth into a particular group.
2. Class - a person’s position is based upon achievements.
3. Slavery - had economic basis wherein the master shows power over slave.
4. Political Identities - each country has its own system to run its government. A government is
the system by which a state or community is controlled so as to put order.

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Lesson 2: Observations about social, political, and cultural behavior, and phenomena

Objectives:

 Recognize behavior and phenomena in society which are socially, politically, culturally
significant
 Demonstrate curiosity and open-mindedness about social, political, and cultural behavior and
phenomena
 Reflect the importance of these phenomena and how it affects our daily lives

Observations about social, political, and cultural behavior, and phenomena

A. Food Taboos - Culturally, food taboos are known from virtually all human societies. A food
taboo is a prohibition against consuming certain foods. Some religions assert that there are certain
foods which to them are prohibited while other religions may consider them fit for human
consumption. In the society, there are certain dietary rules that may affect particular aspects of the
human life. These food taboos or prohibitions may be associated with special events such as
childbirth, pregnancy, menstrual period or breast feeding.In some cases, dietary rules are thought to
be a result of health considerations or other practical reasons. Some foods may be prohibited during
certain religious periods like during the Holy Week, at certain stages of life such as when one is
pregnant, or to certain classes of people like priests or religious people, even though the food is
otherwise permitted.

Food Taboos in the Philippines - The cuisine of the Filipinos has its roots or with influences from
the Malay, Spanish, Arab, Indian,Japanese, Chinese and American cuisines. The Filipinos
traditionally have three meals a day like many other cultures. There is an afternoon snack called
“merienda”. There are many different dishes, from chicken, pork to beef. The staples are rice which
is eaten with sauce of the main dish or soup, fruits, meat and seafood. Cooking methods are frying,
grilling, sautéing and most of the time, boiling. There are many unique dishes in the Filipino
cuisine. Some of them are papaitan which is goat or beef innards stew flavored with bile which
gives it a bitter taste.

Some Dishes that Filipinos Consider as Taboo

1. Any dish that have dog or cat meat. Although there are those who really prefer dog meat, this is
not allowed by law in the Philippines. Republic act No. 8485 declares that it is completely “illegal
to slaughter a dog or cat for personal trade or slaughtering a dog orcat for commercial trade and
consumption. Common opinion also disapproves it considering that “the dog is a man’s best friend.
2. Any meat of animals considered as endangered. Meat of monkeys, tortoise(pawikan), monitor
lizards (bayawak), or rare birds are unacceptable to eat either by public standards or by law.
3. Any food that violates human dignity because they are not anymore acceptable for human
consumption by public opinion. Such are like the “double-dead meat” or “botcha” pork, beef and
chicken meat coming from previously already dead animals still butchered to be sold for human
consumption at significantly low prices compared to the fresh ones. Another is the “pagpag” which
are food that are left-over chicken or pork from restaurants salvaged and remade into another dish.

B. The Standby (istambay) - Etymologically, the Filipino term “istambay” is derived from the
English idiom “on standby”. Istambay is a localized version of standby, which over the years has

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developed a set of peculiar characteristics that signify a particular subsector in Philippine society.
One definition of istambay is “a person who does not have work and who usually hangs-out on
street corners.” Another definition of istambay comes from a Pilipino-English dictionary which
offers a more lucid characterization of the negative stereotypes attached to being an istambay. The
dictionary defines istambay as (1) an act of spending one’s time unprofitably; idler (2) a person who
spends his time unprofitably.This definition also suggests the Filipino terms ‘paglalakwtsa’
(gallivanting), ‘taong tamad’ (lazy person), and ‘di ginagamit’ (not being used) as synonymous to
istambay. Interestinglyma great number of our populations, as a matter of choice or being force, are
into this unlikeable condition.

C. Political Dynasty - Another interesting issue in the country is about political dynasty, a
phenomenon with socio-economic undertones. Political dynasties which refer to families whose
members are engaged in politics have been in the Philippine political structure since time past. Most
political dynasties are found in affluent families that have entrenched themselves in local politics
before going to the national level. Political dynasties, therefore, usually have a strong local support
base. In fact, dynasties are also active in socio-economic ventures and not just limited to politics

Election - The formal process of selecting a person for public office or of accepting or rejecting a
political proposition by voting.

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Lesson 3: Observations on Social, Political, and Cultural Change

Objectives:

 Demonstrate understanding about the significance of studying culture

 Adopt an open and critical attitude toward different social, political, and cultural phenomenon
through observation
 Reflect and analyze social, political, and cultural change.

Social Change - come from various sources, through contact with other societies for the ff reasons:
1. Changes in the ecosystem (that may result to the spread of certain diseases)
2. Technological Advancement (characterized by the Industrial Revolution)
3. Population explosion and other demographic variables.
4. Social change may also be caused by ideological, economic, and political activities.

Political Change - happens when the rulers of a country lose power or when the type of
governance in the country changes. Governance is the kind of system or ideology used to express
authority in a country. It may be a democracy, monarchy, oligarchy, and others

Cultural Change - refers to a modification of a society through innovation, invention, discovery,

or contact with other societies.It can also refer to a change in beliefs, values, methods, processes
and systems, which can lead to changes in individual behaviour.

