Culture and identity Flashcards
Strinati - division between cultures
Postmodernist - argues the distinction between these cultures is disappearing:
- modern tech, mass markets, global tourism enables all forms of culture to be consumed by all
- high culture has become commercialised and popular eg. art galleries
People can pick ‘n’ mix between all types of culture
- you can no longer distinguish between culture and reality - cultural products are a part of reality not just an expression of it
Individual/personal identity
Woodward - how individuals define themselves and how they’re different from others.
Their understanding of their self-concept or their ‘inner me’ or ‘I’ (Mead)
Social identity
Defines people in relation to social groups they belong to and how they differ from other groups eg. men, women, ethnic groups
Collective identity
The shared identity of a group of people, involves elements of choice - choose to identify with a group and adopt identity associated with it eg. goth, feminist, rock music fan
Multiple identities
When an individual is able to assume a range of different identities. These identities may combine. Eg. class, gender, ethnicity, age.
Individuals may assert different ‘selves’ in different environments eg. at home - good Muslim, at school - good student
Stigmatised or spoiled identities
Goffman - Identities that are in some way undesirable or demeaning, which excludes those with these identities from full acceptance in society. Eg. disabled people
May lead to impression management to present an alternative impression but fails
Parsons view on primary socialisation
beneficial in turning children into social beings by imitating behaviour and roles of parents - language, learning how to act appropriately, right and wrong
Marxist view on primary socialisation
values taught in the family reflect those of the ruling-class, turning them into passive conformists who accept the inequalities in society
Durkheim view of education as form of secondary socialisation
Schools act as a ‘society in miniature’ - a small scale version of society that prepares children for the wider adult society
Parsons view of education as a form of secondary socialisation
Schools form a bridge between the particularistic values of the family and the universalistic values of the rest of society through the hidden and formal curriculum
Althusser view of religion and socialisation
- part of ruling class culture to legitimise their power.
- Ideological state apparatus that spreads dominant ideology and manufactures hegemony - acceptance that their positions are unchangeable. It cushions the pain of exploitation
Marx view on culture
- ruling class control production and have influence on cultural norms which reflect ruling class
- creates a false consciousness eg. WC don’t challenge meritocracy as they believe they just don’t have the skills to move up the class system
- people don’t challenge employment as they’re being paid and can afford goods in mass culture so don’t realise they’re being exploited
Frankfurt school view on culture
- culture of mass consumption has been created - promoting false needs, preventing the revolting that Marx suggested
- commodity fetishism - ownership of products gives people status - capitalism is solution and source of people’s issues
- buying products allows people to justify their exploitation because they think they’re benefiting themselves
evaluation of marxist view on culture
- marxist ideas central to development of cultures of resistance
- assumes individuals are passive and no one resists the impact of culture (subcultures)
- folk cultures still exist despite dominance of mass culture
hegemonic gender identity
- come from stereotypes which are so dominant that it makes it difficult for individuals to assert alternative gender identities.
- They present the typical or ‘ideal’ gender characteristics which most men or women feel pressure to conform to
Oakley 4 processes for gender identity
- manipulation - the way they’re dressed, played with
- verbal appellations - ‘you’re such a brave boy’ ‘ such a sweet girl’ ‘not lady-like’
- Differential activity exposure - encouraged to imitate the different activities carried out by mother and father
Parsons view of gender socialisation
Father - instrumental role - breadwinner, discipline etc
- boys socialised into this but often incompletely as fathers absent at work lots of childhood
Mother - expressive role - caring and nurturing
- girls socialised into this
Connell - gender socialisation
- boys socialised into hegemonic masculinity emphasising being tough and aggressive
- boys emotionally less available - socialised to be this way from fathers and agents of secondary socialisation eg. peers, media (heroes etc.)
- Others reject hegmonic form of masculinity and accept more environmental approach valuing intellect over aggression
Wilkinson - gender socialisation
Genderquake - changes in ways girls are socialised as a result of the second wave of feminism
- focused more on academic achievement and careers than expressive role
- boys socialisation is less certain and crisis of masculinity occurs where they don’t know what is socially acceptable
how are gender identities passed on in school?
- teacher attitudes - encouraging boys into STEM, careers advice, disciplining disruptive behaviour differently
- Francis - subject choice - girls encouraged into traditionally female subjects eg. english
- hidden curriculum
how are gender identities passed on by media?
media promotes a ‘beauty myth’ that women should be assessed in terms of their appearance and are often shown in a limited no. of stereotypical roles eg. ‘sex objects’ appealing to men, emotional, lovers, mothers etc.
(feminist)
how are female identities changing (liberal feminists)?
more positive role models of strong women, growing equality eg. outperforming men in school, wider range of roles, marriage in decline, emergence of ‘ladettes’
how are male identities changing?
- crisis of masculinity - men’s dominant position is threatened by the rise of women’s equality and power and independent incomes have weakened male power
- ‘new men’ - more caring, sharing, gentle, emotional
- male bodies used as sex objects
- more concerned with dress and appearance
evaluation of gender socialisation
- ethnicity and cultural factors - not all cultures have hegemonic view on gender identity but some have very distinct roles
- gender fluidity in 21st century creates spectrum of gender identities
- agents of secondary socialisation can reinforce or reject traditional forms of socialisation
Marxist feminist view on culture
- capitalism is key motivator for inequality - women oppresses by class and gender
- consumption targeted at women eg. beauty industries operate through exploitation of women - creating insecurities to capitalise on
Radical feminist view on culture
- organisation of cultural norms and values are designed to disadvantage women
- social institutions eg. family, religion, media all based on male interests
- women expected to adopt male characteristics to succeed in these institutions - defines masculinity as more powerful
Anwar - ethnicity socialisation
- south asian parents socialise their children to have collective ideals of family values eg. honour, loyalty, support
- allows children to grow up with a sense of where they come from and who they are
Hill - ethnicity
- studied Asian community in Leicester
- there is generational conflict between ethnic minority parents and children
- parents socialise children into minority ethnicity norms and values which clash with those children learn in school that are more ‘Western’