Cultural Differences
Social Studies 9
Symbols
• What does this symbol
mean to you?
• Where do you recognize
it from?
Symbols
• Have you seen it like this
before?
• What do you think this
means?
Swastika
• The Swastika can be found throughout the
world including India, Greece, and Egypt.
• The Swastika can mean:
–
–
–
–
Eternity
Harmony
Balance of opposites
Protection from evil.
Culture
• What do you think when
you see her?
• In the African tribe
Ndebele these elongated
necks symbolizes…
– Marriage
– Beauty
– Status (as they can afford
to buy the rings)
Culture
• Look at her waist, what
are your thoughts about
this?
• A small waist was
considered beautiful and
fashionable.
• Now people only do it as
a hobby.
Culture
• What is this?
• What do you think about
it?
Culture
• This is called foot binding and it was a practice done
by the wealthy in some areas of China.
• Having binded feet symbolized wealth as women
with binded feet were unable to work. Therefore,
her father and husband could support her.
• This also symbolized beauty.
– The ideal foot size was 3 – 3.5 inches.
Culture
• Look at the scares on
their back.
• This symbolized:
–
–
–
–
Beauty
Strength/courage
Family honor
Protection from death.
Culture
• What have we noticed about the pictures?
• Think about what they represent in their
cultures.
– That things we think are weird, are accepted in their
culture.
– Every culture has their own traditions and symbols.
Religion
• Who is this?
• His name is Buddha and
he is a important person
to Buddhists.
Religion
• Who is this?
• His name is Ganesh and
he is a deities (or god) in
Hinduism.
• He is the remover of
obstacles.
Religion
• Who is this?
• His name is Jesus Christ.
• He is the creator of
Christianity
Who did we know?
• Which one of the three religious symbols did
the most students recognize?
• Why do you think that this person was
recognized the most?
Flags
• What Country’s flag is
this?
• United States
Flags
• What Country’s flag is
this?
• India
Flags
• What Country’s flag is
this?
• Pakistan
What did we know?
• Which one of the three flags did the most
students recognize?
• Why do you think that this flag was recognized
the most?
Ethnocentrism
• What do you think Ethnocentrism is?
– Ethnocentrism: is the tendency to believe that their
ethnic or cultural group is more important or
superior than other ethnic or cultural groups. They
also judge other cultures behavior, language,
customs, and religion in relation to their own. This
attitude may produce hostility, aggression, and
violence towards the other cultures.
Ethnocentrism
• What are some examples of extreme
ethnocentrism?
– The enslavement of African people:
• European’s though African people were a lesser human.
Therefore, they kidnapped them and forced them into
enslavement. However, African people are just as human
and important as everyone else on the planet.
Ethnocentrism
• What are some examples of extreme
ethnocentrism?
– The “discovery” of North America:
• When European’s first “discovered” North America it was
in habited by First Nations. However, the Europeans
considered the First Nations to be “savages”. They then
claimed the land as their own and mistreated the First
Nations people. However, the First Nations people were
not “savages” and were just as human and important as
the Europeans.
Ethnocentrism.
• How does this relate to what we just learned?
– When you looked at the custom’s of other cultures
you thought they were weird or bizarre. However,
you are looking at it from your cultures perspective.
In their culture, these practice are normal. These
cultures might also think some of our customs are
strange as well.
Ethnocentrism.
• How does this relate to what we just learned?
– Many of us were unaware of other cultures religious
symbols and flags. However, if we were to go to
their country they quite possibly would know the
United States flag and who Jesus is.
– Why is this?
– This is because Western (American) culture is
present and shown all over the world.
Ethnocentrism.
• Why is this important?
– It is important to realize that there are lots of
different cultures throughout the world. We must
remember this and be respectful of these
differences.