Chapter 2: Culture Wars

• Maatschappijleer
• Middelbare school
• mavo
• Leerjaar 4

Chapter 2: Culture Wars

Foto: 

Sushil Nash

https://unsplash.com/photos/ZIKnVsJVJpg

What are the traditions 

and customs of your culture?

What are the traditions
and customs of your culture?

Learning goals

• I understand what culture is
• I can explain cultural processes 
• I can name the differences between views and groups in the cultural dimension 
• I can identify progressive and conservative views 
• I know what a culture war is and can name examples
• I understand polarization, discrimination and us/ them thinking
• I am aware of the silent majority 

2.1: Different cultures? Different views!

Everyone is different!

Biology: Genes.

Culture: Shared traditions, habits, values and norms.

Identity: Image of yourself and how others view you.

Biology

Culture

Identity

Having black hair

Feeling Dutch

Shaking hands

What belongs where? 

Foto's:

Adrian Fernández

https://unsplash.com/photos/t1jlLrsMpjc 

Cytonn Photography 

https://unsplash.com/photos/n95VMLxqM2I 

Cultural differences

Differences between

people because of culture.

Socialisation 

The process of learning (aspects of) a culture and the behaviour that is considered normal in that culture.

Socialising agents

The institutions where you learn a culture.

What are examples of socializing agents?

What are examples of 

socialising agents?

1. Mosque
2. Primary school
3. Volleybal club

What are your

socialising agents?

What are your
socialising agents?

Integration

When you have learned aspects of a new culture while remaining attached to your old culture.

Internalisation 

When an aspect of a culture has become part of your identity.

Which term best fits what the people
in the video are doing?

Which term best fits what the people

in the video are doing?

1. Integration
2. Internalisation

Is this assignment a socializing
agent for the people in the video?

Is this assignment a socialising

agent for the people in the video? 

1. Yes
2. No

01:03

Are bikes part of the Dutch identity
and culture?

Are bikes part of the 

Dutch identity and culture? 

Part of the culture

Part of the identity

Both part of the culture and the identity

Neither part of the culture nor the identity

Dominant culture 

The culture that a majority of people in a country has.

Subculture 

A group whose values and norms of behaviour differ to some degree from those of mainstream society.

Counterculture

A group whose values and norms of behaviour differ a great deal from those of the dominant culture.

Subculture

Counterculture

Dominant culture

Which photo belongs where?

Foto's: 

• Denise Jans https://unsplash.com/photos/KjZk7cMgE6w 
• https://www.trouw.nl/binnenland/toenemende-onvrede-over-coronamaatregelen-plaatst-overheid-in-spagaat~b84ddb17/
• https://www.ewmagazine.nl/uncategorized/achtergrond/2017/05/geen-woorden-maar-dadels-zo-gaat-nederland-om-met-ramadan-508313/

2.2: Progressive and conservative 

Foto:

Rosemary Ketchum

https://www.pexels.com/nl-nl/foto/mensen-verzamelen-zich-op-straat-1464223/ 

What do you want?

What do you want?

I want to protect my culture and traditions

I want less tradition and more freedom

Progressives

People that think cultures are of equal value and that individuals can choose themselves which cultures they want to be part of.

Conservatives

People that focus more on their group and think their values and norms are better than those of other people on certain topics.

Progressives 

Tolerance

Inclusive view

Multicultural society 

Equal rights

Conservatives 

Traditions

Clear rules

Uniform society

John thinks gay marriage should be legalized everywhere. John is probably....

John thinks gay marriage should be legalized everywhere. 

John is probably....

1. Conservative
2. Progressive

Eva wants stricter rules on softdrugs.
Eva is probably...

Eva wants stricter rules on softdrugs.

Eva is probably...

1. Conservative
2. Progressive

Conservative

Progressive 

Norms and values should stay the same

Everyone should be included

Clear rules on right and wrong 

The best society is one where everyone is part of the same culture

Differences between people should always be respected

This idea leads to a very diverse society 

The difference between being conservative or progressive is the same as the difference between 'right' or 'wrong'

'The difference between being conservative or progressive is the same as the difference between 'right' or 'wrong''

1. True
2. Not true

Extreme views

Extremely progressive or conservative views can create tensions in a society. 

PP

Social control

People in groups keep an eye on one another to check if they’re behaving correctly, according to the culture.

Can you name examples

of 'social control' in a society?

Can you name examples
of 'social control' in a society?

Exclusive view

The idea that if you have different ideas or opinions or want to change things, you’re not part of the group.      

Us/ them thinking

Thinking in a way that divides society in groups that oppose each other.

'Negative stereotypes on immigrants can lead to an exclusive view and us/ them thinking.'

'Negative stereotypes on immigrants can lead to exclusive views and us/ them thinking.'

Agree

Disagree

What helps against us/them thinking,
according to this video?

What helps against us/ them thinking,

according to this video? 

2.3: Culture war and 

polarization

Foto:

Duncan Shaffer

https://unsplash.com/photos/vyQiV31lq1Q

Culture war

A situation where people have such opposing world views that a normal discussion between them is no longer possible.

Polarisation 

The idea that there is a development in society where groups start to oppose one another more and more.

0

What is the term for this
'deep cultural division within society'?

What is the term for this

'deep cultural division within society'?

Silent majority

The (large) group of people who have moderate opinions, so aren’t very extreme in their thinking

0

Do you think this statement is 'true' or 'not true'?
'Through polarization people are
forgetting to listen to the silent majority'

Do you think this statement is 'true' or 'not true'?

Through polarization people forget to listen to the silent majority.

True

Not true

Discrimination 

Treating people differently (unequal) in a situation which does not justify different treatment

Name an example of discrimination that you have seen.

Name an example of discrimination that you have seen.

Cultural dimension/ line 

If you weigh up all your opinions on all kinds of cultural issues, you and the people around you can be placed somewhere along the line between progressives and conservatives

Conservatives

Progressives

More focus on the individual and equal treatment and an inclusive view

More focus on the group and its culture with its values and traditions

2.4: Culture wars in the United States

Foto:

Aditya Vyas

https://unsplash.com/photos/H9NpnvyxYbk

0

What is the central issue in the US culture wars, according to the video?

What is the central issue in the US culture wars, according to the video?

1. Abortion
2. Gender
3. Race

Why are mostly conservatives
very afraid of losing their culture and identity?

Why might conservatives be 

most afraid of losing their culture and identity?

'Polarization and us/ them thinking exists because people are afraid of each other'

'Polarization and us/ them thinking exists because people are afraid of each other'

Agree

Disagree

Why might mostly progressives be for teaching Critical Race Theory?

Why might mostly progressives be for teaching Critical Race Theory?

Why might mostly conservatives be against teaching Critical Race Theory?

Why might mostly conservatives be against teaching Critical Race Theory?

'I don't mind if family members or friends have a totally different opinion than me on a topic in politics and culture'

'I don't mind if family members or friends have very different opinions on topics in politics and culture than me'

Agree

Disagree

What have you learnt in this lecture?

What have you learnt in this lecture?

What do you still find difficult?

What do you still find difficult?

Learning goals

• I understand what culture is
• I can explain cultural processes 
• I can name the differences between views and groups in the cultural dimension 
• I can identify progressive and conservative views 
• I know what a culture war is and can name examples
• I understand polarization, discrimination and us/ them thinking
• I am aware of the silent majority 

End of chapter 2: Culture Wars