Social, Political, and Cultural Norms

• Lesson 3 discusses social, political, and cultural behavior and phenomena.
• Objectives include recognizing how norms, taboos, and phenomena shape society, culture, and politics and analyzing the impact of societal norms and deviance on social and political structures.

Norms

• Every society maintains its own norms.
• Norms serve as guides or models, indicating propriety, appropriateness, and ethical behavior.
• They establish boundaries within which individuals can pursue their objectives.
• Often exist as rules, standards, or prescriptions that are strictly adhered to.
• They represent a society’s standards of propriety, morality, ethics, and legality.

Norms of Decency

• Norms of Decency is the type of clothing a person wears in a specific occasion.
• The use of appropriate words and gestures that convey politeness and courtesy are norms of decency.

Norms of Conventionality

• Are beliefs and practices accepted by some cultures but may be inimical to others.
• Ethnic groups often adhere to norms and practices unique to their culture.

Conformity

• Defined as the internalization of norms as a component of social expectation.
• Conventional norms carry sanctions in society, tantamount to public approval and recognition.

Deviance

• Divided into formal and informal types.
• Formal deviance involves actions that contravene enacted laws.
• Informal deviance involves violations of social norms not codified into law.
• It is sometimes considered an expression of power struggle.
• Behaviors that conform to or deviate from norms contribute to changes in various aspects of society.

Common Phenomena

• Food Taboos
• Istambay
• Political Dynasty
• Philippine Elections

Food Taboos

• Food taboos are cultural prohibitions against consuming certain foods, and is recognized across societies, often stemming from religious beliefs.
• These taboos can be manifestations of deviancy.
• Food taboos are more cultural than religious.

Eating Habits & Influences

• Food habits and dietary rules may be linked to life events like childbirth, pregnancy, menstruation, and breastfeeding.
• Dietary rules may stem from health or religious factors, with foods restricted during certain periods or for specific groups.
• Filipino cuisine is influenced by Malay, Spanish, Arab, Indian, Japanese, Chinese, and American foods.
• Filipinos eat "merienda" as their afternoon snack.
• Cooking techniques include frying, grilling, sautéing, and boiling.

Food Taboos in the Philippines

• The consumption of dog or cat meat is illegal under Republic Act No. 8485, this reflects the societal view of dogs as companions.
• Eating endangered species like monkeys, tortoises, monitor lizards, and rare birds is illegal and socially unacceptable.
• Foods deemed unacceptable by public opinion, such as "double-dead meat" (botcha), is unfit for consumption.
• "Pagpag" refers to leftover chicken or pork salvaged from restaurants and repurposed.

Istambay

• The "Istambay" Phenomenon is a social issue with economic implications, an etymological origin from the English idiom "on standby".
• An "istambay" is defined as a person who does not have work and who usually hangs-out on street corners.

Political Dynasty

• Represents a phenomenon with socio-economic undertones, especially in the Philippines.
• Political families are also found in lower-income families but are engaged in politics over several years, typically at national level.
• Affluent families are entrenched in local politics before going national.
• Possess strong local support bases.
• Active in socio-economic ventures beyond politics.

Philippine Elections

• The president, vice president, and senators serve for a six-year term.
• Members of the House of Representatives, governors, vice-governors, members of the provincial board, mayors, vice-mayors, and city/municipal councilors serve terms of three years and are eligible for re-election.