UCSP Notes - Social, Political, and Cultural Change PDF

**UCSP NOTES** **LESSON 1: SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND CULTURAL CHANGE** WHAT IS SOCIAL CHANGE? - Changes in human interactions and relationships that transform cultural and social institutions - Substantial transformation of behavioral patterns, values, social norms over time - Techno...

**UCSP NOTES** **LESSON 1: SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND CULTURAL CHANGE** WHAT IS SOCIAL CHANGE? - Changes in human interactions and relationships that transform cultural and social institutions - Substantial transformation of behavioral patterns, values, social norms over time - Technology - Environment - Population WHAT IS POLITICAL CHANGE? - Change in government surrounding leadership and policies - Happens when rulers of a nation lose power or the kind of governance in the nation - Governance is the type of framework to run a nation - INTERNAL POLITICAL CHANGE- Instigated by the people of the country. Can be done through elections, abdication, resignation, and coup d' etat - EXTERNAL POLITCAL CHANGE- Instigated or imposed by other countries WHAT IS CULTURAL CHANGE? - The manner and extent of change in society - The process by which a society's culture evolves and adapts new behaviors, social norms and cultural traits - Technology Evolution - Geographical and ecological factor - Contact - CULTURAL DIFFUSION- process of spreading one's culture - ACCULTURATION- process of adopting/ borrowing someone's culture **LESSON 2: CONCERNS OF ANTHROPOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY, AND POLITICAL SCIENCE WITH RESPECT TO CHANGE** SOCIAL SCIENCE- The discipline under which identity, culture, society, and politics are studied. It is comprised of a wide array of disciplines that studies the overall function of a society as well as the interactions among individual members of an institution. SOCIOLOGY - The word sociology is derived from the Latin word socius which means \"associate or companion\" and the Greek word logos which means \"the study of\". - It is a science that studies the development of social structure, functions of human in the society, and how people interact being a member of the society. ANTHROPOLOGY - The study of people, past and present, with a focus on understanding the human condition both culturally and biologically. - The word \"anthropology\" comes from the Greek word "anthropos" means "human" and "logia" which means "study of". SUBDISCIPLINES OF ANTHROPOLOGY - CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY- studies cultural variations develop across different societies and examines the need to understand each culture in its own context. - LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY- studies language discourse and how they reflect and shape different aspects of human. - BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY- studies origins of humans as well as the interplay between social factors and process of human evolution, adaptation, and variations over time. - ARCHAELOGY- deals with prehistoric societies by studying their tools and environment. Sociology and Anthropology are concerned with similar things which is why some scholars believe that they are just two names for the same field of study. According to Clyde Kluckhohn, an anthropologist and social theorist, \"The sociological attitude has tended towards the practical and present, the anthropological towards pure understanding and the past.\" Sociology depends on Anthropology\'s understanding of the past in order to study present day social phenomena. SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY: COMMON CONCERNS 1. human society 2. Social groups and social institutions (organization of families, tribes, politics, economics, etc.) 3. Culture (religion, language, art, knowledge, beliefs, values, etc.) 4. human behaviour 5. holistic understanding of society\'s influence on people SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY: DIFFERENCES 1. Anthropology studies society holistically (politics, family organization, economy, religion, art, social organizations, etc.) while sociology studies \"only its particular aspects\". 2. Anthropology studies small and static cultures while sociology studies vast and dynamic cultures. 3. Anthropology studies humans and their culture as they developed in the past while sociology is focused on studying these as they happen in the present. POLITICAL SCIENCE - A systematic study of system of government and state. The word politics is derived from the Greek word polis which means \"city-state\" or what today would be equivalent to sovereign state. The word
\"science\" comes from the Latin word scire which means \"to know\". - It focuses on fundamental values of equality, freedom and justice and its process linked to the dynamics of conflict, resolution, and cooperation. - According to Andrew Heywood political science is an activity through which people make, preserve, and amend the general rules under which they live. AREAS OF INTEREST IN POLITICAL