dominant culture
Society's default setting
The dominant culture in a society is the set of values, beliefs, and practices held by the group with the most power and influence.
It shapes mainstream institutions, media, and expectations of behavior.
Minority or subcultural groups may adopt, resist, or navigate around dominant culture: Her art challenges dominant culture assumptions about beauty.
Expected behavioral standards
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- expectationsBeliefs about future outcomes
- conventionsAccepted social practices
- traditionsLong-established customs passed down
customs · values · default · unmarked · taken-for-granted · common sense · propriety · etiquette
Dominant cultural current
- EurocentrismBias toward Western perspectives
- WesternizationAdopting Western cultural practices
- colonialismDomination through foreign settlement
- monocultureSingle-crop agricultural system
globalization · supremacy · marginalization · othering · gatekeeping · canonization · whiteness · media representation
Adopting another group's customs
- melting potCultural fusion place
- integrationCombining into a whole
- code-switchingAlternating between linguistic varieties
- passingMoving by or temporary
conformity · mainstreaming · intermarriage · naturalization · ethnic enclave · immigration · syncretism · biculturalism
Belief one's culture superior
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- stereotypeFixed oversimplified notion
- xenophobiaHatred of outsiders
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
microaggression · implicit bias · othering · exoticism · tokenism · privilege · unconscious bias · out-group
Rejection of mainstream values
- subcultureGroup with alternative norms
- decolonizationEnding imperial control
- reclamationRecovery of something lost
- code-switchingAlternating between linguistic varieties
indigenization · hybridity · pluralism · multiculturalism · diaspora · heritage language · decentering · repatriation
norms
Expected behavioral standards
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- expectationsBeliefs about future outcomes
- conventionsAccepted social practices
traditions · customs · values · default · unmarked · taken-for-granted · common sense · propriety · etiquette · mores
mainstream
Dominant cultural current
- EurocentrismBias toward Western perspectives
- WesternizationAdopting Western cultural practices
- colonialismDomination through foreign settlement
monoculture · globalization · supremacy · marginalization · othering · gatekeeping · canonization · whiteness · media representation · institutional power
acculturation
Adopting another group's customs
- melting potCultural fusion place
- integrationCombining into a whole
- code-switchingAlternating between linguistic varieties
passing · conformity · mainstreaming · intermarriage · naturalization · ethnic enclave · immigration · syncretism · biculturalism · second generation
ethnocentrism
Belief one's culture superior
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- stereotypeFixed oversimplified notion
- xenophobiaHatred of outsiders
discrimination · microaggression · implicit bias · othering · exoticism · tokenism · privilege · unconscious bias · out-group · chauvinism
counterculture
Rejection of mainstream values
- subcultureGroup with alternative norms
- decolonizationEnding imperial control
- reclamationRecovery of something lost
code-switching · indigenization · hybridity · pluralism · multiculturalism · diaspora · heritage language · decentering · repatriation · sovereignty
- culturessubculture, multicultural, counterculture, underground, bohemian
- social changesocial progress, social norms, globalization, assimilate, integrate
- mixed marriagesintermarriage, mixed marriages, interracial couples, interfaith marriage, mixed heritage
dominant culturesubculture
Group with alternative norms
counterculture · underground culture · bohemian culture · hippie culture · avant-garde
dominant, culture, dominate, domination, dominance, dominator, dominated, dominating, domineer