Topic 3: Cultures and Social Reality

Question 1

Ethnocentrism

Answer 1

The tendency to use one’s own culture as a basis for evaluating other cultures; also, the view that one’s culture is superior to other cultures.

Question 2

Cultural Relativism

Answer 2

The principle that we should judge a culture and its beliefs and values by that culture itself, not another culture.

Question 3

Ideology

Answer 3

A set of ideas and beliefs that provides the basis for political or economic action.

Question 4

Dominant Ideology

Answer 4

A set of thoughts and beliefs that justifies and perpetuates ruling class in a given society.

Question 5

White Privilege

Answer 5

The advantages and immunities that are unequally or unfairly experienced by people whom society views and treats as “white,” compared with what people radicalized as “nonwhite” experience under similar circumstances.

Question 6

Sign

Answer 6

A gesture, artifact, or word that represents something other than itself.

Question 7

Androcentric or sexist expression/language

Answer 7

Any use of words that implies male dominance or exclusivity (and inferiority or invisibility of other genders), such as postman, mankind, or rights of man.

Question 8

Subculture

Answer 8

A group that shares the cultural elements of the larger society but also has its own distinctive values, beliefs, norms, style of dress, and behaviour patterns.

Question 9

Material Culture

Answer 9

The physical and technological aspects of peoples lives – in short, all the physical objects that members of a culture create any of us.

Question 10

Cultural Capital

Answer 10

A body of knowledge and social skills that help people get ahead socially. Cultural capital often includes learning about and taking part in high culture.

Question 11

Social Capital

Answer 11

Resources (both economic and noneconomic) that one gains from being part of a network of social relationships.