SCIENCE - PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION - examines how the government functions and how decisions and politics are made. - POLITICAL ECONOMY - evaluates the interplay between economics, politics, and law and its implications to various institutions within society. - COMPARATIVE POLITICS - compares domestic politics and governance systems across different sovereign states. Political science is determined by social processes. Without sociology, political science will have no basis. In order to study political theory, one must have an understanding of social concepts brought to light by sociology. Conversely, in order to have a complete study of society, political science must be included. SOCIOLOGY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE: COMMON CONCERNS 1. laws made by the state and governments that affect the welfare of society 2. social customs, traditions, norms, values, etc. that can be legalized or legitimized by governments 3. social institutions and social organizations 4. problems of society that can be addressed by governments SOCIOLOGY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE: DIFFERENCES 1. Political science is a study of a social organization specializing in political organizations while sociology studies humans as social beings and social organizations. 2. Political science covers only the state and government while sociology covers all social institutions. 3. Political science studies organized communities only while sociology studies organized and unorganized communities. 4. Sociology deals with conscious and unconscious activities of humans in society while political science only studies the conscious activities of humans with respect to political organization. 5. Political science assumes that humans are political beings while sociology tries to understand and explain how and why humans became political beings. Studying sociology requires a holistic view of human life which is studied by specialized sciences in social science. Anthropology and political science depend on sociology in order to understand their specialized study on human processes and phenomena while sociology depends on anthropology and political science to shed light on certain aspects of society **LESSON 3: GOALS OF ANTHROPOLOGY, POLITICAL SCIENCE, AND SOCIOLOGY** GOALS OF ANTHROPOLOGY - describe and analyze the biological evolution of humanity - describe and assess the cultural development of our species - analyze the present-day human cultural similarities and differences - describe and explain human biological and diversity today - discover what makes people diverse from each other - discover what all people have in common - produce new knowledge about humankind and human behavior GOALS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE - be immersed in current affairs - build an understanding on the local, national, and international politics - learn how political activities are organized in and out of our country - provide substantially and scientific contribution to government and society - understanding of the nation's political institutions, culture, and ideologies - understand that there are various sorts of political systems around the world - deepen knowledge about politics and government GOALS OF SOCIOLOGY - understand ourselves better - build a more robust understanding of humanity - help with decision-making - provide insights into what is going on in a situation - explain the diversity of people and societies. - describe the interaction between the individual and society - view the world from a sociological perspective **LESSON 4: ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON CULTURE AND SOCIETY** WHAT IS CULTURE? Combination or varied areas that comprises tradition, cultural practices, behaviors, beliefs, values, attitudes, norms, symbols, laws, knowledge, and entirely that a person learns and share influence being a member of society - Material (Tangible) -- Refers to the physical objects that people produce. - Non-material (Intangible) -- Refers to the non-physical aspect of human creations in which you can't touch. WHAT IS SOCIETY? A group of individuals sharing a common culture inside a characterized territorial boundaries. Society ought to have rules of conduct, traditions, customs, laws, folkways and mores, and desires that guarantee suitable conduct among individuals. ANTHROPOLOGY STUDIES MAN ENTIRELY WHEREAS SOCIOLOGY'S FOCUS STUDY IS SOCIETY THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE - Sociological perspective enables an individual to understand the cultural aspect of man and its role played in the society. - It provides a different way of looking at life, and provides a deeper understanding of why and how people behave within the society. THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE - Anthropological perspective enables you to understand the origin of culture diversity through mankind hence the concentration a human perspective - It will widen your horizon into a specific point of view of understanding of judging people in the society and its culture diversity **LESSON 5: SOCIETY AND CULTURE AS A COMPLEX WHOLE** CULTURE Is a patterned way of life of people which comprises behavior, language, tradition, beliefs, values, religion, laws, arts that is accustomed by a human being a member of society. It is also a cumulative transfer of total learned behaviour that is acquired by a group of people and transmitted this knowledge from one generation to another through social learning. FOUR ASPECTS OF CULTURE AS A COMPLEX WHOLE 1. BELIEFS -- are ideas that people have a strong feeling or convictions of certainty of something that may exist or will takes place to happen. 