Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics

WHAT AM I EXPECTED TO LEARN ON

THIS MODULE?
In this module, you will learn the concept of society
and culture as well as the importance of cultural
relativism in understanding one’s culture.
WHAT AM I EXPECTED TO DO?
At the end of this module, you will be asked to
express your insights on the importance of
understanding each other in the time of crisis

__________________________________________________________________________________________

SOCIETY AS A CONCEPT
There are many different definition of what society really is yet in its simplest term, SOCIETY is defined as a large group
of people who live together in an organized way, making decisions about how to do things and sharing the work that needs
to be done. Therefore, all the people in a community and in a country can be referred to as a society. You and your family
can be considered as a group, hence, a society. You living in your barangay with many households can be considered as a
group, therefore, your community is referred as a society.

Learning Link: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/society

Let us go further!
The best way to completely and fully understand and comprehend what society really is, it is best to
focus on the elements and characteristics of society. By analyzing these elements, we can easily decide what
it is and what it is made of. These are the fundamental elements of a society:
First of all, there has to be a group of people who all have something in
COMMON. It is the most ESSENTIAL element of each society. Bigger
or smaller groups, it does not really matter, all it matters is that society is
always related to a particular group of people. Now, this group of people
LIVES together and SHARE their common life and all that comes with it.
(Una sa lahat, kinakailangan na mayroong pinagkakasunduan ang isang
pangkat ng mga tao. Ito ang pinakamahalagang elemento sa bawat
lipunan sapagkat ang mga ito ay sama-samang naninirahan at
nagbabahaginan ng kani-kanilang buhay.)
This means that this group of people is bound by a STRONG SENSE OF CONSCIOUSNESS and the FEELING OF
BELONGINGNESS and BEING ACCEPTED. At first, these groups were just small communities but as they were growing
and continue interacting with each other, they have developed a strong sense of unity through different things that were in
common to all of them like language or religion.

SN-SHS CORE SUBJECT: UCSP

ST ST
1 SEM – 1 QUARTER MODULE 01
PREPARED BY: EAL 1
 Let’s give an exampLe
Just like you, trying to be friends with everybody in your classroom.
Imagine that you were just a new student in the class. At the
beginning you are observing your surroundings and then little by
little, you didn’t realize that you were talking to your classmates,
sharing your likes and dislikes to them until you find comfort to
everyone. You were telling stories and they were also sharing theirs,
you felt that you were accepted by everybody and that you belong to
the class. That’s how society works. A CONTINOUS
INTERACTION is also needed.

Learning Link: http://www.migrationnavigator.org/important-aspects-society/

For further information here is a video link to watch: https://youtu.be/hsDnDEEsMS8

Now that you learned the basic concepts about the society, next in line is the
concept of culture. Let us begin!

THE CONCEPT OF CULTURE

There are lots of complex definitions of culture. Many people think that it is the total way of life of a people including
language, dress, food, music, religion, family structures, attitudes, values, and beliefs. But, according to a cultural
geographer, Don Mitchell (in Cultural Geography: A Critical Introduction, Blackwell Publishers, 2000), however,
“…culture is a nebulous structure of feelings that define the life of a people and a set of productions [art, etc.] that reflect
upon, speak to, or mold the structure of feeling through various strategies of representation.”
At a certain point, you are wondering about WHY IS IT DIFFICULT TO DEFINE CULTURE?
Aside from there are lots of theorist who gave definition to it and make it complicated, partly…

It is the result of the CONTINUOUSLY CHANGING meaning of the

word “culture” over time. With each new definition, the meaning of it has
become more complex and this is not an innocent phenomenon. At one
point, “culture” was used to differentiate between the “GOOD” and the
“BAD” or the “CULTIVATED” and the “PRIMITIVE”. To be
“CULTURED” was to be “CIVILIZED”.

(Ito ang resulta ng patuloy na pagbabago ng kahulugan ng salitang “kultura” sa paglipas ng panahon. Sa bawat
bago nitong depinisyon, higit itong nagiging komplikado at hindi ito nakakapanibago. Sa kabilang banda, ginamit
ang salitang “kultura” upang paghiwalayin ang kahulugan ng mabuti at masama o ‘di kaya naman ay ang higit
na maunlad at pagiging sinauna. Ang pagkakaroon ng kultura ay nangangahulugan ng pagiging sibilisado o iyong
pagtanggap sa mga pagbabago.)

