ABCs of CultureABCs of Culture

CultureCulture Webster says: the customary Webster says: the customary

beliefs, social forms, and material beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social traits of a racial, religious, or social groupgroup

This means a group of individuals This means a group of individuals that share similar beliefs, values, that share similar beliefs, values, likes, and dislikes.likes, and dislikes.

You can belong to more than one You can belong to more than one culture, in fact you probably belong culture, in fact you probably belong to many!to many!

ABCsABCs

We will use the ABCs of culture to We will use the ABCs of culture to help categorize similarities that help categorize similarities that can help determine what makes a can help determine what makes a social group.social group.

A is for AppearanceA is for AppearanceAppearanceAppearance::

mostly clothing (special occasions, how it is mostly clothing (special occasions, how it is worn, hats, uniforms);worn, hats, uniforms);

Jewelry (special meanings, like a wedding ring)Jewelry (special meanings, like a wedding ring)

Type of material (bought, hand made, Type of material (bought, hand made, imported);imported);

Hair styles (females in Peru: two Hair styles (females in Peru: two pigtails=married, one or many pigtails=single)pigtails=married, one or many pigtails=single)

Physical features (tall, short)Physical features (tall, short)

Also, make up, tattoos, etc.Also, make up, tattoos, etc.

B is for Belief SystemB is for Belief System

Belief SystemBelief SystemReligion or superstition.Religion or superstition.

Religion: A major element of culture; most Religion: A major element of culture; most people people belong to an affiliation of some belong to an affiliation of some sortsort

Superstition: Different countries have different Superstition: Different countries have different superstitions (Ex: step on a crack, salt superstitions (Ex: step on a crack, salt

spilled, spilled, 13 people at last supper and the 13 people at last supper and the last last was was Judas)Judas)

C is for CommunicationC is for Communication

CommunicationCommunication: Language, tone, : Language, tone, signs, body languagesigns, body language

Possibly the most important Possibly the most important element of culture. All culture element of culture. All culture groups have their own ways of groups have their own ways of communicating with each other.communicating with each other.

D is for DatesD is for Dates

DatesDates: History, ancestry, heritage, : History, ancestry, heritage, establish concepts of time – how establish concepts of time – how is it important to society?is it important to society?

Every group has a starting out Every group has a starting out point.point.

E is for EntertainmentE is for Entertainment

EntertainmentEntertainment: Art, music, crafts, : Art, music, crafts, dance, sports, songs, storytelling, dance, sports, songs, storytelling, hobbies, etc.hobbies, etc.

What do you like? What makes you What do you like? What makes you tick? What helps to define YOU!tick? What helps to define YOU!An important thing to remember is An important thing to remember is that you may belong to many different that you may belong to many different cultures based on what you’re into.cultures based on what you’re into.

F is for FoodF is for Food

FoodFood: types; spices, special occasions, : types; spices, special occasions, preparations, taboos, how people eat, preparations, taboos, how people eat, number of meals per day.number of meals per day.

Different cultures take their meals Different cultures take their meals very seriously. Has American eating very seriously. Has American eating habits changed for the bad? How habits changed for the bad? How many meals do you eat with your many meals do you eat with your family. By yourself?family. By yourself?

G is for GovernmentG is for Government

GovernmentGovernment: laws, values, titles, : laws, values, titles, social roles, and order.social roles, and order.(Do only women raise children? Are certain (Do only women raise children? Are certain jobs only for men? Are you discriminated jobs only for men? Are you discriminated against because of who your God is?)against because of who your God is?)

What can you do in this country that you What can you do in this country that you can’t do in another? In some places women can’t do in another? In some places women still cannot drive a car.still cannot drive a car.

H is for HousingH is for Housing

HousingHousing: Style, materials, use of : Style, materials, use of rooms, shape, size, color, arrangement rooms, shape, size, color, arrangement of furniture; etc.of furniture; etc.

Do people really live in ice homes? Do people really live in ice homes? College students live in dorm rooms. College students live in dorm rooms. How many of you live in two different How many of you live in two different places?places?

I is for InformationI is for Information

InformationInformation: Information (education : Information (education from relatives or peers); formal from relatives or peers); formal (school, life experience)(school, life experience)

Valuable lessons can be learned from Valuable lessons can be learned from friends, teachers, parents, or even just friends, teachers, parents, or even just living your life and figuring things out living your life and figuring things out along the way.along the way.

J is for JobsJ is for Jobs

JobsJobs: technology, economy, ways of making : technology, economy, ways of making a living, type of currency, transportation; a living, type of currency, transportation; etc.etc.

In some countries a little man runs around In some countries a little man runs around town pulling people around in a a wheeled town pulling people around in a a wheeled basket, like a taxi cab.basket, like a taxi cab.

Different areas present different Different areas present different opportunities. A hula dancer in Hawaii opportunities. A hula dancer in Hawaii wouldn’t be successful on an oil rig in wouldn’t be successful on an oil rig in Oklahoma. The same goes for the person Oklahoma. The same goes for the person on the rig trying to hula dance!on the rig trying to hula dance!

K is for Kind of K is for Kind of EnvironmentEnvironment

Kind of EnvironmentKind of Environment: Location, climate, : Location, climate, physical features, vegetation.physical features, vegetation.

Where you live is an important part of who Where you live is an important part of who you are as well.you are as well.

If you were an Inuit in America, you probably If you were an Inuit in America, you probably would have a hard time adjusting to the would have a hard time adjusting to the heat! A farmer from Kansas may find it heat! A farmer from Kansas may find it difficult to find work in downtown LA.difficult to find work in downtown LA.

L is for LeftoversL is for Leftovers

LeftoversLeftovers: leftover information : leftover information that does not fit into one of the that does not fit into one of the above categories. (Population, above categories. (Population, diseases, etc.)diseases, etc.)