Understanding Culture Society and Politics

Topic:
CULTURAL VARIATION, CULTURAL
RELATIVISM AND ETHNOCENTRISM

MEBYLYN C. RIVERA
Teacher
 CLASS RUES
Rule 1. We are safe.
Rule 2. We are respectful.
Rule 3. We follow directions the first time.
Rule 4. We work hard and try our best.
 CULTURE
As the anthropologist Edward Tylor defined it,
“Culture… is that complex whole which includes
knowledge, belief, arts, morals, law, customs, and other
capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of
society.”
It encompasses everything—from a cultural group’s
choice of clothing, to the language they use every day.
Every society has its own unique culture that sets it apart
from others.
 As learners trying to understand culture, one must be
aware of the diversity of culture, as well as one’s
disposition in perceiving them.
The photo above depicts a Hindu wedding.
This is an example of an aspect of Indian culture that
differentiates it from other cultures.
The aspects of culture, which may include religion, food,
beliefs, and practices, vary from culture to culture.
Each aspect is expressed uniquely and creatively through
material and non-material forms.
 Questions
1. What is the definition of culture according to Edward
Taylor?
2. How Hindu wedding differ from Filipino base from
the picture?
3. As a member of a society with its own unique
culture, how could you remain objective in studying
other cultures?
Vocabulary WORDS

1. encompasses
2. disposition
3. perceive
4. Depicts
5. unique
 Vocabulary Words
1. Encompasses – comprehend , cover, embrace
2. Disposition – A person’s inherent qualities of
mind and character
3. perceive- become aware or conscious of
something
4. Depicts – to represent or portray
5. Unique- being the only one of its kind
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. define cultural variation cultural relativism and

ethnocentrism
2. Identify and explain cultural variation, cultural
relativism and ethnocentrism in attaining cultural
understanding.
3. evaluate situation related to cultural relativism,
ethnocentrism and cultural variation
Group Activity 1

Word Challenge

Directions:
Using the coded letters solve the following
mathematical problems to get the correct word on
the activity sheet given to you. List them on a piece of
Manila paper. The team with the most points and first
to finish at the end wins.(Time Limit:3 minutes)
EXAMPLE

20-1 = 19 S
3 x 5= 15 O
2+1= 3 C
2 x 2x 2+ 1 = 9 I
5 -0 = 5 E
5 x 5 -5 = 20 T
75 – 50 = 25 Y
 WORD CHALLENGE NO.1

2+1 = _______
7x3 = _______
6+6 = _______
30-10 = ______
10+ 11= ______
6x3= _______
25/5= _______

ANSWER 3 21 12 20 21 18 5 CULTURE
 WORD CHALLENGE NO.2
11x 2 = ________
0 - 1 = ________
9 + 9 = ________
3 x 3 = _________ VARIATION
1 + 0 = __________
10 x 2 = __________
9 x 2 = ___________
3 x 5 = __________
7 + 7 = __________
ANSWER 22 1 18 8 9 1 20 18 15 14
 WORD CHALLENGE NO. 3
9 x 2 = __________
5 -0 = __________
6 x 2 = __________
1 – 0 -= __________
40 -20 = _________ RELATIVISM
3 x 3 = ___________
11 x 2 = ___________
9 – 0 = __________
10+ 5 = ___________
7+7 = _____________
ANSWER 18 5 12 1 20 9 22 9 15 14
 Word Challenge No 4.

3+ 2 = ______________ 5 +10 -6 = _________________

100/5 = _____________ 9x 2+ 1 = __________________
2x2x2 = ______________ 20 + 6 – 8 = ______________
7 x 2 = _______________

3 x 5 = ______________ ETNOCENTRISM
2+1 = _______________
2+2+1 = _____________
14- 7 = ______________
40-20 = ______________
ANSWER 5 20 8 14 15 3 5 7 20 8 19 13
 Cultural Variation
refers to the rich diversity in social patterns
that different human group exhibit around
the world. Music, dance, languages,
cuisine, and art are different from one
culture to another.
 I. Cultural Variation
The variation in human conditions promotes
diversity in cultural traditions.
What may be considered good practice in one
culture may be considered bad practice in
one another.
Example of Cultural Variation
Comparing the traditions practiced by
Muslims that pork serve in their meals are
forbidden because it says in their Holy
Quran while for Christian community, pork is
a part of their meal.
 Variation between Culture
1. Subculture- is a culture that is shared with a
distinctive pattern of mores, folkways, and values
which differ from a larger society.
 2. counter culture
is a culture practice by groups whose
values and norms place it at odds with
mainstream society or a group that actively
rejects the dominant cultural values and
norms.
 3. High Culture
is a culture practiced and patronized
by the upper classes of the society.
Example: watching opera, classical
music and live theater
4. Popular Culture
is a culture practiced or patronized by the
middle and working classes of the society.
Example: Watching soap opera over the
televisions, movies and rock concerts
 II. Cultural Relativism
is the practice by assessing a culture by its own
standards rather that viewing it through the lens of
one’s own culture. It is the practice that one must
understood in the context of their locality .
 Example of Cultural Relativism
Religious beliefs and arranged marriages
There are practices in religion and marriage
that are acceptable in some cultures but not
in others. However, this does not qualify
individuals to criticize each other's practices,
and they tolerate them as they are
 What is cultural relativism in attaining cultural
understanding?
Cultural relativism is not judging a culture
to our own standards of what is right or
wrong, strange or normal.
Instead, we should try to understand cultural
practices of other groups in its own cultural
context.
III. ETHNOCENTRISM
is the regard that one’s own culture and
society is the center of everything and
seen as the most efficient and superior
among the cultures in the world.
Ethnocentrism can be so strong but
when confronted with all of the
differences of a new culture, one may
experience culture shock
Example of Ethnocentrism

a person living in an urban community may

perceive those in the remote rural areas to be
uncivilized due to their different clothing or lack of
high-technology gadgets.
This may result to judging that specific group as
the inferior one. In this scenario, the cultural
standards of urban cities were used to judge the
culture of those living in rural areas.
How ethnocentrism affects the
understanding of other cultures?
Ethnocentrism often leads to incorrect
assumptions about others' behavior based on your
own norms, values, and beliefs.
In extreme cases, a group of individuals may see
another culture as wrong or immoral and because
of this may try to convert, sometimes forcibly, the
group to their own ways of living.
 Activity 2. Assemble Me!
Directions:
Assemble the cut out pictures then identify if it is
cultural relativism, cultural variation or
Ethnocentrism.
Explain your answer in front of the class
SHORT QUIZ
 ASSIGNMENT
Choose one from the following activity
1. Make an Infographics about cultural relativism, cultural variation and
ethnocentrism
2. Make a poster slogan on how to address the problem of Racism
3. Essay
One of the lasting issues that multicultural countries face is racism and
discrimination. Even in the most developed countries like United States, this
issue haunts them.
If you are the president of that country, how will you address the issue of
racism and discrimination to break cultural barriers?