2. VALUES -- Is a shared perception that defines standard of doing what is desirable and not. This cultural element suggest people what to do with their actions that is considered appropriate and worthwhile. THREE ELEMENTS THAT CONSTITUTE THE FILIPINO VALUE SYSTEM ❖ HALAGA -- it is how we give importance to someone that may have its significant impact of a person as it is a priceless possession. Halaga as aspect of Filipino value constitute three principles \(1) Pagkatao or selfworth \(2) pakikipagkapwa-tao or noble action in relationship with others \(3) Pagkamaka-tao or compassion ❖ Asal - It is a manifestation of one's action or manners of treating other people. Asal as aspect of Filipino value constitute three principles \(1) Kapwa or relational \(2) Damdamin or emotional \(3) Dangal or honor ❖ Diwa -- this denotes to the inner self o kalooban that resonates the intertwined emotion and reasoning of a person. 3. NORMS - Is regarded as accepted standard behavior that is considered tolerable action in the society. TYPES OF NORMS ❖ FOLKWAYS -- these are norms that apply to routine matters like eating, sleeping, appearance, posture, use of appliances and relations to various people, animals and the environment. Examples of Folkways: - standing in line observing social distancing - helping the elderly to cross the road - hand shaking someone you know ❖ MORES -- are norms and behaviors that is widely observed by a particular members in the society or group. Examples of Mores: - It is not adequate to wear casual clothes in attending the wedding. - It is expected to wear facemask in public places in times of pandemic. - Stealing is considered unacceptable action ❖ TABOO - a culture really forbids them, an activity that is prohibited for public display and a motion that is unpleasant in the society. EXAMPLES OF TABOO - In many Jewish and Muslim communities, people are prohibited from eating pork ❖ LAWS are a formal body of rules ratified by the government system that are created and regulate conduct. Examples of Laws: - Selling drugs, homicide, act of terrorism is punishable by law 4. SYMBOLS -- It may represent a word, object, color, sound, feeling, movement and taste to which people may have represent a meaning or value unto it. **LESSON 6: ASPECTS OF CULTURE AND SOCIETY** - The characteristics of human behavior are obtained exclusively through learning. - Cultural conditioning of behavior is eventually accomplished through adaptation - All societies are similarly created according to their claim needs and values; none is way better, more progressed, or less primitive than any other. CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE - CULTURE IS LEARNED The learning process of culture is called enculturation, which means we acquire of the characteristics and norms of a culture or group or by another culture. The process of learning culture is unconscious. - CULTURE IS SHARED Since we are member in the society, we share culture with other members in the community we widely share values, beliefs, customs, practices, gender roles and social norms. Culture is shared and passed down through generations bringing this culture to individuals with many shared traits. - CULTURE IS BASED ON SYMBOL A symbol that represents a deep meaning of one's culture. Some good examples of symbolism would be colors, figures, objects that anchored to a certain belief or norms in the society. - CULTURE IS INTEGRATED Cultural integration is the blending of one's culture to other cultures. This is common when individuals adapt practices from another culture without lessening their own culture. All the characteristics of culture are interrelated. We learn from each other and copy certain cultural practices as we geared through this changing environment - CULTURE IS DYNAMIC Culture is dynamic because it changes all the time. It's constantly changing its beliefs, values, ideas, ideals and norms through interaction and time. The changing of environment awakens ones culture to adaptability. When a certain culture adapts to its new environment the entire system also follows. **LESSON 7: CULTURAL RELATIVISM MITIGATES ETHNOCENTRISM** - CULTURAL VARIATION- refers to the differences in social behaviors that different cultures exhibit around the world. What may be considered good etiquette in one culture may be considered bad etiquette in another. 