Sociology- Culture

Culture is everywhere; in the food we eat, the television we watch, our religious practices, and just about anything we do. And everyone’s culture is different. Every person has their own set of values, beliefs, traditions, and norms that make up their families own culture. As far back as history can go, people have been moving from their homelands to other place, taking pieces of their cultures with them, spreading different cultures all around the world.
Material culture is defined by Conley as “everything that is a part of our constructed, physical environment, including technology” (Conley P. 77). And while material culture is solely concerned with the physical aspects of culture, a relationship does exist between material and nonmaterial culture. Nonmaterial culture is defined by Conley as “values, beliefs, behaviors, and social norms” (Conley P. 77).
Everyone from every single culture has values, beliefs, and norms that tell them how to be religious, how to behave, and what is considered acceptable for their culture. Values are a large part of culture; values are simply moral beliefs, things a culture cherishes. For some Americans, ‘The American Dream’ of getting an education, a good job, and being successful would be considered a value. Americans value the chance to be free, and better themselves. Norms are how our values tell us to behave; take hygiene for example. Here in the United States, we value hygiene. Were taught from a young age to bathe and wash our hands, etc. Being clean would be considered a norm here. Beliefs would be the way certain groups or cultures think; take religion for example. In every culture, there is some type of religion whether it is Christianity, Stewart 2
Buddhism, or even Atheism. Culture is made up of these four concepts; material culture, norms, values, and beliefs.
In Jen’Nan Ghazal Read and John P. Bartkowski’s article “To Veil or Not to Veil?” it talks about a case study in Austin Texas where 24 women, ages 21 to 55 are chosen as a sample of Muslim women with a range of different nationalities (Iranian, Pakistani, etc.) and Muslims sects. These women face a study about the veiling of Muslim women, while some of them still choose to veil, while others no longer do. While ranging in nationality, and age, these 24 women also occupy a range of social roles, such as homemakers, or college students. Though all these women are Muslim, and have once been taught that women are to be veiled, it looks as though some of their values, beliefs, and norms have changed. The Qur’an is like the bible to the Muslims’ religion, and the most prominent justifications for wearing the hijab is the idea that veiling is prescribed in the Quran, as stated by Ghazal Read and Bartkowski (Massey P. 83). For some Muslim women, it is a religious belief that the hijab should be worn.
Asma, one of the participant women in the Austin study on veiling Muslim women, just moved to the United States with her husband two years ago. Asma is pro-veil, and values her hijab, but her mother-in-law no longer wears the veil, and also wanted Asma to stop wearing her, and Asma’s response is: “I feel very uncomfortable without the veil. The veil keeps us [Muslim women] from getting mixed up in American culture. But I don’t want to make my mother in law feel inferior, so I take it off when she is here. I know my friends think I am a hypocrite.” (Massey P. 90) Though Asma values her hijab, she willingly removes it when her mother-in-law is around out of respect. This also presents the example of a norm; wearing the hijab is a norm for Asma. She has been taught her whole life that it is a necessary part of her culture. And while Stewart 3 the hijab itself would be considered material culture, it has been transformed through time, as some Muslims are pro-veil, while others disregard the veil.
In James L. Watson’s article “McDonald’s in Hong Kong”, it talks about how McDonald’s played a large role in somewhat transforming the culture of Hong Kong. While food is a large part of material culture, Big Macs and fries weren’t really considered Hong Kong cuisine. Even so, the people of Hong Kong embraced the American-style fast food, without being stripped of their cultural traditions.
In Hong Kong, the food served at McDonald’s was considered snack foods. Some people of Hong Kong they believes that “hamburgers, hotdogs, and pizza could never be filling” (Massey P. 99). It was their beliefs that traditional cuisine, and sit down family meals were necessary, and the evening/dinner hours still remain the weak link in McDonald’s marketing plan. And while McDonald’s doesn’t fit into the dinner scene, it definitely created the ‘birthday party’ scene, giving Hong Kong a new value. Before McDonald’s came to Hong, birthdays were not celebrated, but now the children of Hong Kong have a place to celebrate their birthday. McDonald’s is publically known as the place that “loves to see you smile”, and though that is a norm for the friendly restaurant, it is not so much for Hong Kong. The people of Hong Kong are taught that people who are too friendly are suspicious; therefore, a smile for no reason would have people thinking you were up to no good.
In “Deviance and Liminality” written by Beth Montemurro, she tells us about how women who are soon-to-brides break out of their shells a little and have one like memorable night as a single woman; drinking, dancing, strippers, etc. All these things are examples of what

Stewart 4 part of their material culture is. The alcohol and the strippers are like traditions for these Bachelorette parties.
Why do these women act out at Bachelorette parties? Apparently, it’s the norm! Jamie, a 28 year old, engaged woman says “Your bachelorette party is supposed to be a crazy, uninhibited time...” The party is for celebrating your like night of single-hood. The belief is that bachelorette parties are based on “the idea of the non-virgin bride who has had sexual experiences and is acknowledging the end of her freedom” (Massey P. 181). And while weddings are a symbol of two people in-love, wanting to spend the rest of their lives together, sex is valued in these bachelorette parties.
In conclusion, culture is different with every single person, in every situation. Their beliefs are all different, along with their norms and values. As cultures and people have moved around from place to place over thousands of years, they have been tweaked, and changed, and certain things have become more acceptable, it is safe to say that culture affects each and every person simply by shaping their values, beliefs, norms, and even an individual’s material culture.