Observations on Social, Political, and Cultural Change

1. Texting - Way back, when we want to relay a message to a person from afar, we either use a
landline telephone or send a fax message, available only in homes, offices and buildings. Today,
with the use of a cellular phone, we can send messages at anytime, anywhere. This is the beauty of
technology on texting or text messaging. Text messaging or simply texting can be done by
composing and sending electronic messages from one person to another using mobile phones or
fixed or portable devices over a phone network. Technically, the term refers to messages sentvia the
Short Message Service (SMS). Nowadays, the technology has expanded to include multi-media
messages (MMS) including image, videos, and sound content, as well as ideograms, commonly
known as emoji.

2. Transnational Families - is where one or both parents live and work in another country while
the children remain in their country of origin. While these families remain secured financially, their
members are also exposed to setbacks. Children who become overly unsupervised find themselves
facing peer pressure, too much independence,and lack of family orientation. These may result in
alcohol or drug abuse, unwanted pregnancy, mood swings, or early marriage

3. Local Public Services - are provided by the government to people living within its jurisdiction,
either directly (through the public sector) or by financing the provision of services.

4. Youth Volunteerism - provides entry points for young people to determine their own priorities,
set their own agendas and engage with young people or other actors.
 It gives youth the opportunity to work through real challenges and make meaningful change.
 Encourages teenagers and children to confront moral dilemmas, investigate solutions, and
employ innovative thinking.
Makes youth more likely to feel connected to their communities and do better in school, and less
likely to engage in risky behavior.

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Lesson 4: Definition of Anthropology, Political Science, and Sociology

Objectives:

 Explain the meaning of sociology, anthropology, and political science.

 Demonstrate a holistic understanding of the topic.
 Show appreciation to the cultural elements present in a community.

What is Sociology?

Individual behavior may differ when he will be included into a group thus, making this
event a remarkable beginning of one of the pioneer disciplines under Social Sciences. Sociology is
one of the disciplines that tends to answer the social and political issues in the Modern Period.
Etymologically, Sociology came from the Latin word “socius” which means “companion” and
Greek word “logos” which means to study. It is a systematic study of human relationship along
with human society and interaction

What is Anthropology?

Another pioneering Social Science discipline, anthropology helps us to understand our

holistic identity. It came from a Latin word “anthropos” which means man and Greek word logos -
means to study.
Anthropology is a branch of Social Science that deals with all aspects of human beings
including their biological evolution and social and cultural features that definitively distinguish
humans from other animal species. With the scope of the discipline, it encompasses a group of
more specific and specialized fields. Physical anthropology focuses on the biological and
evolutionary framework of
humanity. It focuses on greater information and details about human evolution. Other branches that
deal with social and cultural interactions of human groups are categorically belong to social
anthropology, cultural anthropology, psychological anthropology, and linguistic anthropology.
Archaeology which investigates of prehistoric cultures as its primary focus, has been an essential
part of anthropology since it became a separate and distinct discipline in the end of the 19th
century. The material remains or artifacts helped social scientists to validate, describe, and analyze
the kind of culture and society humans made through the course of history.

Branches of Anthropology

The discipline of anthropology has diverse branches that studies different level of
expertise within the bounds of human social, cultural, and physical background.

1. Cultural Anthropology – The study of people with their variations and progress in terms of
culture. It also deals with the description and analysis of the forms and styles of social life of past
and present ages.
2. Linguistic Anthropology – The study of language mainly but not exclusively
among humans. It also deals with the study of communication’s origins, history, and contemporary
variation.
3. Archaeology – The study of past human cultures through their material remains. It also the study
of past human culture through the recovery and analysis of artifacts.
4. Biological Anthropology – The study of humans as biological organisms, including their
evolution and contemporary variation.
5. Applied Anthropology – They analyze social, political, and economic problems and develop
solutions to respond to present problems.

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What is Political Science?
The etymology of Political Science came from two ancient words. The word political
came from Greek word “polis” which means city-state and science comes from Latin word
“scire” which means to know. Political Science is a discipline in social science concerned
primarily in the state, government, and politics. It focuses widely in political theory and its practice
and the analysis of political systems and behavior.

The Goals of Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Science

In studying anthropology, sociology, and political science, it gives us the understanding

on how other societies organize their lives and give meaning to their existence. We can clearly see
how the society operates from a patterned culture within the bounds of internal and external forces
of power and authority. With this aim, we are given the challenge to realize the goals of these three
fields.

