Discuss the Similarities and Differences Between Any Two Societies. in Your Answer, Make Reference to the Role of Cultures, Norms, Values and Inequality in Social Organization.

V Bradley
Word Count 1099
Discuss the similarities and differences between any TWO societies. In your answer, make reference to the role of cultures, norms, values and inequality in social organization.

There are many similarities and differences between the cultures of Japan and Britain, this essay will look at some of these including religion, education, norms, values and inequalities in their social organizations. According to Google’s public data there are 127, 817, 277 people living in Japan compared to 62, 641, 000 living in Britain. (Google, 2011)
There are two main religions in Japan, Shinto and Buddhism. These religions do not play a big part in everyday life, although the Japanese do follow religious rituals at ceremonies like birth, weddings and funerals. England’s main religion is Christianity, where people go to church to worship God. One of the major ceremonies that take place in Japan is New Year, where it is celebrated it over 3 days, from 1st January – 3rd January. At this time the Japanese visit their late relatives’ graves and their first visit is also believed to secure luck for the year ahead. Throughout Britain, New Year celebrations begin on New Year’s Eve, 31st December, where parties are normally held between family and friends. On the stroke of midnight, there are lots of cheering and drinking of toasts. Tradition known as the ‘first footing’ usually happens at midnight too, where it is believed the first person over the threshold will bring luck for the coming year. O-Bon in Japan is another celebrated event which takes place around 16th August, where it is believed the spirits of their ancestors come to earth to visit the living. Unlike Halloween which is celebrated in Britain, these spooky spirits are welcomed and this is another time where the Japanese visit their families’ graves. (Inside Japan Tours Ltd)
Certain cultural norms are expected in Japan as with any other culture. An example of when food and drink is consumed

Cited: in Understanding Japanese Society 1995:100) considers such activities as part of the children’s moral education, because they learn that ‘no work, not even the dirty work of cleaning is too low for a student; that all should share equally in common tasks; the maintenance of the school is everyone’s responsibility’ (1980:117) Everything is in order and all their equipment and belongings have a certain place, where they are kept. They have different footwear which they are required to wear when they use the bathroom and they are actually graded on how straight they return their shoes to their place. However, the children have to grade themselves on their own performance, attitude and how they dress. Leadership is very important in Japan and everyday they have a member of the class acting as a leader that directs the class alongside the teacher. When it comes to lunchtime, unlike British schools where the children have adults to serve their food in a separate part of the school, the children in Japan serve the food themselves and eat in their classrooms. They wear long sleeved shirt type clothing along with a hat and a mask to cover their mouths for hygiene purposes. The children will rearrange their desks and some of the children have a certain task to do. One child will give the milk out while another one will serve out the food into dishes to ensure each one gets an equal portion. After dining, the children will clean away the food by separating rubbish from recyclable items. After the clearing away has been done they rearrange the tables ready for lessons to take place and go to the bathroom to clean their teeth. (You Tube, 2011) This essay has covered a range of different norms and values that belong to the culture of Japan and the culture of Britain. It shows there are many similarities and differences between the two societies.