Learning Link: https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog571/node/149

SN-SHS CORE SUBJECT: UCSP

ST ST
1 SEM – 1 QUARTER MODULE 01
PREPARED BY: EAL 2
To make it simple…
Culture is what all human beings learn to do, to use, to produce, to know, and to believe as they grow to maturity and
live out their lives in the social groups to which they belong. All these things that they have learned are passed from person
to person and from one generation to the next. When we say culture, it is NOT ONLY THE WAY WE DO THINGS, it is
also our attitudes, thoughts, expectations goals, and values. It is the RULES of our society – the NORMS that tell us what
is acceptable and what is not.
(Ang kultura ay kung ano ang ninanais ng tao na matutunang gawin, gamitin, at paniwalaan habang sila ay patuloy
na lumalago at namumuhay sa pangkat na kanilang kinabibilangan. Ang lahat ng kanilang natutunan ay naipapasa sa tao,
maging sa mga susunod pa na henerasyon. Kapag sinabi nating kultura, hindi lamang ito tungkol sa paraan kung paano
natin gawin ang mga bagay, patungkol din ito sa ating pag-uugali, pag-iisip, mga inaasahang layunin at asal. Ito rin ay
ang batas ng ating lipunan – ang nagdidikta ng mga bagay na katanggap-tanggap at hindi katanggap-tanggap.)

Remember: If we can just study first everybody’s way of living which is their culture, then
misunderstanding will be lessen and unity among us will be develop.

ASPECTS OF CULTURE
1. FUNCTIONAL – each culture has a function to perform, some are to provide guidelines for a behavior of a group of
people. Culture imposes rules of social behavior, that’s why we have our laws.
Example: Even in your barangay, there is a specific laws imposed such as, no motorcycle rider will enter your barangay
without wearing a helmet and up to now, there are new rules implemented regarding the disease that spread all over the
world which is the Corona Virus Disease 2019. When it affected our country, each barangay implemented the wearing of
face mask everytime that you are going outside your house.
Mini task: Answer the question below:
What other rules are implemented in your community that others do not imposed?
1. ___________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________
2. ARBITRARY – cultural practices and behaviors are subject to judgment. There are behaviors that are acceptable in one
culture and not on the other. Culture provides values and tell people what is right and wrong.
Example: Some barangays believed in the spirit of bayanihan wherein everyone has a freedom to lend a hand and share
what they have such as foods and clothing. Others offer the old clothes of their child to their neighbor which will give birth
soon. They believed that it is a sign of being a good citizen and it helps in building a good rapport in each other. While on
the other hand, other barangays believed that if you want to have something, you should work hard for it because they value
every little thing that they get from working hard.
Mini task: Answer the question below:
What values does your barangay have which tell people of what to do and not?
1. ____________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________

SN-SHS CORE SUBJECT: UCSP

ST ST
1 SEM – 1 QUARTER MODULE 01
PREPARED BY: EAL 3
 Learning Link: https://www.slideshare.net/mariellameva/concept-of-culture-15500056

3. CULTURAL BEHAVIOR CAN ONLY BE LEARNED THROUGH OBSERVATION, EXPERIENCE, AND

EDUCATION - most people adopt the complexities of culture from the environment because they are a keen observer. We
cannot learn something if we do not give attention to it first and learning the culture does not stop there because while we
are observing we should also try to apply it in ourselves, that will be the time where we learn. We have to experience it first
before we learn.
4. DYNAMIC, FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTIVE – meaning it is constantly changing through time. The culture that we have
in the previous decades is rapidly changing as time passes by. The way we talk now will be different on the next few years.
We don’t know if the trends today will still be the trend of tomorrow. Nothing is permanent.
Example: A few months ago, things were far different. We go to the mall without hesitations and malling has become
a part of our culture. We are also free to give a hug and kiss to our love ones as our sign of love and it was also imparted in
our culture, but that was a few months ago. Today, we prefer to just stay at our home instead of going to the mall and we
keep a meter apart from people and we can’t even kiss our love ones because of the crisis we are experiencing.

Remember: Culture is not INHERITED. It is LEARNED from other members of the society.