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Lesson 5: Aspect of Clture

Objectives:

 Discuss the anthropological and sociological perspectives on culture and society

 Demonstrate a holistic understanding by means of triple venn diagram
 Reflect the importance of culture

1. Dynamic, flexible & Culture changes constantly throughout the time. It varies on the
adaptive societal structure and the capacities of its members to respond
2. Shared & Contested Culture through its elements is enjoyed by group of people who
lived together. It also allows its members to predict the
behavior of other members but it is no assurance that they will
think and act similarly
3. Learned through Culture is learned with practice through continued process. It is
socialization or a lifelong process in which social interaction plays a vital role
enculturation
4. Patterned social Culture creates patterned behavior and social interactions that
interactions can be transmitted through socialization and enculturation
5. Integrated and at times Culture to be always functioning must maintain its components
unstable integrated. Language must have all its idea and ideals intact for
the successful transmission from one person to another
6. Transmitted through Socialization is a process of learning and internalizing rules and
socialization/enculturation patterns of society (Sociological Perspective) while
enculturation is a process of learning and adopting ways and
manners of culture. (Anthropological Perspective)
7. Requires language and Culture will be successfully transmitted if it uses language and
other forms of other forms of communication within their context.
communication

Types of Culture
Culture is primarily composed of material and non-material elements. Material
culture includes all visible parts and tangible objects while non-material culture has intangible
objects or the invisible parts. These manifestations are always present in any given society.
Material Culture
Food
Clothing and Fashion
Buildings and Properties
Arts and Technology

Non-material Culture
Ideas and Knowledge
Beliefs and Traditions
Symbols and Language•Behavior
Religion

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Elements of Culture
To fully comprehend the concept of culture, it is essential to understand the different
elements that comprise it.

1. Norms - These are the standard an expected behavior within a society.

2. Symbols - These are anything that carry a meaning recognized by people who share a culture.
(Sign of the cross - Christianity)
3. These are culturally defined standards by which people assess desirability, goodness, and beauty
and that serve as broad guidelines for social living. (I.e Filipino hospitality and resiliency)
4. Beliefs - These are specific statements that people hold to be true. (I.e Superstition)
Language - It refers to a form of communication using words either spoken or gestured with the
hands and structured with grammar, often with a writing system. (I.e The crossing of fingers may
refer that someone is hoping for good luck but in Vietnam it represents the genitals of a female)

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Lesson 6: Society as a Group of People Sharing Common Culture

Objectives:

 Discuss the society as a group of people sharing a common culture

 Demonstrate a creative presentation about the topic
 Reflect on the importance of culture

Society
- from a latin word “societus” meaning “companionship”
- refers to a group of people sharing a common culture within a defined territorial boundaries

Significance of Studying Society

1. Represent of our own identity
2. Characterize the totality of territory
3. Symbol of Political Independence
4. Avenue of economic interdependence

Elements of Society
1. The shared set of norms, values, beliefs, and attitudes
2. The created and used artifacts
3. The people as constituting members of society

Types of Society
Types of Society Key Characteristics
Hunting-and-gathering These are small, simple societies in which
people hunt and gather food. Because all
people in these societies have few
possessions, the societies are fairly
egalitarian, and the degree of inequality is
very low.
Horticultural and pastoral Horticultural and pastoral societies are larger
than hunting-and-gathering societies.
Horticultural societies grow crops with simple
tools, while pastoral societies raise livestock.
Both types of societies are wealthier than
hunting-and-gathering societies, and they also
have more inequality and greater conflict than
hunting-and-gathering societies.
Agricultural These societies grow great numbers of crops,
thanks to the use of plows, oxen, and other
devices. Compared to horticultural and
pastoral societies, they are wealthier and have
a higher degree of conflict and of inequality.
Industrial Industrial societies feature factories and

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 machines. They are wealthier than
agricultural societies and have a greater sense
of individualism and a somewhat lower
degree of inequality that still remains
substantial.
Post Industrial These societies feature information
technology and service jobs. Higher education
is especially important in these societies for
economic success.

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Lesson 7: Socialization: Identify Formation, Norms and Values, Statuses and Roles

Objectives:

 Define the context of Socialization: Identify Formation, Norms and Values, Statuses and Roles
 Demonstrate a collaborative approach in creating graphic organizer
 Reflect the importance of socialization

Socialization
 Lifelong process of social interaction through which people acquire their identities and
necessary survival skills in society.

Three Goals of Socialization

1. It teaches impulse control and helps individuals develop a conscience.
2. It teaches individuals how to prepare for and perform certain social roles
3. It cultivates shared sources of meaning and value

Enculturation
Process of being socialized into a specific culture. Individuals learn cultural symbols, norms,
values, and language by observing and interacting with family, friends, and the rest of society.

Cultural Identity
- It is one’s feeling of identity or affiliation with a group or culture.
Ethnic Identity
- The Identification with a certain ethnicity, usually on the basis of a presumed common
genealogy or ancestry
National Identity
- Is an ethical and philosophical concept whereby all humans divided into groups called
nation.
Religious Identity
- Is the set of beliefs and practices generally held by an individual involving adherence to
codified beliefs and rituals
Norms
- Is a rule that guides the behavior of members of a society or group.
- The act of abiding rules.
Values
- Culturally defined standards that people use to decide what is desirable, good, and
beautiful and that serve as broad guidelines for social living.

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Status
- Position in a social system
- Refers to a social position that a person holds.
Role
- Refers to the behavior expected of someone who holds a particular status
- A person who holds status and perform a role

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