1. ETHNOCENTRISM- Judging another culture solely by the values and standards of one's own culture. It is the belief that your native culture is the most superior way of understanding around the world. Individuals may have difficulty showing appreciation of other cultures due to a lack of information about the culture. 2. CULTURAL RELATIVISM- A person's beliefs and activities should be understood by others in terms of that individual's own culture. Cultural relativism promotes greater appreciation of the cultures one encountered along the way **LESSON 8: SOCIALIZATION AND ENCULTURATION** SOCIALIZATION A process in which society molds the individual to conform to established social norms and rules. Its process is very essential in man's daily life because it teaches man how to behave and act within society. Consequently, if he or she does not know how to socialize and conform to standards, his or her actions may impede social order. KEY PARTS OF SOCIALIZATION: - CONTEXT- sets the stage for socialization. It includes includes culture, language, social structures, the ranks and roles that people have played - CONTENT AND PROCESS- defined by the duration of socialization, those involved, the methods used, and the type of experience - RESULTS- the consequences of socialization which refer to the way one reasons and acts after going through the process. Socialization takes place when prospective culture bearers learn the body of knowledge and skills through education, training, exposure, and experience; while enculturation occurs when cultural knowledge is passed on to the next bearer who will perpetuate and ensure the continuation of culture. Both socialization and enculturation result to: - IDENTITY FORMATION- One's socialization with individuals or groups allows him or her to imbibe certain characteristics and interests that contribute to his or her identity. - NORMS AND VALUES- Norms are those culturally determined rules that guide people regarding what is "right", "wrong", "proper", "improper". They are fundamental to the establishment of social order in any societies - STATUSES AND ROLES- Status is any position that an individual can occupy in society. It is not a ranked position, but simply a label that implies certain roles that must be performed. Role, on the other hand, involves the pattern of expected behavior in a social relationship with one or more persons occupying other statuses. It is what the individual is expected to do, given his status. This involves inclusive citizenship, in which the citizens are given a strong feeling that they are a part of the overall society **LESSON 9: CONFORMITY AND DEVIANCE** CONFORMITY - Defined as acting in accordance with specified standards or authority (Merriam-Webster). - Involves adopting behaviors, beliefs, or actions that align with group norms or expectations. - Influences group members to share similar standards of behavior. **FACTORS OF CONFORMITY** Conformity occurs when individuals choose actions favored by the majority or deemed socially acceptable. **DEVIANCE/ DEFIANCE** - Deviance occurs when an individual acts in a way that is socially unacceptable or contrary to majority behavior. - Involves performing actions that are considered unfavorable by societal standards. **SOCIAL CONTROL** - - - FORMS OF DEVIANCE - Serves as outlet for diverse forms of expressions - Serves to define the limits of acceptable behavior - May promote in-group solidarity - CONFORMITY- involves accepting both the cultural goal of success and the use of legitimate means for achieving that goal. - INNOVATION- accepts the goal of success but eliminating the use of socially accepted means of achieving it. - RITUALISM- occurs when people deemphasize or reject the cultural goals but accept the institutionalized means. - RETREATISM- means withdrawal from society since both the cultural goals and the institutionalized means are rejected. - REBELLION- occurs when people reject and attempt to change both the goals and the means approved by society. **LESSON 10: HUMAN DIGNITY, RIGHTS, AND COMMON GOOD** WHAT IS HUMAN DIGNITY? WHAT IS HUMAN RIGHTS? - HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION - is a means towards social change; a tool to transform the theory and practical applications into everyday social practice. - CIVIL RIGHTS- deal with standards of judiciary and penal systems. - POLITICAL RIGHTS - deals with specific components of participation in political power. - ECONOMIC RIGHTS - deals with the sphere of the human beings working, producing and servicing. - SOCIAL RIGHTS - deals with standards of living and quality of life for all persons, including those not participating in economic activities. - CULTURAL RIGHTS - deals with the cultural sphere of life including ethnic culture, subcultures, arts and science. NONMARKET INSTITUTIONS - RECIPROCITY- Exists when there is an exchange of goods or labor between individuals in a community. This would include direct barter or simultaneous exchanges of goods or labor - TRANSFER- entails a redistribution of income that is not matched by the actual exchange of goods or services. An example of this is