Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade 8

2 (Culture & Geography)

Unit 2: SOCIETY AND CULTURE

2.0. Intended Learning Outcomes

a. Define the term culture.

b. Explain the salient features of studying culture in modern society.
c. Appreciate the characteristics of culture by making an editorial or slogan.

2.1. Introduction

Sometimes we hear some people say. “that lady is highly cultured”. This connotes that
the lady is very accomplished in the field of art, and is refined and sophisticated. We also
often hear the term “expressive culture” referring to plastic and graphic art such as music,
painting, and sculpture. There is also the so-called “popular culture”, which refers to such
activities as shows on television, rock music, and ballroom dancing. These are limited
meanings of culture.

Culture is the core concept in cultural

anthropology and is an important concept
in sociology. There are numerous
definitions of culture. Edward Tylor (1871),
an English anthropologist, defined "culture
or civilization" as that complex whole
which includes knowledge, beliefs, art,
law, morals, customs, and any other
capabilities and habits acquired by a
person as a member of society. Tischler
(2004) defines culture as all that human
beings learn to do, to use, to produce, and
to believe as they grow to maturity and
live out their lives in the social group to
which they belong.

2.2. Topics/Discussion

The Concept and Characteristics of Culture

C. M. D. Hamo-ay
 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade 9
2 (Culture & Geography)

While others define culture as an all-encompassing concept that includes all the recipes
for a living, a blueprint for behavior and any social activity, the total of human creations, and
a way of life that serves as a potential guide for behavior.

Through the comparative study of numerous societies, anthropologists and

sociologists have arrived at an understanding of the basic characteristics that all cultures
share.

"Thus, culture implies that a

society has its way of life shared
by most of its members.”

Before we start, may I know first your definition of culture by answering the
question below.

Q1. How will you define culture? Write your answer on the space provided
below.
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Below is the presentation of the various characteristics of culture.

C. M. D. Hamo-ay
 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade 10
2 (Culture & Geography)

Culture is
learned
Culture is
trasmitted orally
and by writing

Culture is shared

Culture is patterned and

integrated

Culture is adaptive

Culture is compulsory

Cultures interact and change

So, let’s begin discussing the different characteristics of culture starting with…

1. Culture is learned. That children absorb any habit, value, knowledge, skill, and taste of
the group reflects the uniquely elaborate capacity of humans to learn. Individuals base
their future behavior on their own experience, like being careful in climbing the stairs
after having fallen, or liking or disliking the taste of
some food after having eaten something similar. The
rules and standards of behavior are learned and
internalize through socialization or enculturation. As
people grow up, they see the world through the
particular looking glass of their culture.

2. Culture is transmitted orally and by writing., as well as

consciously or unconsciously from one generation to
another or within the same generation in an endless
number of ways: through conditioning, imitation,
suggestion, identification, reward and punishment,
and mass communication. They modify their behavior
when told to do so or when they grow aware of what
culture considers as right or wrong. Transmission of the culture involves also the
disciplining of the children’s impulses toward the acquisition of attitudes which are
essential in their social life.

3. Culture is shared. The elements of culture result from living and interacting with one
another and emerge out of the social life of people. The members of the group may
not know all the norms and group expectations although they may adhere to a core
culture or a basic set of expectations shared by all the members. Common experiences
unify people.

C. M. D. Hamo-ay
 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade 11
2 (Culture & Geography)

4. Culture is patterned and integrated. Culture is made up of elements that are not
haphazardly arranged but patterned into a unified whole. In a well-integrated culture,
the members biological, psychological, and social needs are met. The culture is
integrated not simply by its dominant economic activities and social patterns but also
by enduring themes.

Q2. Base on your perception in what way that culture becomes adaptive?
Write your answer on the space provided below.
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5. Culture is adaptive. No culture is static and each individual or generation makes

adjustments. In contrast with other animals, human
beings depend on culture to adapt to their physical
environment. Adaptive behavior may offer short-
term benefits to individuals, and may harm the
environment and be a threat to the long-term
survival of the group. Sometimes the adjustments are
minor, at times major, and ties with the are broken.