CULTURE AND SOCIETY AS ONE CONCEPT

A society cannot exist apart from culture. It is always made up of persons and their groupings. People CARRY and
TRANSMIT culture, but they are NOT CULTURE. No culture can exist except as it is embodied in a human society as well
as no society can operate without cultural directives. It is like a car without the driver wherein it cannot drive itself unless
there is a driver inside. The car cannot play its function without having the driver as well as there will be no culture imposed
if there are no group of people in the society. That’s why when there is a CHANGE in a society, it means that NEW
CULTURE has been introduced and it will always be a part of our lives. You cannot grow if we will be stock in the same
lifestyle, same culture. You have to adapt to our changing community.
(Ang lipunan ay kinasasangkutan palagi ng kultura. Ito ay binubuo ng tao at mga pangkat nito. Tao ang nagdadala
at nagpapasa ng kultura, ngunit hindi mismo ang tao ang kultura. Walang mabubuong kultura kung walang tao. Ito ay
maihahalintulad sa isang kotse na walang nagmamaneho kung saan ay hindi ito aandar hangga’t walang drayber sa loob
nito na magpapaandar. Hindi magagampanan ng kotse ang tungkulin nito kung walang drayber. Tulad ng walang kulturang
matututunan kung walang pangkat ng tao na mag-aaral at didiskubre ng iba’t ibang pamamaraan ng pamumuhay sa
lipunan. Kung kaya’t kapag mayroong pagbabago sa lipunan, nangangahulugan ito na mayroong bagong kultura na
natuklasan at ito’y magiging bahagi na ng iyong buhay. Hindi ka lalago kung patuloy kang mananatili sa kinasanayang
pamumuhay. Kinakailangan mong umayon sa nagbabagong lipunan.)

Learning source: Contreras, Antonio P., PhD, Dela Cruz, Arleigh Ross D., PhD, et. al. The Padayon Series:
Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics. Phoenix Publishing House, Inc. 927 Quezon Ave., Quezon City.
2016, page 45.
Read more at this link: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/sociology/culture-and-societies/culture-
and-society-defined

Remember: Change is inevitable but we cannot experience progress without change and those who
cannot change their minds cannot change ANYTHING.

- George Bernard Shaw

SN-SHS CORE SUBJECT: UCSP

ST ST
1 SEM – 1 QUARTER MODULE 01
PREPARED BY: EAL 4
 Congratulations! It is indeed a good job! i have noticed that you learned a lot in
expLoring our first Lesson that’s why, i know that you are now ready to answer and
do the activity I prepared for you!
Activity 1. Give me Five!
You are about to read a scenario which will seems very related to you. Give what is asked in the text.
In the present situation which the whole world was facing, everything around us changed. Do you still remember the day when
you got the news that there is a disease spreading all over the world? What are you doing that time?
Admit it or not, when Corona Virus Disease 2019 came, a lot of things happened. A lot of things change and it really, really
affected everyone, even our education system unto this moment was also affected. Now, I want you to GIVE ME FIVE things that has
changed when COVID-19 came in terms of our social life and GIVE ME FIVE things that has also changed in our culture as a Filipino.
(Sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon na kinakaharap ng buong mundo, ang lahat ng nakapaligid sa atin ay nagbago. Naaalala mo pa
ba ang araw na nabalitaan mong mayroong sakit na kumakalat sa buong mundo? Ano ang ginagawa mo noong mga oras na iyon?
Aminin man natin o hindi, marami ang nangyari magmula nang dumating ang tinatawag na Corona Virus Disease 2019. Marami ang
nagbago at halos lahat ay naapektuhan nito, higit lalo ang sistema ng ating edukasyon hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Ngayon, nais ko na
BIGYAN MO AKO NG LIMAng bagay na nagbago sa ating pakikipagkapwa sa lipunan noong magsimulang kumalat ang sakit at BIGYAN
MO AKO NG LIMAng bagay na nagbago pagdating naman sa ating kulturang kinagisnan bilang isang Pilipino)

The five things that has changed in our social life are:
1. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________________________________________

The five things that has changed in our culture as a Filipino are:
1. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________________________________________

It is time to proceed to your last topic.

