Understanding Culture Society Politics Notes

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE NOTES
Lesson 1: Society, Culture, and Politics

Society
● People make up society
● It is a group where different significant phenomena happen
● Can make or break a person’s life (gender, socioeconomic class, and interests)
Culture
● Fabric that binds society
● Consists of languages, values, norms, and symbols
Politics
● Compromised of actions, practices, and policies that revolve around governance
● Involves the government, institution responsible for maintaining society
Cultural Taboos
➔ Things and activities that are considered inappropriate
➔ Not exactly illegal, but
Examples of Cultural Taboos in the Philippines:
1. Incestuous relationship
2. Wearing shoes inside the house
3. Addressing elders and persons of authority by first name
4. Neglecting or avoiding support of elderly parents
5. Not showering or bathing every day
Idling or Inactivity
● From the word “stand by” or hang around, istambays are called as such for not joining the labor
force despite being work of age
● Seen with group with fellow istabmays somewhere in their neighborhood to chat or merry-mate
● Most istambays are content with occasional community chores and or dole-outs.
Political Dynasties
● The act of monopolizing political power in an area by single clan. (Tadem & Tandem)
● It exists when there are two or more ruling politicians from the same family
Elections
● The elections in the Philippines can be very intense
● Tatel (2013) platform of governance is usually underemphasized
● People not only vote for exercising their political rights but also to affirm cultural norms and
ethics
● The people’s vote is primarily grounded on social and cultural bases, rather than the candidates'
political platforms
Changes in Philippines
Online Messaging
● The Philippines was regarded as the “texting (SMS) capital of the world”
● The growth of smartphone users in the country along came a new mode of communication
● With data promos from providers, Filipinos nowadays have more access to online messaging apps
such as Messenger and Viber
● It reduces the distance between people and makes any type of communication convenient
Social Media
● In the 2018 and 2019 studies by We Are Social, it was found that Filipinos are the top social
media users in the world- spending an average of 10 hours and two minutes on social media every
day
Transnational Families
● Where members of the family are physically separated
Lesson 2: SOCIETY
Imagine a life without school, government, religion, classmates, friends, and family
Importance of Society
➔ Without the factors that contribute one’s survival, a person is an emotional void
➔ Without the influences and forces that make up one’s personality, a person cannot survive
Society
● Is a group of people living together in an organized communities, following common laws,
values, customs, and traditions
● The term was used in the mid-16th century
● From Latin words socius and sociatas means companion
● From French word societe means companionship
Society and Individualism

“There is no such thing as society; there are individual men and women and there families.”
- Minister Margaret Thatcher
Individualism
● Includes all values, rights, and duties come from individual
● Individual must be politically and economically independent, with little or no influence from the
society the person is in
Sociological Perspective
● Individualism is something of an illusion
Some Scholars Supported and Concluded

● No government can do anything, except through people and people must look at themselves first.
It’s our duty to look after ourselves and then, also to look after our neighbor. People have got
entitlements too much in mind without the obligations. There’s no such thing as entitlement
unless someone has first met an obligation.
● Thatcher adds: Induced individualism as a form of self and general development. Since the
primary idea of society is the co-existence of the members of certain groups, she claimed that
people were often misled to the notion that their every decision depend on society.
Society and Collectivism

● Traditional societies place high premium on collectivism. Members of these societies prioritize in
group relationships over individualistic values and dispositions. Consequently, collectivist
societies or cultures value interdependence, collaboration, conformity, interdependence, and
related collective values.
● Group welfare is given higher importance over individual needs and wants. Consequently,
negative sanctions are given to members who opt to counter collective agreements and values.
However, due to cultural homogenization brought about by globalization, digitalization, and
economic integration, collectivism as a disposition is being challenged by individualistic cultures
and conditions.
● American sociologists Paul Horton and Chester Hunt (1964) said institutions as an organized
system of social relationships that represent society’s common values and procedures.
6 Institutions in Every Society

1. Family. The bedrock or foundation of society.
2. Education. The formal institutions designated to preserve and transfer cultural knowledge and
identity.
3. Economy. Social institutions of scarce resource and service.
4. Government. A social institution that states policy and enforces the law.
5. Media. It is the institution responsible for the circulation of vital information among members.
6. Religion. Collection of beliefs intended to explain the meaning, origin, and purpose.

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UNDERSTANDING CULTURE NOTES

Lesson 1: Society, Culture, and Politics

Society and Individualism

Some Scholars Supported and Concluded

Society and Collectivism

6 Institutions in Every Society

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