Subculture vs counterculture | Society and Culture | MCAT | Khan Academy

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This section provides an introduction to the concept of subculture and its distinction from the dominant culture of a larger society.

Understanding Subculture

• A subculture is the culture of a meso-level subcommunity that distinguishes itself from the dominant culture of a larger society.

• It is larger than a microculture and can support people throughout their entire lifespan.

• Culture refers to the ideas, values, and beliefs that make up a society.

• Meso-level indicates a population size between micro and macro levels, representing medium-sized groups such as communities, organizations, cities, states, clans, or tribes.

• A subcommunity is a smaller community within a larger one.

Differentiating Subculture from Dominant Culture

• A subculture differs in some way from the dominant culture of the larger society but still shares some cultural aspects with it.

• Subcultures refer to the rules and ideas of medium-sized communities that have distinct characteristics.

• Microcultures are smaller groups or organizations that only affect a small segment of one's life for a limited period.

• Examples of microcultures include girl scout troops, college sororities, or boarding schools.

Examples of Subcultures

• In the United States, subcultures encompass various groups such as ethnic groups like Mexican-Americans and exclusive religious groups like Orthodox Jews in New York City.

• Social classes can also be considered as subcultures, including elite upper-class groups.

• Subcultures may cause tension with the dominant group due to differences in cultural expectations.

Counterculture

• When conflicts with the larger culture become serious and violate laws or norms set by the dominant society, countercultures emerge.

• Countercultures are groups with expectations and values that strongly disagree with the main values of a particular society.

• An example of a counterculture is the Old Order Amish of Pennsylvania and Ohio, who reject mainstream ideas like technology and consumerism.

Conclusion

This summary provides an overview of subculture, its distinction from dominant culture, examples of subcultures, and the emergence of countercultures. It highlights the importance of understanding different cultural groups within a society.