discover sociology in action:
How Does
Social Policy Influence Culture?
Social Policy—Bill 101
63
Camille Laurin understood the power of social policy in cultural
change. He envisioned Bill 101 as much more than a mere language
It was August 27, 1977. In Quebec, and especially in Montreal, the
law. It was a bold attempt at altering the social order. As an ardent
rich and powerful English-speaking minority was the dominant group.
separatist, Laurin believed that this was a first step on the road to
Bilingualism meant that francophones had to learn to speak English.
Quebec independence. More than thirty years later, we can see that Bill
The thousands of immigrants who arrived each year seemed to more
101 has certainly resulted in a cultural shift in Quebec. French is now
naturally and easily assimilate into
firmly established as the language
English culture. Camille Laurin was a
of business and government. But
ACTIVITIES
psychiatrist, politician, and member
there have been changes that neiof the separatist Parti Québécois.
ther Laurin nor anyone else could
1. Research language laws in different Canadian provinces. Are
That summer, he was the driving
have anticipated. Montreal today
any Canadian provinces officially bilingual?
force behind the passing of Bill 101,
boasts the highest proportion of
2. Imagine that you moved to another country and were banned
the infamous language law. The
people speaking three or more lanfrom speaking English. How might you feel? What would you
Charter of the French Language
guages in all of North America. The
do to adapt?
proclaimed that every Quebec resiforced integration of immigrant chil3. Visit an ESL (English as a second language) classroom in a
dent had the right to work, shop,
dren in French schools has created
school in your community. Ask the teacher about the imporstudy, be administered, treated,
a truly multicultural society, which
tance of language in cultural transmission.
and judged in French, everywhere,
is in stark contrast to the tradiall the time. Nearly overnight, the
tional, homogenous, and xenophochanges were apparent. Immigrants were obliged to send their children
bic Québécois culture, at once diluting it and enriching it. And rather
to school in French. The use of English on commercial signs was no
than stimulating a drive to independence, the language law reassured
longer allowed, although this was soon revised so that English could be
many francophones that their culture was being protected. It was no
used, as long as it was smaller and less obvious than the French. In all
longer necessary to leave Canada in order to protect Quebec’s cultural
businesses, organizations, and government offices, French was the only
integrity.29
language allowed to be used.
Culture
CHAPTER
03
What is culture? 50
the symbols, values, norms, and material objects that societies create
How do the Sociological Perspectives Interpret Culture 60
the components of culture are found in all cultures but are expressed in very diverse
ways
How does social policy influence culture? 63
it affects how we perceive things and guides our thoughts and actions
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get the topic:
What Is Culture?
Material Culture 51
Nonmaterial Culture 51
Canadian Values 53
Norms and Sanctions 54
Cultural Diversity 56
Symbolic Interactionism 60
Functionalism 60
Conflict Theory 60
Feminist Theory 61
Social Policy—Bill 101 63
Theories
Conflict Theory 60
Symbolic Interactionism 60
•small-group interactions create the elements of culture
•the real meaning of the elements of culture is how individuals interpret and use them
•some derogatory terms referring to homosexuality, such as the word
•social groups struggle for resources
•culture reflects the values and norms of the dominant group
•the Canadian government used residential schools in order to abolish
aboriginal culture
gay, have been re-appropriated
Functionalism 60
Feminist Theory 61
•culture holds society together through shared values and norms
•looks at the interaction of social structures
•in Canada, the CRTC regulates radio and television to protect and
promote Canadian culture
•gender is an important feature in social institutions and social
interactions
•the culture that is most prominent in any society reflects the interests
of males
•social structures can restrict the access of women and girls to certain
activities, such as hockey
Chapter 3
64
Key Terms
culture is the symbols, values, norms, and
material objects that societies create. 50
folkways are informal types of norms that
are not strictly enforced. 55
cultural transmission is culture passing
from one generation to the next. 50
laws are formal norms that are enforced
through social institutions. 55
material culture consists of the physical
items that we use. 51
mores are norms that represent a community’s most important values. 55
nonmaterial culture consists of the nonphysical products of society, such as values
and beliefs. 51
