1. Explain, using examples, the concept of culture.
Culture can be defined as the way of life of a particular society which consists of norms,
values and traditions. There are numerous different examples of culture such as high
culture, popular culture and consumer culture. Culture can be described as socially
constructed and relative as it differs globally.
An example of culture would be the Nayar culture where girls are ritually married to a
suitable man before puberty. Men are able to have an unlimited number of wives whereas
women are limited to twelve husbands. This differs in the UK where it is typical to marry
only one partner, monogamy being the only socially acceptable form of marriage.
Another example of culture the Hamar Tribe who participate in a ritual for males reaching
adulthood. These boys leap onto the backs of cattle and run across them and the women
are whipped to show their devotion to men. This differs from the Jewish culture where Bar
Mitzvahs are celebrated when a male hits puberty, and he is presented with gifts.
2. Explain, using examples, the concept of norms.
Norms are the expected patterns of behaviour that are based on the values of a culture.
They are relative as they depend on factors such as country and time period. They are also
socially constructed because they are decided by society.
One example of a norm would be how in the Nayar culture, as studied by Gough, men have
an unlimited number of wives and women have up to twelve husbands. This ritual happens
when the girl hits puberty or just before. Both parties are under no obligation to have
emotional or physical contact with each other, their relationship being based entirely upon
sexual pleasure. This differs in the UK where it is typical to marry only one partner,
monogamy being the only socially acceptable form of marriage. In the UK, marriage is also
based upon the idea of love rather than sexual favours.
Another example of a norm would be male and female behaviour in the Tchambuli tribes.
Mead found that females were dominant and aggressive whereas men were timid and
emotionally dependent. This shows the norms of different behaviours based upon the value
of gender role expectations, which people from the UK would view as reversed by our
standards. The norm in the UK would be men being the ‘breadwinner’ and women being
housewives. Parsons explores this through the functionalist view, saying that men have an
‘instrumental’ role and women have an ‘expressive’ role and they are biologically
determined.
, 3. Explain, using examples, the concept of values.
Values are the beliefs and ideas that society view as important and are accepted by the
majority of society. Therefore, those who do not follow the values are considered deviants.
They are socially constructed as they are created and developed by society.
An example of a value would be education. In Middle-Eastern cultures, education for
women is valued less so than in Western cultures. This is evident through the case of Malala
who fought for the rights of girls to attend school in Pakistan. Alternatively, in Western
cultures such as the UK, males and females are given equal opportunities to attend school.
This is reinforced by laws which ensure that all children attend school from the age of four
to eighteen, regardless of their gender.
Another example of a value is respect. In many Asian cultures, it is common to show respect
to your elders by bowing to them and kissing their feet. This differs from culture in the UK as
we don’t make this gesture, instead showing respect by being obedient to them. Respect is
seen as a religious duty and highly emphasised in Asian cultures, compared to British
children who aren’t raised to value this.
4. Explain, using examples, the concept of subculture.
Subculture can be defined as a culture within a culture that share distinctive norms and
values within a wider culture. They can be considered deviant as they break away from
‘mainstream culture’. Subcultures can be based on different things which individuals share
such as age or music taste.
One example of a subculture would be the New Wave Girls, studied by Blackman. They were
a group of teenagers who broke away from the typical behaviour of teenagers because they
skipped lessons and smoked. This has become a growing norm in Western societies,
especially in white youths, but is uncommon in Asian teenagers, who have been taught the
value of obedience and loyalty to their family.
Another example of a subculture is ‘The Lads’, who were investigated by Willis. They were
found to demonstrate an anti-school subculture. They differ from pro-school subcultures
who value their education as ‘The Lads’ typically didn’t attend school. Those who were part
of the anti-school subculture were seen to display characteristics such as disruptiveness,
misbehaved in class and had a very negative attitude to education. Willis’ findings differ
from Bowles and Gintis who said that education brain-washes children into obedience.
