Social Groups, Language, and Religion

Chapter 4, Section 2

How Society is Organized• Every culture has a social structure– A way or organizing people into smaller

groups• Each smaller group has particular tasks– Work together to get food– Protect the community– Raise children

• Social structure helps people work together to meet the basic needs of individuals, families, and communities

Kinds of Families• Different cultures have different

definitions for “family”• Nuclear family a mother, father, and

their children– Common pattern in industrial nations such

as the USA, Great Britain, and Germany– Adults work outside of the home– Usually have money to buy what they need– Depend on the work of machines

Kinds of Families• Extended family several

generations– Parents and their children, with

grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives who live close by

– Older people are very respected– Pass on traditions

• As rural people move to cities, nuclear families are becoming more common.

Nuclear Family

Extended Family

Kinds of Families• Cultures also differ when deciding who

is in charge of families– Patriarchal families men make most

family decisions– African and Native American cultures

matriarchal• Women have more authority than patriarchies

• Today, men and women have started to share family power and responsibility

Matriarchal Family

Patriarchal Family

Social Classes• Social classes rank people in a

culture• A person’s status may come from

such things as wealth, land, ancestors, or education

• Today, people can improve their status– Get a good education–Make more money–Marry someone of a higher class

Language• All cultures have language• Every culture is based on language

lets people communicate everything they need to share in their culture– A culture’s language reflects the things

that its people think are important

Language• “snow” – English vs. Inuits of North

America– English = several adjectives for the

white stuff that falls in some places in winter

– Inuits = where they live, snow covers the ground for a good part of the year, making snow n important part of their environment than it is to people of other cultures; created words to meet their needs

Language• In some countries, people speak

different languages– Culturally different in some ways from

other people in their country–May celebrate different festivals, wear

different clothes, or have different customs

Ways of Believing• Values and Religion• Religion helps people understand the world– Can provide comfort and hope for people

facing difficult times– Helps answer questions about the meaning

and purpose of life– Helps define values that people believe are

important• Religion guides people in values, standards

of accepted behavior.

Ways of Believing• Religious beliefs vary.– Christianity and Judaism = one god– Other religions worship more than one

god• All religions have prayers and rituals• Every religion celebrates important

places and times.