6. Culture is compulsory. The members of society have

to follow the culture in their dealings with others if
they wish to get along successfully. Persons who want to violate some aspects of the
culture have to toe the line or else suffer sanctions for their violation. People may feel
like killing a person after being insulted but they have to restrain themselves, lest they
land in jail.

7. Cultures interact and change. Through trade networks, conquest, migration, education,
and tourism, cultures interact and change. In Pre-Spanish times, the country had
contacts with the Arabs, the Chinese, Indonesians, Malayans, Indians, and Japanese
and borrowed several cultural traits and patterns.

C. M. D. Hamo-ay
 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade 12
2 (Culture & Geography)

2.2.1 The Dimensions of Culture

The culture of any society, no matter how

simple, consists of a complex set of behavior
patterns and artifacts. From infancy, individuals
are introduced to the society’s ways of life. As
they grow up, they are exposed to the various
aspects of the culture and these are manifested in
their behavior. Although the content of the
different cultures varies, the structure of our
culture is universal. Among the dimensions of
culture are ideas consisting of beliefs, common
understanding, values, and scientific knowledge,
norms composed of folkways, mores, and laws;
and material culture, ideology, and technologies.

Some of these dimensions are as follows;

Top 5 Dimensions of Culture

1. Ideas These represent the nonmaterial aspects of culture. Humans
express the meaning of their experiences through ideas.
2. Beliefs These represent man’s conviction about the reality of things and
are shared ideas about how the world operates. They are the
means of how people make sense of their experience both
personal and social.
3. Values To sociologists, every culture has a basic set of core values. The
values are the socially accepted and shared ideas about what is
right.
4. Folkways The term folkway was introduced by William Graham Summer
(1906). He defined folkways as a great mass of usages of all
degrees of importance, covering all the interests in life, an
embodiment of a life philosophy forming a character, and
containing a life philosophy.
5. Mores Mores are social norms that are essential to the welfare of the
group and their cherished values. They have moral or ethical
values and are associated with strong feelings of right and
wrong. Going against them is offensive to the standards of
righteousness and proper behavior.

In your own opinion and personal experiences, answer the question below.

C. M. D. Hamo-ay
 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade 13
2 (Culture & Geography)

Q3. How does the dimension of culture affect one’s personality? Write your
answer on the space provided below.
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4.1.1. Marriage: Definition and Views

People marry, settle down and raise their own family. What do you think are the main
reasons why this becomes a part of growing up?

Q1. Why do people marry? Write your answer on the space provided below.
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C. M. D. Hamo-ay
 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade 14
2 (Culture & Geography)

Definition of and views about

marriage have changed tremendously
through the years. For instance,
marriage is often defined as a “socially
sanctioned sexual and economic union
between men and women” (Howard
and Hattis, 1992). In some societies, this
concept has been expanded to include
the union between members of the same
sex. There are some social scientists, on
the other hand, who view marriage not
as an “institution but as a relationship”.
To consider it as an “instiyution” is, in
effect, to imply that appropriate material Jing.fm
roles and statuses come from the outside
and from “above”, but to call it a relationship connotes that statuses and roles come
from within. “from the practices themselves” (Morgan 1985). The latter concept
implies a certain degree of dynamism as the emphasis is on “personal well-being and
happiness of the person involved in the relationship.” In addition, it connotes that
marriage has become more egalitarian and compassionate.

All these views about the shift of emphasis of marriage from an institution to a
relationship emerge from the following arguments:

1. That marriage involves the personal choice of the couple, and that there is
a tendency for them to expect personal growth.

2. That this concept is widespread, and if ever variations occur, the ethnic
affiliation of each spouse must have been responsible for them.

3. That there is a need for divorce and separation in some cases.

Some people view marriage as a way of life, something that is more than sexual
relationship. Couples who have decided to enter into such a relationship are bound to live
together, in principle, for the rest of their lives. They share things together and in fact develop
values that more or less reflect each other’s personality. They develop a particular lifestyle
suitable to their economic conditions. All of these are later transmitted to their own children.
Thus, in a sense, marriage had been responsible for the development of a lifestyle different
from those of single individuals. Marriage is thus, “a very valuable maturing experience, an
opportunity for personality growth, and it serves to meet an important emotional need”
(Morgan 1985).