Culture can be defined as the way of life of a particular society which consists of norms,
values and traditions. There are numerous different examples of culture such as high
culture, popular culture and consumer culture. Culture can be described as socially
constructed and relative as it differs globally.
An example of culture would be the Nayar culture where girls are ritually married to a
suitable man before puberty. Men are able to have an unlimited number of wives whereas
women are limited to twelve husbands. This differs in the UK where it is typical to marry
only one partner, monogamy being the only socially acceptable form of marriage.
Another example of culture the Hamar Tribe who participate in a ritual for males reaching
adulthood. These boys leap onto the backs of cattle and run across them and the women
are whipped to show their devotion to men. This differs from the Jewish culture where Bar
Mitzvahs are celebrated when a male hits puberty, and he is presented with gifts.
2. Explain, using examples, the concept of norms.
Norms are the expected patterns of behaviour that are based on the values of a culture.
They are relative as they depend on factors such as country and time period. They are also
socially constructed because they are decided by society.
One example of a norm would be how in the Nayar culture, as studied by Gough, men have
an unlimited number of wives and women have up to twelve husbands. This ritual happens
when the girl hits puberty or just before. Both parties are under no obligation to have
emotional or physical contact with each other, their relationship being based entirely upon
sexual pleasure. This differs in the UK where it is typical to marry only one partner,
monogamy being the only socially acceptable form of marriage. In the UK, marriage is also
based upon the idea of love rather than sexual favours.
Another example of a norm would be male and female behaviour in the Tchambuli tribes.
Mead found that females were dominant and aggressive whereas men were timid and
emotionally dependent. This shows the norms of different behaviours based upon the value
of gender role expectations, which people from the UK would view as reversed by our
standards. The norm in the UK would be men being the ‘breadwinner’ and women being
housewives. Parsons explores this through the functionalist view, saying that men have an
‘instrumental’ role and women have an ‘expressive’ role and they are biologically
determined.
, 3. Explain, using examples, the concept of values.
Values are the beliefs and ideas that society view as important and are accepted by the
majority of society. Therefore, those who do not follow the values are considered deviants.
They are socially constructed as they are created and developed by society.
An example of a value would be education. In Middle-Eastern cultures, education for
women is valued less so than in Western cultures. This is evident through the case of Malala
who fought for the rights of girls to attend school in Pakistan. Alternatively, in Western
cultures such as the UK, males and females are given equal opportunities to attend school.
This is reinforced by laws which ensure that all children attend school from the age of four
to eighteen, regardless of their gender.
Another example of a value is respect. In many Asian cultures, it is common to show respect
to your elders by bowing to them and kissing their feet. This differs from culture in the UK as
we don’t make this gesture, instead showing respect by being obedient to them. Respect is
seen as a religious duty and highly emphasised in Asian cultures, compared to British
children who aren’t raised to value this.
4. Explain, using examples, the concept of subculture.
Subculture can be defined as a culture within a culture that share distinctive norms and
values within a wider culture. They can be considered deviant as they break away from
‘mainstream culture’. Subcultures can be based on different things which individuals share
such as age or music taste.
One example of a subculture would be the New Wave Girls, studied by Blackman. They were
a group of teenagers who broke away from the typical behaviour of teenagers because they
skipped lessons and smoked. This has become a growing norm in Western societies,
especially in white youths, but is uncommon in Asian teenagers, who have been taught the
value of obedience and loyalty to their family.
Another example of a subculture is ‘The Lads’, who were investigated by Willis. They were
found to demonstrate an anti-school subculture. They differ from pro-school subcultures
who value their education as ‘The Lads’ typically didn’t attend school. Those who were part
of the anti-school subculture were seen to display characteristics such as disruptiveness,
misbehaved in class and had a very negative attitude to education. Willis’ findings differ
from Bowles and Gintis who said that education brain-washes children into obedience.