a donation or financial assistance from a wealthy relative to the needy one. - REDISTRIBUTION- Can be considered as a combination of transfer and reciprocity. It involves a centralized collection of goods from members of a group and redistributes the goods to the same members of the group. MARKET INSTITUTIONS - MARKET TRANSACTION involves parties who sell their goods and services in exchange for cash from consumers or customers. - MARKET AND STATE the state, through the government, plays an important role in the market. The government regulates the prices especially for the basic commodity to protect the interest of the consumers - LABOR is also considered a commodity and it is an input to the production of goods and services. The government regulates the prices of labor by determining the minimum wages through the regional wage board to protect the workers from being paid below the minimum in exchange for their service rendered. NON-STATE INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS - A BANK is a place where people deposit or save their money with interest in a given period. It lends money both to public and private organizations. The government borrows money from the bank to finance its projects while private organizations and individuals borrow money to finance their business and other personal needs. - A CORPORATION is a company or group of people authorized to act as a single entity and recognized as such in law. Usually, corporations operate as stock corporations where ownership is through stockholders who own shares in the company - COOPERATIVE or coop refers to an autonomous association whose membership is voluntary toward the attainment of shared economic, social and, cultural needs or aspirations. The members are the owner of a cooperative - A TRADE UNION or LABOR UNION is an organization of workers whose main objective is to protect the welfare of its members. Its purpose is to collectively negotiate with employers for better compensation benefits, to ensure safety standards in the workplace, and others. - TRANSNATIONAL ADVOCACY GROUPS are involved in social advocacy to promote principled causes, ideas, and values. Their goal is to give the powerless a voice in the domestic and international law-making body. Some of the prominent development agencies in the Philippines are the following: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) The aid can be subdivided into two categories: humanitarian aid (emergency relief efforts in response to disasters and development aid (foreign aid) aimed at helping countries to achieve sustainable economic growth. - INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS are organizations with a worldwide membership, scope, or presence. The two (2) main types are the following: International Non-governmental Organizations (INGO) are non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that operate internationally, for example, the International Committee of the Red Cross. International Governmental Organizations (IGOs) are organizations that are made up primarily of member states, for example, the United Nations (UN). **LESSON 12: EDUCATION** - EDUCATION is the social institution that formally socializes members of society. It also refers to the process through which skills, knowledge, and values are transmitted from the teachers to the learners - FORMAL EDUCATION usually takes place in a classroom setting and is provided by trained teaching and non-teaching staff. - ELEMENTARY EDUCATION is the first part of the educational system, and it includes the first six years of compulsory schooling from grade1 to grade 6. - SECONDARY EDUCATION is continuing basic education from the elementary level to four years of junior high school and two years of senior high school. - TERTIARY EDUCATION is offered by private and public colleges and universities. Most higher education institutions offer 4-year degree programs with two semesters per year. - VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. Accredited institutions offer technical and occupational education. Programs offered to vary in duration from a few weeks to two years. - SPECIAL EDUCATION (SPED) refers to the education of persons who are physically, mentally, emotionally, socially or culturally different from so-called "normal" individuals, such that they require modification of school practices to develop their potential. - NON-FORMAL EDUCATION is an organized educational activity that takes placed outside a formal set up. - INFORMAL EDUCATION is a lifelong process of learning by which every person acquires and accumulates knowledge, skills, attitude from daily experiences at home, at work, at play, and from life itself. FUNCTIONS OF EDUCATION IN THE SOCIETY - Give training in specific skills, or the basic general education literacy - Prepare individuals for the job - Preserving culture from generation to generation - Encouraging democratic participation through verbal skills - Develop the person's ability to think logically - Enriching life by enabling the students to expand his/her intellectual