ETHNOCENTRISM AND CULTURAL RELATIVISM

ETHNOCENTRISM
It is a belief in the SUPERIORITY of your OWN culture. It results from judging other cultures by your own cultural
ideas. It is also a major factor in the divisions among members of different ethnicities, races, and religious groups.
Ethnocentrism can lead to problems such as racism, cultural ignorance, and insensitivity.
If it is about judgment, is ethnocentrism all about being bad to cultures?
The answer to that question is that, it is true that ethnocentrism judge other cultures but there is still GOOD in this
behavior. To be ethnocentric (term used for people who possess the ethnocentrism) means to EVALUATE another group
SN-SHS CORE SUBJECT: UCSP
ST ST
1 SEM – 1 QUARTER MODULE 01
PREPARED BY: EAL 5
or culture solely by the standards of your own. The way your group acts is the ONLY RIGHT WAY to behave and your
customs and beliefs are superior to those of other groups. The positive of this is that it offers confidence and assurance to
the culture.
(Ang sagot sa tanong na iyan ay, tunay na ang ethnocentrism ay tungkol sa panghuhusga sa ibang kultura ngunit
mayroon pa rin namang mabuti sa pag-uugaling ito. Ang pagiging ethnocentric (salita na ginamit na pagkakakilanlan sa
taong nagpapakita ng katangian ng ethnocentrism) ay nangangahulugan ng panghuhusga sa ibang pangkat o kultura nang
naaayon sa pamantayan na nagmula sa iyong kultura. Kung paano kumilos ang iyong kinabibilangang pangkat ang siyang
nagdidikta sa iyo ng tamang pagkilos at kung ano ang paniniwala na mayroon ang iyong pangkat ang siya ring dapat mo
lamang paniwalaan. Ang mabuti sa ganitong asal ay nagdudulot ito ng pagkakaroon ng malaking kumpiyansa o tiwala at
kasiguruhan sa kultura.)

Learning Link: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/culturalanthropology/chapter/ethnocentrism/

Example: Everyone learns ethnocentrism while growing up. The possessiveness of the small child quickly translates
into “my toys are better than your toys.” Parents, unless they are quite crude, outwardly discourage their children from
verbalizing such beliefs. But in private, they may reassure their offsprings that their possessions are indeed very nice.
Question: When do you become ethnocentric and what is your way out? Take note of the following;
1. You become ethnocentric when: you judge behavior and beliefs of people who are different from you.
Your way out is: you must stop judging others who are different from you.
2. You become ethnocentric when: you believe that there are primitive (undeveloped) cultures, especially if their way of
life is different from yours.
Your way out is: Ethnocentrism is taught. You have to UNLEARN that your culture is superior and all other cultures are
inferior.
3. You become ethnocentric when: you believe that some cultures are backward if they lack technology and consumerism
of your own culture.
Your way out is: Remember that there are no primitive or backward cultures. All cultures provide members with their means
for meeting all human needs.

Learning source: Contreras, Antonio P., PhD, Dela Cruz, Arleigh Ross D., PhD, et. al. The Padayon Series:
Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics. Phoenix Publishing House, Inc. 927 Quezon Ave., Quezon City.
2016, page 45.

Question: What is the opposite of ethnocentrism?

XENOCENTRISM – is the opposite of ethnocentrism which refers to the belief that another culture is superior to your own.

Learning Link: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/alamo-sociology/chapter/ethnocentrism-and-xenocentricism/

CULTURAL RELATIVISM
It is the idea that people from different cultures can have relationships that acknowledge respect and begin to
understand each other’s diverse lives. People with different backgrounds can help each other see possibilities that they never
thought were there because of limitations posed by their own traditions. Traditional practices in certain cultures can restrict
opportunity because they are “wrong” according to one specific culture. Becoming aware of these new possibilities will
ultimately change the people that are exposed to new ideas. It provides hope that new opportunities will be discovered.

SN-SHS CORE SUBJECT: UCSP

ST ST
1 SEM – 1 QUARTER MODULE 01
PREPARED BY: EAL 6
 Cultural relativism is the ABILITY to UNDERSTAND a culture on its OWN TERMS and not to make
JUDGMENTS using STANDARDS of one’ OWN CULTURE. The goal is to promote understanding of cultural practices
that are not typically part of one’s own culture. Through this perspective, it will lead to the view that no one culture is
superior than another culture. Overall, there is no right or wrong ethical system. In a holistic understanding, it tries to
promote the understanding of cultural practices that ae unfamiliar to other cultures.
Learning Link: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/culturalanthropology/chapter/cultural-relativism/

Example: The culture in China wherein Chinese people eat exotic foods such as starfish, centipedes, and even bats
which causes today’s crisis – COVID-19. This food culture seems unfamiliar to some of the Filipinos. They even curse
Chinese for being the carrier of disease in the different parts of the world. But, if you will learn to understand their culture,
that eating exotic foods is part of their culture, you do not have to be one of those people cursing Chinese people for eating
bats.

Alright! we are done with the Lessons. it’s time for you to take the activity i
have prepared.
Activity 2. When I put myself on others’ shoes
Direction: Read the news report about people helping each other during this pandemic time despite of them having different way of living
and status. Write a brief reflection essay about your insights to it. Your essay must explain how important does understanding one’s
situation is and the result of people continuously helping each other even after this crisis.