C. M. D. Hamo-ay
 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade 15
2 (Culture & Geography)

Reasons Why People Marry

There have been a number of reasons why people marry.

1. Human infants have a prolonged period of dependency. Thus, someone has to take
care of them. Caring for them requires time and attention; often it becomes to the
“carer”, who is usually a woman. This is true specially in foraging and
horticultural societies where women are required to participate in the economic
activities of the social group. Women, when caring for their infants, fail to perform
their economic tasks. As such, they too, become dependent on others. Marriage,
therefore, becomes the most common means of ensuring that both women and
children are supported.

2. People get married to overcome the threat of sexual competition. It is argued,

particularly by male scholars, that sexual competition is a reproductive and
economic threat to the survival of society, and the relative stability provided by
marriage is the best way of coming to terms with this threat.

3. People get married because they benefit from each other’s labor. Most societies
have clearly defined divisions of labor based on sex and age. In a horticultural
society, men are responsible for clearing the fields while the women are the
planters. Similarly, in societies where people are dependent on hunting and
foraging, men are hunters while women share the fruits of their labor.

4. Men marry because this one way of gaining dominance over women. Thus, in a
foraging society where women provide substantial diets or food for the social
group, men, as husbands, gain access to the product of women’s labor and
thereby reduce men’s workload.

5. In small-scale societies, all men and women are expected to marry. Staying
unmarried is interpreted to mean refusal to assume adult responsibilities.
Unmarried men and women are not conferred adult status. In our society, people
are pressured to marry by kinsmen and peers. However, there are those who
remain unmarried, yet their decision or choice is respected and accepted. There is
fear that with the diminishing importance of kinship, the prevailing economic
situation in the Philippines, and tolerance for live-in relationships, marriage as an
important social relationship.

C. M. D. Hamo-ay
 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade 16
2 (Culture & Geography)

4.1.2. Forms of Marriage

Marriage differ, depending upon the

number of spouses a man or a woman has.

1. Monogamy

This is the most common and universal

form. It involves the union of a man and a
woman. In many urban areas, this form of
marriage is prevalent because it is predicated
on the personal choice of the couple. One form is the serial marriage, where
an individual male or female, has a number of spouses, but he or she is
married to them consecutively – one after the other.

2. Polygamy

This form refers to a plural union were an individual is

married to several individuals at the same time. For instance, polygamy
involves the union of a man to several women. The Muslim marriage
exemplifies this form as it is provided in the Koran. It is, therefore, likely that a
Muslim with economic means will be married two or three women
simultaneously. In some cases, each of the wives may occupy a separate house,
although in other instances, each wife is given a separate bedroom in the same
house. A Muslim husband may not take another wife without of the senior
wife. The negative effect of this union is the degrading position of women in
society; they have to share a husband with several other women. In addition,
jealousy arises when the junior wife is much younger than the senior wife and,
therefore, becomes the favorite of the husband.

The positive effect of

such union, on the other hand,
is that the
household chores may be
shared by the wives,
particularly during the period
of parturition. Instead of
inviting female relatives to live
with the family to take over the
wife’s task as she recuperates
from childbirth, the other
wives can assume these; they
would do it in a reciprocal
basis.
3. Adoptive Marriage

This is a form of marriage found in Japan. In Japan, since one’s

C. M. D. Hamo-ay
 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade 17
2 (Culture & Geography)

surname is patronymic, that is transferred from father to son, many wealthy

families would want to preserve their surnames by preferring sons over
daughters. In some cases, however, families only have daughters and therefore
the lineage stops with them. To offset this, the prospective son-in-law is
adopted by the family before the wedding takes place; thus, his surname is
changed into that of the bride’s family. When they get married there is no need
for the bride to change her surname. But this form of marriage proves to be
degrading to the males, just as polygyny is to women. Men who resort to this
form of a marriage lose their identity; they are absorbed by the adopting family,
the family of the bride.

4. Fictive Marriage

This is practiced by the

Nuer tribe of Africa. It is a
union between two women, an
older and a younger one. It is
most likely that the older
woman has been divorced by
her husband because of her
being barren, and since it is
difficult to live by herself, she
decides to marry a younger
woman. This younger woman
may be considered as the
children of the couple. Sex is
never the function of such
union. Thus, lesbianism is out
of the question. The
relationship is established for
companionship only.

