Caribbean Society and Culture

Location and Definitions

• Caribbean location and sub-groupings outlined.
• Definitions: Geographical, Geological, Historical, Political, Diasporic; noting shortcomings of each.
• No single definition suffices for "Caribbean."

Society Objectives

• Identify elements of Caribbean society:
    - Common purpose
    - Defined territorial space
    - Continuity over time
    - Citizenship in a space

Culture Objectives

• Identify elements of Caribbean culture:
    - Learned behaviors
    - Customs and traditions
    - Norms and values
    - Prescriptive institutions
    - Gendered practices

Definitions of Society

• Society as:
    - Largest unit/group (Mohammed, 2015).
    - Collection of persons in a geographical area over time sharing belongingness (Mohammed, 2015).

Questions on Society

• Can society be limited by geography?
• Consider the status of Jamaican nationals abroad.
• Merge implications for societal identity.

Sociological Perspective

• Society defined as a group structure with interactions among different social groups.
• Primary groups (e.g., family) versus secondary groups (e.g., school).

Characteristics of Social Groups

• Interactions based on:
    - Common motives and goals
    - Division of labor
    - Status relationships
    - Shared beliefs and norms
    - Sanctions for norm violation

Social Institutions

• Identify tangible aspects like social organizations (e.g., schools).
• Education's varying values based on institution.

Roles in Society

• Role: expectations associated with status/position.
• Society's functionality depends on roles and interactions, which establish culture.

Caribbean Society

• Defined by:
    - Common history of colonization
    - European legacies (family, education, religion, language)
    - Geographical commonality
    - Shared communication forms
    - Consideration of diaspora influence

Definitions of Culture

• Culture is the way of life of a people and encompasses symbols, ideas, and material products (Johnson, 1995).
• Culture is learned and transmitted through enculturation and socialization (primary and secondary).

Types of Culture

• Material culture: tangible items (food, clothing).
• Non-material culture: ideas, values, beliefs.
• Other cultures: popular, high, and folk culture.

Cultural Characteristics

• Culture is learned, transmittable, dynamic, symbolic, and adaptive.

Cultural Norms and Values

• Cultural beliefs: ideas considered true (e.g., death).
• Cultural values: rankings of behavior (e.g., christening in Jamaica).
• Norms reflect accepted behaviors and their consequences.

Common Norms in Jamaica and Trinidad

• Jamaica: Religious practices, mealtime prayers, family greetings.
• Trinidad: Carnival celebrations, relaxed punctuality, hospitality, valuing elders.

Institutions and Behavior

• Institutions (family, education, religion, justice) teach norms.
• Cultural imperialism could threaten Caribbean culture.

Gendered Practices

• Institutions influencing gender roles (e.g., males as protectors, females in caregiving).
• Education shaping subject interests (males in technical fields, females in arts).
• Changing trends in women's roles and opportunities.

Takeaway Points

• Society and culture are interconnected.
• Culture evolves within a societal framework.
• Tangible and intangible aspects define culture.
• Consider the complexity of a single Caribbean culture and the diaspora's role.