1 - Lesson 1

Lesson 1: Defining Culture, Society, and Politics

Culture
Culture is generally defined as the sum of an individual's way of life, ranging from the
food he or she eats, the clothes he or she wears, and the house where he or she
lives. It also includes both the material and non-material things that he or she
possesses or acquires. Non-material things are the norms and values as well as the
intangible aspects of his or her existence: music, dance, poetry, and other forms of
expressions that showcase his or her creativity and artistry. Culture also includes
fads and fashion trends, manners and taboos as well as scientific knowledge and
technology that manifest through tangible aspects, such as architectural and
engineering wonders, advancement in medicine, and breakthroughs in transportation
and communication.
 
Societyis generally defined as an organized group or groups of interdependent
people who share a common territory, language, and culture, and who act together
for collective survival and well-being. The ways that people depend upon one
another can be seen in different social features, such as their economic,
communication, and defense systems. They are also bound together by a general
sense of common identity and pride of place. In reality, there can be no culture
without a society and so far there are no known human societies that do not exhibit
culture (Haviland, et al:312). 
 
Politics
Politics refers to the "theory, art, and practice of government." The political institution
is a relatively stable cluster of statuses, general norms, and role behavior, which are
involved in the acquisition and exercise of power and decision-making in society.
The institution that sets up the social norms and values as to who will possess "the
monopoly of legitimate use of physical force within a given territory," how that power
is acquired and maintained, and how that power is organized and exercised,
comprises the state (Weber:216). 
The government is a concrete example of a political institution. It exercises power
especially in relation to governance and decision-making. Power is manifested in the
acquisition of statuses and functions. For instance, the president or the prime
minister serves as the head of the government. He or she functions as the chief
executive and the commander-in-chief, especially in policy-making and other matters
related to governance and imposition of laws. He or she leads the military during war
and the cabinet during peace. He or she designates roles for cabinet members to
undertake. He or she is given power to approve or veto decisions made by the
cabinet or the legislative body. He or she is also given a check-and-balance power,
which means he or she can order the review of other branches of government if they
are not executing their functions properly. 
These concepts-culture, society, and politics- are essential in understanding human
behavior and social groups. They are interrelated and to some extent reflective of
each other. Though similarities and areas of convergence exist among them, they
are not identical. Their interrelatedness will be explained further in the succeeding
chapters.
 
Gender
Gender is the socially-constructed characteristics of being male or female. In short, it
refers to society’s division of humanity into two distinctive categories based on sex.
Gender serves as a guide on how males and females think and act about
themselves; the ways they interact with others; and how they perform their various
roles in the society. (5.1)
While sex chiefly centers on biological differences, gender is the culturally-learned
difference between men and women. Hormonal distinctions as well as diverse levels
of sexual arousal segregate men from women as these indicators provide clues on
one's maleness or femaleness. These are sex differences. On the contrary, the level
of masculinity and femininity varies from one culture to another especially on how
society dictates one's productive and reproductive roles or gender roles. For
instance, in the Judeo-Christian world, men are perceived to be superior than
women; thus they are ascribed more vigorous occupational roles like plowing the
field or doing menial jobs as opposed to women who are relegated to homemaking
and child-rearing.
There is a popular notion that gender deals only with differences, wherein society
constructs masculine and feminine people. However, in reality, it is how society
confers power on each of these sexes that leads to the development of a sense of
empowerment and sensitivity.
 
Socioeconomic Status
Socioeconomic status refers to the category of persons who have more or less the
same socioeconomic privileges in a society. These privileges are due to inherited
wealth and/or occupational status of the breadwinner in the household (Panopio,
etc.: 327). 
The types of social class/status operate in varying forces and combinations at
different times within a society or in diverse societies. In the Philippines, s types of
social classes are identified: upper, middle, and the lower classes. 
The upper class consists of elite families. They are considered the most productive
in terms of resource generation and oftentimes very successful in their respective
fields of interests and endeavors—be it in agriculture, industry, business, and
government. 
The middle class is composed of small business and industry operators mostly
owners and managers, professionals, office workers, and farm owners with income
sufficient enough to provide a comfortable and decent living. OFWs are also included
in this category. 
Farm employees, skilled and unskilled artisans, service workers, and people who
may be unemployed or underemployed or those who belong to indigent families or
informal sectors fall on the lower class. Comparatively speaking, this group is the
largest in terms of number. 
 
Ethnicity
As the most potent cultural concept, ethnicity is the expression of the set of cultural
ideals held by a distinct ethnic or indigenous group. An ethnic group refers to people
who collectively and publicly identify themselves as distinct and unique based on
distinguishable cultural features that set them apart from others, such as language,
shared ancestry, common origin, customs, and traditions (Haviland, et al.: 313).
Based on the 2000 census of the National Statistics Office (NSO), the eight major
ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines are the Tagalog, comprising 28.1% of the
population; Cebuano 13.1%; Ilocano 9%; Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%; Ilonggo/Hiligaynon
7.5%; Bikol 6%; Waray 3.4%; others 25.3% (CIA). 
 
Religion
Religion is an organized system of ideas about the spiritual sphere or the
supernatural, along with associated ceremonial or ritualistic practices by which
people try to interpret and/or influence aspects of the universe otherwise beyond
human control (Haviland, et al.: 554). In 2000 census, Catholics comprised 82.9% of
the population (Roman Catholic 80.9%, Aglipayan 2%); Islam/Muslims 5%;
Evangelical 2.8%; Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%; other Christian denominations mostly
Protestant groups 4.5%; others 1.8% unspecified 0.6%; and no religion at all 0.1%
(CIA). 
 
Exceptionality
Exceptionality, as used in this context, refers to the state of being intellectually
gifted/or having physically or mentally challenged conditions concerning
personality/behavior, communication (learning disability, speech impairment, and
hearing problems), intellect (mild intellectual and mental development disabilities),
physical appearance (blind-low vision), or a combination of more than one specific
exceptionality or disability (MinEd: 2). 
 
Nationality
Lastly, nationality is the legal relationship that binds a person and a country. It allows
the state to protect and have jurisdiction over a person (Wels:29). For people who
are legally born of Filipino parent/s and those naturalized in the country after fulfilling
the requirements of residence are granted the nationality of Filipino citizens or
naturalized Filipinos. For instance, a Philippine-born Chinese who eventually
assumed citizenship as naturalized Filipinos fall on this category. They comprise 4%
of the Philippine population today. 
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