(Basahin ang balita tungkol sa mga tao na nagtutulungan sa gitna ng krisis na kinakaharap ng lahat kahit pa magkakaiba ang kanilang
gawi ng pamumuhay at estado sa buhay. Pagkatapos, ikaw ay sumulat ng isang repleksyong sanaysay na naglalaman ng iyong opinyon
tungkol sa nabasa. Ang iyong sanaysay ay dapat na maglaman ng paliwanag sa kung gaano kahalaga ang pag-unawa sa katayuan ng
bawat isa at kung ano sa iyong palagay ang magiging resulta ng patuloy na pagtutulungan kahit na matapos ang krisis na ito.)

Taho Vendor gives COVID-19 Frontliners Free Taho, Tricycle Driver offers free ride too

As COVID-19 frontliners work long hours and deal with the pressures of patient care, it’s heartening to see the Philippine
community rally around to support them.
But reaching out to our hardworking medical and public service staff in times of crisis, as demonstrated by taho vendor Mang
Boyong and tricycle driver Gnuhc Bacunin, is not only exclusive to the rich.

Mang Boyong, a taho vendor from Valenzuela in Metro Manila, went out of his way to help others amidst the COVID-19 crisis
despite his humble income.
He was spotted giving out cups of free taho to the frontliners manning the checkpoint between Valenzuela and Meycauayan,
Bulacan, on 20 March. To the long-time taho vendor of 27 years, giving out taho for free to frontliners is a way of helping them recover
their strength in between sleepless nights. His good deed was witnessed by News5 correspondent Hannibal Talete, who shared photos
and videos of the vendor on Facebook in a post that quickly went viral.
SN-SHS CORE SUBJECT: UCSP
ST ST
1 SEM – 1 QUARTER MODULE 01
PREPARED BY: EAL 7
 Free rides to health workers, people buying necessities
Kindness is also present amidst tricycle drivers. Gnuhc Bacunin, a tricycle driver from Pasig City, went above and beyond by
giving free rides to healthcare workers and people buying necessities. On 18 March, Rai Carl shared a photo of the driver on Facebook.
He was seen with his tricycle bearing signs saying “libreng sakay” (free ride), “libre sa mga health worker bibili ng pagkain bibili ng gamot”
(free for health workers, people buying food, and people buying medicine), and “mutual aid.” Along with the photo, Carl also shared that
he and his companion insisted on paying Bacunin, but the driver refused to take their payment. Bacunin responded to Carl’s post,
expressing that in a time like this, it’s important to practice cooperation. “Sa oras ng mga ganitong sitwasyon mahalaga isapraktika ang
pakikipagkapwa-tulungan,” he posted.
The tricycle driver himself also added a comment on the post, explaining what “mutual aid” meant to him. No help is too small amidst a
crisis. Indeed, any form of help can go a long way in times of crisis. Frontliners need as much food as they can amidst their sleepless
nights, and people who need to commute to work cannot be left on their own, given the closure of our main modes of public transportation.
A cup of taho and a free ride might seem small, but in the grand scheme of things, these are the very things that help glue a crumbling
society together. Learning Link: https://thesmartlocal.com/philippines/taho-vendor-helping-frontliners/
Your brief reflection essay starts here:

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ONE BIG MESSAGE

Always remember this verse whenever you feel that you are
being ethnocentric…

1 Samuel 2:3

“Boast no more so very proudly, do not let arrogance come out of

your mouth; For the Lord is a God of knowledge, And with Him
actions are weighed.”

SN-SHS CORE SUBJECT: UCSP

ST ST
1 SEM – 1 QUARTER MODULE 01
PREPARED BY: EAL 8
 Deepening…
One last question: Imagine that you are the one being judge by other people or culture, what will you do? Considering
the one big message, answer the question by writing a brief reflection.
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Congratulations! You did a very good job! With you having all the activities
done, I know that you are now ready to proceed to our next module. Let us just have
a short review of your achievement in this first module.

MODULE SUMMARY

In the beginning of your module, you learned that everybody has a role in the society which leads you to
understand the whole concept of it. After learning this, you proceeded to the concept and aspects of culture
whereas you gave your own example which enable you to understand more the lesson. You proved your
learnings through a good and brief reflection that evaluate your understanding of the lesson and that having
different way of living is not a hindrance nor an excuse to help each other. Lastly, you ended this module
by reading and reflecting the reminder for you in which whenever you have the feeling of superiority you
can always look back at the bible verse that we have for this module. Hooray!

SN-SHS CORE SUBJECT: UCSP

ST ST
1 SEM – 1 QUARTER MODULE 01
PREPARED BY: EAL 9