entirely free or consciously willed by us. At times this can be a national problem, such as when a society finally realizes that implicit in its culture is a form of racism, which requires both legislation and education to rectify. Most cultures tend to discriminate against certain groups and believers, and this too many be covert. Thus, there is global movement to rectify such bias toward women, gays, and ethnic or racial minorities, as well as any outsider or foreigner.
Micro- or Subculture
Within a larger society, group ,or nation sharing a common majority or macroculture, there may be sub grouping of people possessing characteristic traits that distinguish them from the others. These sub-cultures may be described in group classification by age, class, gender, race, or some other entity that differentiates this micro- from the macroculture, Youth, or more specifically teenagers, share certain cultural traits, as do other ethnic groups. there are many macrocultures, such as white- or blue- collar workers, police or the military, college students or the drug culture. Within a particular religious culture, there may be many sects or subcultures. As with any profession or vocational field that also has unique cultures, there are differing specialties and focus that are subcultures of the main group. Academia has a general culture and many subdivisions by discipline of study or specialization. The application of this concept is endless.
Universals and Diversity
The paradox of culture is the commonalties that exist in the midst of its diffusion or even confusion. There are generalizations that may be made about all cultures that are referred to as universals: age-grading, body adornments, calendar, courtship, divisions of labor, education, ethics, food taboos, incest and inheritance rules, language, marriage, mourning, mythology, numerals, penal sanctions, property rights, supernatural beliefs, status differentiation, toolmaking and trade, visiting, weaning, etc. Thus, certain activities occur across cultures, but their manifestation may be unique in a particular society. And that brings us to the opposite concept of cultural diversity. Some form of sports or humor or music may be common to all peoples, but the way in which it is accomplished is distinctive in various cultural groupings.
Rational/Irrational/Nonrational Behavior
There are many definitions of culture. Consider it as, historically created designs for living that may be rational, and nonrational, Rational behavior in a culture is based on what that group considers reasonable for achieving its goals. Irrational behavior deviates from the accepted norms of a society and may result from an individual's deep frustration in trying to satisfy needs; it would appear to be done without reason and possibility largely as an emotional response. Nonrational behavior is neither based on reason, nor against reasonable expectations---it is dictated by one's own culture or subculture. A great deal of behavior is of this type, and we may be biased or prejudiced from the perspective of those outside our cultural group. How often and when to take a bath frequently is a cultural dictate, just as what food constitutes breakfast. What is national is one culture may be irrational in another, and vice versa.