Components of Culture:Components of Culture: Values Values

Values defined:Values defined:

A standard by which members of culture define A standard by which members of culture define what iswhat is

desirable or undesirabledesirable or undesirable good or badgood or bad beautiful or uglybeautiful or ugly acceptable or unacceptableacceptable or unacceptable

Values are regularly Values are regularly contested.contested.

For For

example,example,

what what

makesmakes

aa

womanwoman

beautiful?beautiful?

The answer often depends The answer often depends on WHEN the question is on WHEN the question is asked…asked…

TodayToday

mainstreammainstream

America might America might

cite a woman cite a woman

like this as like this as

being being

beautiful:beautiful:

Or perhaps one of these Or perhaps one of these women:women:

But what about 50 years ago?But what about 50 years ago?

Americans might have Americans might have said that these were said that these were the most beautiful the most beautiful women.women.

How about 100 years How about 100 years ago?ago?

How are these women different from today’s

version of beauty?

Beauty also depends on Beauty also depends on WHERE the question is asked.WHERE the question is asked.

Around the world, Around the world, there is not just one there is not just one standard of beauty, standard of beauty, but many.but many.

Certain features of Certain features of the face or body are the face or body are emphasized in emphasized in various parts of the various parts of the world.world.

Women from Burma

Ears and mouths are features Ears and mouths are features commonly accented…commonly accented…

Women from Ethiopia

Adornments for the mouth can Adornments for the mouth can include tattoos and jewels for include tattoos and jewels for the teeth.the teeth.

Girl from BorneoMaori Woman with Moko

Here beauty accents are Here beauty accents are focused on the face and focused on the face and head…head…

Mangbetu WomanNigerian Woman

although other parts of the although other parts of the body have also been body have also been emphasized, such as the feet.emphasized, such as the feet.

3

”

S

H

O

E

S

Sketch of a woman’s bound feet

The overall body can also The overall body can also reflect values of beauty.reflect values of beauty.

Today thinness is Today thinness is commonly accepted commonly accepted in many cultures as in many cultures as synonymous with synonymous with beauty.beauty.

In some cultures thinness In some cultures thinness might be a reflection of might be a reflection of physical fitness…physical fitness…

Although there are still Although there are still extremes:extremes:

When does thin When does thin become “too become “too thin?”thin?”

Thinness has not always been Thinness has not always been a Western standard of beauty.a Western standard of beauty.

Painting by Peter Paul Rubens

Nor is thinness the standard Nor is thinness the standard everywhere in the world today.everywhere in the world today.

To summarize:To summarize:

Values are standards set by the Values are standards set by the members of a society.members of a society.

Values are often highly contested.Values are often highly contested. Values can change significantly over Values can change significantly over

time. time. Values can differ within one society and Values can differ within one society and

around the world.around the world.