cultural universals are elements that
are common to all human cultures
worldwide. 57
symbols are things that represent, suggest,
or stand for something else. 51
dominant culture is usually but not always
practised by the majority and controls many of
the social institutions. 57
language is a system of spoken and/or
written symbols used to convey meaning
and to communicate. 52
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is a hypothesis that the structure of a language determines
a native speaker’s perception and categorization of experience. 52
gestures are symbols we make using our
bodies, such as facial expressions, hand
movements, eye contact, and other types of
body language. 52
values are a part of a society’s nonmaterial
culture that represent cultural standards by
which we determine what is good or bad, right
or wrong. 52
norms are culturally defined rules for appropriate social behavior. 54
sanction is a reward for following a norm or
a punishment for violating it. 54
subculture is a subset of the dominant
culture that has distinct values, beliefs, and
norms. 57
counterculture is a group with values and
norms that are in opposition to the dominant
culture’s values and norms. 58
ethnocentrism occurs when a person uses
his or her own culture to judge another
culture. 58
xenophobia refers to fear and hostility
toward people who are from other countries
or cultures. 58
xenocentrism is perceiving other groups or
societies as superior to your own. 58
cultural relativism means making a deliberate effort to appreciate a group’s ways of life
without prejudice. 58
culture shock occurs when a person
encounters a culture foreign to his or her own
and has an emotional response to the differences between the cultures. 59
global village refers to the “shrinking” of
the world through immediate electronic
communications. 59
cultural imperialism refers to a global
situation in which powerful culture industries
located almost exclusively in the West, in
particular in the United States, dominate
other local, national, and regional
cultures. 59
invention occurs when something is deliberately changed or made to produce something
new. 59
discovery occurs when we better understand or observe something that already
exists. 59
diffusion occurs when an item or a method
of doing things is transmitted from one culture
to another. 59
cultural lag occurs when social and cultural
changes occur at a slower pace than technological changes. 59
re-appropriation is the process by which
a group reclaims—re-appropriates—terms or
objects that were previously used in a negative
way toward that group. 60
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Sample Test Questions
These multiple-choice questions are similar to those found in the test bank that accompanies this textbook.
1. Which is an example of nonmaterial culture?
a. A piano
b. A book
c. A hamburger
d. The Canadian national anthem
2. Which of the following is not a component of culture?
a.Values
b.Ethnocentrism
c.Symbols
d.Norms
3. Using your own culture to judge other cultures is called
a.xenocentrism.
b. cultural relativism.
c.ethnocentrism.
d. culture shock.
4. A counterculture forms when
a. a subculture’s values are opposed to the dominant group’s
values.
b. a subgroup is different from the dominant culture.
c. the dominant culture is different from the subculture.
d. the subculture adopts the values of the dominant culture.
5. In order for sociologists to practise cultural relativism when studying
polygamists in Canada, they must consider
a. Canadian laws.
b. Canadian norms.
c. polygamist norms.
d. cultural universals.
ESSAY
1. What aspects of Bill 101 have been positive for Canadian culture?
2. How does culture influence sociological theory and study?
3. What are the different aspects of cultural change?
4. What are Canadian values?
5. What are the different aspects of cultural diversity?
Where to Start Your Research Paper
Canadian Heritage is a federal department responsible for national policies and programs that promote Canadian content; foster cultural participation, active citizenship, and participation in Canada’s civic life; and
strengthen connections among Canadians.
www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1266037002102/1265993639778.
The purpose of the Popular Culture Association of Canada is to promote scholarly understanding of popular culture in Canada and elsewhere. www.canpop.ca/about.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
www.cic.gc.ca/english/index-can.asp.
For more on Bill 101, see www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/
dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/C_11/C11_A.html and
www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/bill-101.
Remember to check www.thethinkspot.ca for additional information, downloadable flashcards, and other helpful resources.
65
Culture
ANSWERS: 1. d; 2. b; 3. c; 4. a; 5. c
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