and aesthetic horizons - Improving personal adjustment through personal counseling - Improving the health of the nation's youth - Producing nationalistic citizens - Build personal character The two most important goals of education for the individual and society are: - PRODUCTIVE CITIZENRY- refers to the idea that a citizen can create opportunities to become productive. - SELF-ACTUALIZATION- refers to a desire for self-fulfillment Primary education as a human right has been enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. **LESSON 13: SOCIAL AND POLITICAL STRATIFICATION** DIFFERENTIATION is the method of relating people in terms of a particular social characteristics and then classifying them into social categories based on their characteristics; it does not involve ranking. The layering of these categories into the higher and lower position of prestige or respect is called SOCIAL STRATIFICATION THREE SOCIAL CLASSES - UPPER CLASS- consists of the elite or wealthy families who are the most prolific (productive) in their respective areas. They value heritage most over wealth. - MIDDLE CLASS- these are mostly professional people like lawyers, doctors, managers, owners of small businesses, executives, etc. They value education most since education to them is the most vital measure of social status. - LOWER CLASS- these are the office and clerical workers, skilled and unskilled craftsman, farm employees, underemployed, indigent families, etc. They depend on their paycheck - ASCRIBED STATUSES are assigned or given by the society or group based on some fixed category. Examples are sex, family background, ethnicity, etc. - ACHIEVED STATUSES are earned by the individual. Examples are honors received in school, good job, an award for winning a competition, etc. - PRESTIGE refers to the evaluation of status. You gain respect according to your status. - ESTEEM refers to the assessment of our role behavior. The measure of esteem we have depends on how well we carry out our role POLITICAL STRATIFICATION is the extent to which inequalities are encapsulated in, or influenced by political structures and, processes regarding influence, power and authority. SOCIAL MOBILITY SYSTEM/STRUCTURE Social mobility is the act of moving from one social status to another. - OPEN CLASS SYSTEM means that individuals can change their social class in society. People are free to gain a different level of education or employment than their parents. They can also socialize with members of another group, which allows people to move from one class to another. - CASTE AND CLOSED-CLASS SYSTEM, people can do little or nothing to change their social standing. People are born into it and will remain in it. People are assigned occupations regardless of their talents, interests, or potential. TYPES OF SOCIAL MOBILITY - HORIZONTAL MOBILITY is the movement of a person within a social class level. For example, a factory worker who finds a new job as a construction worker. - VERTICAL MOBILITY is the movement of a person between social class levels or another class. For example, a factory worker who enrolls in college and becomes a businessman. **LESSON 14: SOCIAL INEQUALITY** **SOCIAL INEQUALITY** - The unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, and rewards within a society. - Arises from disparities in access to social positions or statuses, often due to gender, race, ethnicity, disability, and sexual orientation. **FORMS OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY** - **GENDER INEQUALITY**: Women have historically been placed in lower social status than men, with less access to political, social, and economic rights. Despite progress, gender stereotyping, abuse, and violence continue. - **SEXUAL ORIENTATION INEQUALITY**: LGBT individuals often face discrimination based on their gender identity and sexual preferences. - **ETHNIC/RACIAL INEQUALITY**: Ethnic minorities face cultural marginalization, stereotyping, and discrimination by the dominant group in society. - **DISABILITY INEQUALITY**: Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are often denied opportunities, especially in employment, due to physical impairments. MINORITIES IN THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE **KEY SOCIAL CONCEPTS:** - **DISCRIMINATION**: Denying equal treatment to minority groups, often keeping them in lower social status. - **PREJUDICE**: Negative attitudes toward individuals based on group membership. Can lead to discrimination. - **STEREOTYPING**: Overgeneralizing traits to all members of a group. - **ETHNOCENTRISM**: Belief that one's group or culture is superior to others. - **SCAPEGOATING**: Blaming a group for problems or frustrations. - **RACISM**: The belief that one race is superior to others and has the right to dominate them. ***Laws to guarantee women's protection***: - 105-DAY EXPANDED MATERNITY LEAVE LAW - PROHIBITION ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN - ANTI-VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN ACT OF 2004 - ASSISTANCE OF SMALL-SCALE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS - ANTI-SEXUAL HARRASMENT ACT OF 1995 - THE ANTI-RAPE LAW OF 1997 - RAPE VICTIM ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION ACT OF 1998 - MAGNA CARTA OF WOMEN RA 9710 is a comprehensive women\'s human rights law that seeks to eliminate discrimination through the recognition, protection, fulfillment, and promotion of the rights of Filipino women, especially those belonging to the marginalized sectors of society. It conveys a framework of rights for women based directly on international law. - NATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY RA 6949 declares the eighth day of March every year as a special working holiday. ***Laws for ethnic minorities:*** - INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS ACT 1997 Republic Act No. 8371 of 1997 is an Act to recognize, protect and promote the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples, creating a National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, establishing implementing mechanisms, appropriating funds, therefore, and for other purposes. ***Laws for people with disabilities (PWD'S):*** - RA 10070 -- Establishing Institutional Mechanism To Ensure The Implementation Of Programs And Services For Persons With Disabilities In Every Province, City and Municipality, Amending Republic Act No. 7277, Otherwise Known As The Magna Carta For Disabled Persons, As Amended, And For Other Purposes. - RA 10366 -- An Act Authorizing The Commission On Elections To Establish Precincts Assigned To Accessible Polling Places Exclusively For Persons With Disabilities And Senior Citizens - RA 10524 -- An Act Expanding The Positions Reserved For Persons With Disability, Amending For The Purpose Republic Act No. 7277, As Amended, Otherwise Known As The Magna Carta For Persons With Disability - RA 10754 -- An Act Expanding The Benefits And Privileges Of Persons With Disability (PWD) - RA 11106 -- An Act Declaring The Filipino Sign Language As The National Sign Language Of The Filipino Deaf And The Official Sign Language Of Government In All Transactions Involving The Deaf, And Mandating Its Use In Schools, Broadcast Media, And Workplaces - RA 11228 -- An Act Providing For The Mandatory Philhealth Coverage For All Persons With Disability (PWDs), Amending For The Purpose Republic Act No. 7277, As Amended, Otherwise Known As The "Magna Carta For Persons With Disability" - RA 1179 -- An Act To Provide For The Promotion Of Vocational Rehabilitation Of The Blind And Other Handicapped Persons And Their Return To Civil Employment - RA 1373 -- An Act Authorizing The Philippine Sportswriters Association To Hold One Benefit Boxing Show Every Year, The Net Proceeds Of Which Shall Constitute A Trust Fund For The Benefit Or Disabled Filipino-Boxers - RA 3562 -- An Act To Promote The Education Of The Blind In The Philippines - RA 4564 -- An Act Authorizing The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office To Hold Annually One Special Sweepstakes Race For The Exclusive Use Of The Office Of Vocational Rehabilitation, Social Welfare Administrations, In Its Development And Expansion Program For The Physically Disabled Throughout The Philippines. - RA 5250 -- An Act Establishing A Ten-Year Training Program For Teachers Of Special And Exceptional Children In The Philippines And Authorizing The Appropriation Of Funds Thereof. - RA 6759 -- An Act Declaring August One Of Each Year As White Cane Safety Day In The Philippines And For Other Purposes - RA 7277 -- An Act Providing For The Rehabilitation, Self-Development And SelfReliance Of Disabled Person And Their Integration Into The Mainstream Of Society And For Other Purposes. - RA 9442 -- An Act Amending Republic Act No. 7277, Otherwise Known As The "Magna Carta For Disabled Persons, And For Other Purposes" - Global inequality refers to the disparity between people across countries in the world. This includes economic differences, scarcity of resources, business activities, military strength, etc.. - Inequality can be an outcome of the relative strength of a state as compared with another in terms of strategic importance or development assistance. - Countries with many resources tend to have more power. Countries that send official development assistance (ODA) in the form of loans and grants are in the position to dictate their policy conditions. - One of the mechanisms involved which can address global inequality is the formation of regional groups, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The assumption is that the formation of regional groups can provide strength in numbers within the group. Another venue is to enter bilateral treaties and pacts with other countries, like the mutual defense agreement between the Philippines and the United States. TOP SOLUTIONS TO INEQUALITY - Improved Education - Tax Policy - Social Welfare Policy - Redistribution - Job Creation - Workforce Development Efforts to reduce inequalities and achieve inclusion are a multi-stakeholder responsibility that will require concerted action at all levels, from local to national, and regional to global.