5. Sister-Exchange

This form of marriage is prevalent in some agricultural areas where every

member of the family must be a farm helper. Here, a man cannot be allowed to
marry unless the sister of the bridegroom agrees to marry the brother of the
bride. It must be remembered that in agricultural areas, residence after
marriage is patrilocal. Thus, if the couple resides patrilocally, the bride’s
parents lose one farm help, whereas if the bridegroom’s sister agrees to marry
the bride’s brother, she (bridegroom’s sister) will be a replacement for the bride.
The family of the bride will not feel her loss and there is someone to replace
her. The problem met in this type of marriage is whether or not the parties to
be exchanged (bride’s brother and bridegroom’s sister) are willing to marry
each other.

6. Bride Capture

C. M. D. Hamo-ay
 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade 18
2 (Culture & Geography)

In some societies, capture is in itself considered a part of the marriage ritual.

For, instance, in Tikopia, an island in the Pacific, as reported by Raymond Firth,
relatives of the bridegroom assist him in “capturing” the bride because the
capture in itself “legally unites the couple”. If the bride however, is not in favor
of her marriage to the bridegroom, she makes this known to her relatives, and
they in turn see to it that she never gets captured by the bridegroom family.

This bride capture marriage is often illustrated with a caveman dragging

the captive woman by the hair with one hand, while holding a club with the
other. This was the case in the past, when tribal wars occurred between
communities, and women were considered part of the victor’s booty.

7. Levirate Marriage

A woman marries the deceased husband’s brother. As in the sororate

marriage, its objective is for the man to take care of his brother’s children and
his widow.

4.1.3. The Family

Many of us comes from a family where there is little in every aspect of

living, hence, it is deeply agreed that there is a big effect of the family to the
personality of each and every individual. The question of HOW really matters.

Q2. How does family affect the upbringing of a child? Write your answer on
the space provided below.
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The changes that have occurred in society in recent years have some effects on
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certain current issues as well as concepts used by social scientists. The term family has
always been defined as “a group of people who are related to one another bonds of
blood, marriage or adoption and who live together, form an economic unit, and bear
and raise children”. This definition has been contested because the reality of life in
contemporary societies includes different kinds of living arrangements and
relationships, as for instance, live-in partnership, single-parent households, lesbian
and gay couples, and a multiple generation living in the same households.

C. M. D. Hamo-ay
 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade 19
2 (Culture & Geography)

In the Philippines, there are more living arrangements known as single-parent

households. Some families are single-mother households but a few are single-fathers’
households.

4.1.4. Forms of Family

1. Nuclear Family

The family is the most popular and universal form. It consists of the father, the mother,
and their natural-born children. One important characteristics of the nuclear family is the
provision of a common residence by the father. In the Philippines, it is the responsibility of
the father to provide a home for his family, thus making residence after marriage patrilocal
in nature. But this does not discount the possibility of a neolocal residence.

2. The Extended Family

The ideal extended family structure, as defined and perceived by the anthropologists,
approximates that of the traditional Chinese family. This is so because it consists of two
nuclear families; the family of
orientation and the family of
procreation. An individual in an
extended family is a member of both
families; he is a son in the family of
orientation and a father in the family of
procreation. The first is called the family
of orientation because this is where the
individual receives his cultural training
as a member of his family and of the
https://www.netclipart.com/isee/oxwRox_family-cartoon-
larger society. The family of
extended-family/
procreation, on the other hand, is so
called because this is the family created
by the individual – where his children, in turn, are born, and later on, reared by him and his
wife. Thus, and extended family is characterized by the presence of three male generations,
the father, the son, and the grandson.

The Chinese family is the appropriate example of an extended family because the
eldest male resides with his parents after marriage. He assumes the position of his father
upon the latter’s death. Because of this situation, strong rivalry is evident in the relationship
between the mother and the daughter-in-law, particularly after the death of the father, who
is regarded as the head of the family. When the eldest son assumes the position vacated by
his father, his wife becomes the mistress of the house, demoting the mother from the position
of mistress to that of a junior wife.

