Feb. 26, 2004 Definition III: The Role of Culture and Ideology in the Family I. What is culture? A. In anthropology it has several meanings 1. For the purposes of this course, we’ll define it as: a. A shared set of beliefs, propositions, values b. They are learned, rather than genetically inherited c. Some of them consciously taught 1) Many animals learn all kinds of stuff 2) But it’s difficult to demonstrate that non-human animals are consciously teaching 3) Of course, a lot of culture is learned unconsciously 4) Examples? B. A frequent assumption is that the group that shares culture is identifiable—an actual population is “a culture” 1. A big assumption and, it turns out, unwarranted a. Is the USA a single culture? Very difficult to argue b. So we have to use terms like subculture c. And acknowledge that a lot of what is shared by most Americans is shared by Canadians and others, etc. d. And conclude that the concept of American culture—or American family—is an idea, a powerful idea with significant effects2 e. But, narrowly defined, it doesn’t correspond to something on the ground f. We can never discover a population that entirely and exclusively shares a collection of beliefs, propositions, and values 2. The idea of a country that shares a single culture is relatively new a. No one had such an idea during colonial times, nor back in Europe b. This notion arose out of the nationalism that developed only during the 19th century 1) That said a state—a political unit: 2) Is also a nation: a “people” who share a common culture 3) Very few—certainly not the USA nor China c. The concept of “the American family” 1) Is new 2) And is a concept; does not correspond to reality, which is much more diverse and complex II. We’re trying to understand families living in the USA A. As they really are (description and analysis) B. As we wish they were (prescription—normative)—shoulds and oughts C. As we think they are31. Based on information we have received from our families, the media, our educational institutions, our professional experts, our politicians, our religious leaders, etc. 2. Coontz’s goal is to show the gap between how we think they are and how they really are D. These three notions are related, but by no means are they identical 1. So, if we want to define the American family, we have to specify at the outset which notion we’re dealing with 2. Your second assignment will ask you to analyze images of the family in popular culture—not analyze real families III. Ideology A. What does this concept share with concept of culture? 1. Both ideology and culture are defined as a shared set of beliefs, propositions, and values B. But ideology presupposes a class society, a stratified society 1. We would not use the word “ideology” when speaking about egalitarian societies—societies with no institutionalized ranking 2. Ideology refers to the fact that in stratified societies the cultural beliefs, propositions, and values—the received wisdom about the world: a. Has the result of benefiting the folks at the top more than the folks at the bottom b. Ideology works to maintain and justify a set of structured, institutionalized relationships c. To analyze ideology we must uncover how the status quo provides large advantages to those who already have more power and privilege4 1) “Status quo” is Latin for “things as they are right now” 2) And analyze how everyone is led to believe that the accomplishments, the success, the privileges achieved by those on top result from their inborn superiority 3) They belong to a superior sex, ethnicity, race, social class or caste C. Social systems are always in flux, meeting challenges 1. So those who occupy positions of power are not satisfied with their position unless they can justify it 2. This is the definition of ideology: the set of ideas, propositions and values that justify the status quo D. The way the dominant classes stay dominant is, for the most part, through ideology, not brute force 1. Sometimes actions involving raw power—coercion—occur a. Examples? b. But a system is crumbling if it needs brute force to accomplish most of what it needs to do c. A social system will be more stable, successful if those in power maintain their position through acts justified by ideology d. Which means they have authority—legitimate power, not just raw power 1) Examples of raw power? 2) Examples of authority—legitimate power?5 3) Examples of ideology internalized so that people want to do what they’re supposed to do even when it works against their interest? E. Remember: things are never totally static—the status quo is never completely stable 1. Our current ideology about family, about gender roles, etc., is a good example: it is very dynamic, evolving rapidly, very unstable 2. Where there is ideology, there are always those who dispute it; there is always resistance, even though sometimes it’s almost invisible1 a. Although one purpose of ideology is to convince members of a society that the way things are is the way things ought to be, “naturally” should be 3. Things constantly change for 2 reasons a. Societies are always changing; culture is always changing b. And no matter how powerful, how successful an ideology appears to be, there are always those who are challenging it, working to undermine it F. An example of ideology in operation are the justifications for the practice of female genital operations in Islamic North Africa 1. The culture of these societies consists in part of a set of beliefs about what it takes to transform a girl into a proper woman 2. We use the concept of ideology when we analyze how such beliefs and practices benefit those in power; here seen to be men and the patriarchal system and its institutions 1 This is called counter-hegemony. See Raymond Williams, Key Words. London, 1976.6a. Who benefits is a question that has to be empirically investigated 3. Notice that women in these societies believe that genital cutting is good and necessary—they are the ones doing the surgeries 4. Don’t ever think that ideology is subscribed to only