Cultural Variations and

Social Differences
(Ethnicity)
Objective
At the end of this lesson, you should be
able to define and discuss different
concepts and issues regarding ethnicity
and ethnic groups in the Philippines.
What is ethnicity?
What is race and how is it related to
ethnicity?
What are the issues regarding ethnicity?
What are the ethnic groups in the
Philippines?
Ethnicity and Race

Every society consists of people

from different families, ethnic groups,
and races. This makes society very
diverse and unique.
Ethnicity
Ethnicity refers to a group of people,
also called the ethnic group, who have
a common or shared culture, language,
history, religion, and tradition.
Here, people are divided into groups
based on different social factors.
Examples: Filipinos, Malays, Anglo-
Saxons, and Muslims.
 Race
Race refers to a group of people that shares the same
physical attributes, such as skin color, height, and facial
features.
People are grouped into different races based on their
physical appearance.
Human beings are classified into three major
races−Caucasoid, Mongoloid, and Negroid.
These classifications are based on the color of the skin,
the shape of the face and eyes, texture of the hair, and
other prominent physical features.
Two people belonging to the same race
may be part of different ethnic groups. For
example, Asians belong to the Mongoloid
race but consists of different ethnic groups
like the Japanese, the Chinese, and the
Malays. They all share the same physical
features but have different cultures, histories,
and languages.
Ethnolinguistic Groups in the Philippines
There are more than 180 ethnic or ethnolinguistic groups in
the Philippines, which are based on the language each
group uses.
There are eight major ethnolinguistic groups in the country:
- Ilokano, - Kapampangan,
- Pangasinense, - Tagalog,
- Bikolano, - Ilonggo,
- Cebuano, and - Waray.

Other smaller ethnolinguistic groups are

the Ibanag, Ivatan, Sambal, Subanon, Maguindanaoan,
and Zamboangueño.
There are also indigenous groups in the
country that may belong to the same
ethnolingguistic groups, but have different
cultures or traditions. Some of them are
the Mangyans of Mindoro, the Igorots of the
Mountain Province, and the Moros of
Mindanao.
 Issues About Race and Ethnicity
Ethnicity and race are categories that divide
people based on their social affinities or
physical similarities. However, differences in
ethnicity and race make some people believe
that one ethnic group is superior than others.
This belief creates discrimination and prejudice
against people from minorities who are
perceived to be of “inferior” ethnicity or race.
There are different types of discrimination against
one’s ethnicity or race.
Racism
Racism is discrimination or prejudice based on
one’s race.
In the 1970s, white Americans (Caucasoids)
discriminated black Americans (Negroids) who
were descendants of immigrants from African
countries.
Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism is discrimination or prejudice based on one’s
culture.
Recently, Muslim extremists discriminate Christians and non-
Muslims in Muslim countries because of their religion.
In the Philippines, Muslims experience prejudice and
discrimination in Christian-dominated regions like Metro Manila.
Because of the ongoing conflict in Mindanao between the
government and Islamic militants, Christians tend to think that
all Muslims are terrorists.
On the other hand, some Christians and ethnic groups are
discriminated and prejudiced against in Muslim-dominated
areas.
Discrimination against one’s race or culture may
cause crimes against it.
Genocide
Genocide is the elimination of a group of people
from the same race, ethnic group, religion, or nation.
It is an extreme action against people from another
ethnicity or race.
The Holocaust during the World War II, executed by
the Nazis of Germany led by Adolf Hitler, killed
millions of Jews all over Europe.
Ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing is the harassment, rape, or
forced migration of an ethnic group to
banish them from a certain area or territory.
This happens in certain areas in Africa.
Explore!
Research about your family. Look into the ethnicity
of your parents as well as your grandparents. Is
there anyone from your family who is part of a
different race or ethnic group? If so, how did your
parents introduce you to the different cultures and
languages of your family?
Try it!
Pick five of your classmates or friends and ask
them about Philippine languages that they know.
Ask them to share a characteristic or practice that
distinguishes their ethnic group from other groups.

What do you think?

In your opinion, what are the advantages and
disadvantages of being ethnocentric?
 Key points
 Ethnicity refers to a group of people, also called the ethnic group, who
have a common culture, language, history, religion, and tradition.
 People from the same ethnic group share a
common culture, language, religion, belief, and tradition.
 There are more than 180 ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines.
 Race refers to a group of people that shares the same physical attributes,
such as skin color, height, and facial features.
 Racism is prejudice or discrimination against people of other races with the
idea that one’s race is superior than others'.
 Ethnocentrism is similar to racism, but it discriminates based on differences
in culture.
 Ethnocentrism and racism may lead to genocide or ethnic cleansing which
are crimes against a specific ethnic group or race.