3. The Joint Family

This family structure is so-called because the married siblings, together with their

C. M. D. Hamo-ay
 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade 20
2 (Culture & Geography)

spouses and children reside in one house. There are only two generations involved in the
joint family, the father and the son. In the extended family, however, three generations are
involved, the father, the son, and the grandson. Like the extended family, the joint family is
preferred because the two families share in the household expenses and in the housework.

4. The Household

Household is a census term, as it is used to refer to the members of the family in

general. The household may consist of one individual or 100 individuals who may or may
not related to each other. Individuals not related to each other become part of the household
on the basis of sharing the same residence, as well as performing the same domestic
functions. Thus, in the Philippines, among the middle-class families, the term has an
appropriate application, because domestic helpers or kasambahay are considered members
of the family. This is evident in the use of kinship terms when referring to employers.

Q3. What type of family you belong? How it nurtures you as a person?
Write your answer on the space provided below.
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4.1.5. Social Stratification

Social stratification has occupied the attention of sociologist as evidenced by

the vast literature on the subject. Both American and European scholars have shown
interest in the problems arising from social stratification, but there are broad
differences in the approaches used.

Sociologists view social stratification in terms of social inequality which is a

universal phenomenon. Even in simple societies, sociologists point to differences in
advantages based on sex, age, or ability. Anthropologists may agree with this
observation but they also use the principle by which access to status and economic
rewards is the criterion social stratification. So, to them stratification is not universal,
and egalitarian societies exists; that is, all social groups in a particular age-sex level in

C. M. D. Hamo-ay
 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade 21
2 (Culture & Geography)

the society have equal access to economic resources and equal opportunities to obtain
prestige.

4.1.6. Views on Social Stratification

In complex societies, inequality is viewed in terms of the distribution of

scarce goods. This is basically known as social stratification, meaning
that “the society is divided into a number of strata or layers” (Perry
and Perry, 1993)

People are ranked according to:

Social Stratification

A. Wealth
B. Prestige
C. Power

An individual who has wealth eventually acquires the other characteristics, i.e.,
prestige and power. It is also possible, however, that a person has wealth but not
prestige. If wealth was acquired illegally, he may have the power but not prestige.
This is true in the case of drug lords. Smugglers, and leaders of organized crime who
have access to scarce resources and have power but do not evoke prestige. People do
not have a high regard for them. Similarly, not all political leaders in the Philippines
possess all these three characteristics. They may have wealth and power but the
prestige which accompanies the position may be withheld for various reasons. This is
true of those corrupt officials whose wealth was accumulated through the abuse of
power. There are non-political leaders in small communities, however, who are
respected and have more power than the elected officials because of their wealth and
good deeds.

2.2.2. Assessment

A. Essay. Answer the following questions in a paragraph form. (see attached Rubric)

C. M. D. Hamo-ay
 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade 22
2 (Culture & Geography)

1. What is your definition of culture? Provide justifications if possible.

2. How does culture affect the modern society?
3. If you’re going to publish your editorial or slogan about culture? How will you
present it? Who will be your audience?
4. Why marriage is considered a form of alliance and exchange. Give concrete
examples in the group (i.e., family by blood or by consanguinity) to which you
belong of instances where marriage is a form of alliance. (see attached Rubric)

B. True or False. Check the column True if the statement is correct and column False if
the statement is wrong.

Statement True False

1. Marriage is often defined as a “socially sanctioned sensual and
sexual union between men and women”
2. Some scholars view marriage not as an “institution but as a
relationship”.
3. Marriage involves the personal choice of the couple, and that
there is a tendency for them to expect personal growth.
4. Men marry because this one way of gaining dominance over
women.
5. In many urban areas, polygamy is prevalent because it is
predicated on the personal choice of the couple.
6. Polygamy – the Muslim marriage exemplifies this form as it is
provided in the Bible.
7. Term family has always been defined as “a group of people who
are related to one another bonds of blood, marriage or adoption
and who live together, form an economic unit, and bear and
raise children”.
8. One important characteristics of the nuclear family is the
provision of a common residence by the father or the so-called
matrilocal.
9. The extended family is characterized by the presence of three
male generations, the grandfather, the father and the son.
10. Some people may have wealth and power but the prestige
which accompanies may be withheld for various reasons.

C. M. D. Hamo-ay