Cultural Cultural DifferencesDifferences

Social Studies 9Social Studies 9

SymbolsSymbols

• What does this What does this symbol mean to symbol mean to you?you?

• Where do you Where do you recognize it from?recognize it from?

SymbolsSymbols

• Have you seen it Have you seen it like this before?like this before?

• What do you think What do you think this means?this means?

SwastikaSwastika

• The Swastika can be found The Swastika can be found throughout the world including throughout the world including India, Greece, and Egypt.India, Greece, and Egypt.

• The Swastika can mean:The Swastika can mean:– EternityEternity– HarmonyHarmony– Balance of oppositesBalance of opposites– Protection from evil.Protection from evil.

CultureCulture

• What do you think What do you think when you see her?when you see her?

• In the African tribe In the African tribe Ndebele these Ndebele these elongated necks elongated necks symbolizes…symbolizes…– Marriage Marriage – BeautyBeauty– Status (as they can Status (as they can

afford to buy the afford to buy the rings)rings)

CultureCulture

• Look at her waist, Look at her waist, what are your what are your thoughts about thoughts about this?this?

• A small waist was A small waist was considered considered beautiful and beautiful and fashionable.fashionable.

• Now people only Now people only do it as a hobby.do it as a hobby.

CultureCulture

• What is this? What is this? • What do you think What do you think

about it?about it?

CultureCulture• This is called foot binding and it was a This is called foot binding and it was a

practice done by the wealthy in some practice done by the wealthy in some areas of China.areas of China.

• Having binded feet symbolized wealth Having binded feet symbolized wealth as women with binded feet were unable as women with binded feet were unable to work. Therefore, her father and to work. Therefore, her father and husband could support her.husband could support her.

• This also symbolized beauty. This also symbolized beauty. – The ideal foot size was 3 – 3.5 inches.The ideal foot size was 3 – 3.5 inches.

CultureCulture

• Look at the scares Look at the scares on their back.on their back.

• This symbolized:This symbolized:– BeautyBeauty– Strength/courageStrength/courage– Family honorFamily honor– Protection from Protection from

death.death.

CultureCulture

• What have we noticed about the What have we noticed about the pictures?pictures?

• Think about what they represent in Think about what they represent in their cultures.their cultures.– That things we think are weird, are That things we think are weird, are

accepted in their culture.accepted in their culture.– Every culture has their own traditions Every culture has their own traditions

and symbols.and symbols.

ReligionReligion

• Who is this?Who is this?• His name is His name is

Buddha and he is Buddha and he is a important person a important person to Buddhists.to Buddhists.

ReligionReligion

• Who is this?Who is this?• His name is His name is

Ganesh and he is a Ganesh and he is a deities (or god) in deities (or god) in Hinduism.Hinduism.

• He is the remover He is the remover of obstacles.of obstacles.

ReligionReligion

• Who is this?Who is this?• His name is Jesus His name is Jesus

Christ.Christ.• He is the creator of He is the creator of

ChristianityChristianity

Who did we know?Who did we know?

• Which one of the three religious Which one of the three religious symbols did the most students symbols did the most students recognize?recognize?

• Why do you think that this person Why do you think that this person was recognized the most?was recognized the most?

FlagsFlags

• What Country’s What Country’s flag is this?flag is this?

• United StatesUnited States

FlagsFlags

• What Country’s What Country’s flag is this?flag is this?

• IndiaIndia

FlagsFlags

• What Country’s What Country’s flag is this?flag is this?

• PakistanPakistan

What did we know?What did we know?

• Which one of the three flags did the Which one of the three flags did the most students recognize?most students recognize?

• Why do you think that this flag was Why do you think that this flag was recognized the most?recognized the most?

EthnocentrismEthnocentrism

• What do you think What do you think Ethnocentrism Ethnocentrism is?is?– Ethnocentrism: is the tendency to Ethnocentrism: is the tendency to

believe that their ethnic or cultural believe that their ethnic or cultural group is more important or superior group is more important or superior than other ethnic or cultural groups. than other ethnic or cultural groups. They also judge other cultures behavior, They also judge other cultures behavior, language, customs, and religion in language, customs, and religion in relation to their own. This attitude may relation to their own. This attitude may produce hostility, aggression, and produce hostility, aggression, and violence towards the other cultures.violence towards the other cultures.

EthnocentrismEthnocentrism

• What are some examples of extreme What are some examples of extreme ethnocentrism?ethnocentrism?– The enslavement of African people:The enslavement of African people:

• European’s though African people were a European’s though African people were a lesser human. Therefore, they kidnapped lesser human. Therefore, they kidnapped them and forced them into enslavement. them and forced them into enslavement. However, African people are just as human However, African people are just as human and important as everyone else on the and important as everyone else on the planet.planet.

EthnocentrismEthnocentrism

• What are some examples of extreme What are some examples of extreme ethnocentrism?ethnocentrism?– The “discovery” of North America:The “discovery” of North America:

• When European’s first “discovered” North When European’s first “discovered” North America it was in habited by First Nations. America it was in habited by First Nations. However, the Europeans considered the First However, the Europeans considered the First Nations to be “savages”. They then claimed Nations to be “savages”. They then claimed the land as their own and mistreated the First the land as their own and mistreated the First Nations people. However, the First Nations Nations people. However, the First Nations people were not “savages” and were just as people were not “savages” and were just as human and important as the Europeans.human and important as the Europeans.

Ethnocentrism.Ethnocentrism.

• How does this relate to what we just How does this relate to what we just learned?learned?– When you looked at the custom’s of When you looked at the custom’s of

other cultures you thought they were other cultures you thought they were weird or bizarre. However, you are weird or bizarre. However, you are looking at it from your cultures looking at it from your cultures perspective. In their culture, these perspective. In their culture, these practice are normal. These cultures practice are normal. These cultures might also think some of our customs might also think some of our customs are strange as well.are strange as well.

Ethnocentrism.Ethnocentrism.

• How does this relate to what we just How does this relate to what we just learned?learned?– Many of us were unaware of other cultures Many of us were unaware of other cultures

religious symbols and flags. However, if religious symbols and flags. However, if we were to go to their country they quite we were to go to their country they quite possibly would know the United States flag possibly would know the United States flag and who Jesus is.and who Jesus is.

– Why is this?Why is this?– This is because Western (American) culture This is because Western (American) culture

is present and shown all over the world. is present and shown all over the world.

Ethnocentrism.Ethnocentrism.

• Why is this important?Why is this important?– It is important to realize that there are It is important to realize that there are

lots of different cultures throughout the lots of different cultures throughout the world. We must remember this and be world. We must remember this and be respectful of these differences.respectful of these differences.