SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Understanding Culture,
Society and Politics
Quarter 4 - Week 5
Ways to Address Local, National, and
Global Inequalities

Learning Task Mode of

Competencies Delivery
By the end of this Do the following activities: Have the
module, you are 1. EXPLORE parent hand-in
expected to: 2. DEEPEN the output to
3. GAUGE the assigned
Suggest ways to area.
address social
inequalities (local,
national and global)

1
 Target
Social inequality is referred to as the existence of uneven
opportunities and rewards for a diverse social positions or statuses
within a group or society. It occurs when resources in a given society
are distributed unevenly, generally through norms of allocation, that
bring about specific patterns along lines of socially defined categories
of persons. In terms of unequal distribution of income or wealth,
economic inequality is the frequently studied type of social inequality.
Other than economic resources, social and natural resources are
also unevenly distributed in most societies, thus, may contribute to
social status. Other factors that may be affected by the norms of
allocation are the distribution of rights and privileges, social power,
transportation, adequate housing, access to public goods and
services such as education or the judicial system, credit and financial
services such as banking and other social goods or services.
In your previous lesson, you are already looked into government
programs and initiatives in addressing social inequalities. The
government is employing different programs such as tax and benefits
systems and promulgates law that can mitigate the effect of social
inequalities like the IPRA law.
This learner material will provide you with information and
activities that will help you better understand local, national and
global social inequalities as well as suggestions on how to address
social inequality.
After going through this learner material, you are expected to
suggest ways to address local, national, and global social inequalities.
Specifically, you are expected to:
a) identify the local, national and global inequalities;

2
 b) cite ways on how to solve these local, national, and global
inequalities.

Discover

As inspired by Karl Marx’s analysis in the rise of

industrialization, he defined social inequality as the difference in the
distribution of social desirables such as wealth, power, and prestige.
It also refers to the unequal opportunities of individuals based on
their social status.
Social Inequality includes:

1. Access to social, political, and symbolic capital

• Political inequality
• The distance between masses and the decision makers, the
more layers of authority and the decision, the greater the
political inequality.
• Symbolic Capital
• Refers to the resources available to a group or individual on
the basis of honor, prestige, recognition, and serves as the
value that holds within a culture.

2. Gender Inequality
• In some countries, women are paid relatively lower than men
due to their sexuality and biological differences.
• The LGBT community has always been treated indifferently
and discriminatively because they do not fall within a
biologically gender group.

3. Ethnic Minorities
• Because some minorities live traditionalistic lives far away
from the city and technology, and some may appear
differently than usual, they have been consistently labeled

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 and treated as people with minimal knowledge and
capabilities.

4. Other Minorities
• This may include people with disabilities or people with
religions that are less prevalent in society.
• Persons with Disability (PWD) are those who have long-term
physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which
in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full
effective participation in society on an equal basis with
others.

Minority groups are composed of less-dominant classifications in

society that experience disproportionately lower opportunities than
their dominant counterparts.

5. Global inequality
•Relationship between states and non-state actors in the
global community
•Actors are entities that participate in or promote
international relations.
•Two types of actors involved in international relations:
o State actor is the institution implementing the
functions of the government.
o Non-State actor is an individual or organization that
has powerful economic, political, and social power.

Comparison of State and Non-state Actors

Characteristics State Actors Non-State Actors
Type/Form of Civilian/Military/ Typically no
Government Dictatorship government
Mechanisms of Not defined/ no
Interaction Ambassadors/ specific
with other Diplomats organizational
countries hierarchy
Implemented War/conflict Terrorism/insurgency
in Crisis

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 China, North Islamic.
Examples Korea, fundamentalists
India groups

• As powerful individuals or groups, the non-state actor has

the capability to influence decision-making in any national,
or even international, concern. The state recognizes the
value of non-state actors in the achievement and
implementation of goals in the national and global
community.
• Global Stratification is a relevant concept involved in global
inequality. It is the unequal distribution of social gaps
across nations that are usually seen on the ratio between
number of deaths versus number of live births per capita as
well as life expectancy.

Addressing Global Inequalities

Because global inequalities are at the macro-level, it is also
emphasized that they are focused on the same way.
Below are methods by which global inequalities may be
addressed:
• Ownership of properties and inclusiveness of the lower
class.
• Inclusive partnership across nations that focus on
technological advancements and innovations.
• Revise taxation plans, ensuring lower taxes for poorer
people.
• Monitoring and stopping labor abuse through higher
wages, less work hours, bonuses, health benefits, and
non-contractualization.

6. International inequality
• Refers to the idea of inequality between countries.
This can be compared to global inequality between
people across countries.
• This may refer to economic as well as medical care
and education differences between countries

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 Analyzing Social Inequalities
The existence of minority groups in functionalist and conflict
societies are also embedded in each type of society’s principles.
• In a functionalist society, minorities also play social
roles that contribute to social balance and
equilibrium. However, these roles are bound by
limitations and social norms.
• In conflict societies, minority groups are seen as
lower-class individuals that will not be able to keep up
with the consistent competition occurring within the
environment.
• In both societies, discrimination against minorities is
possible. Inequality among minority groups is greatly
driven by global inequalities significantly coming from
the influence of richer, more influential countries.

Activity 1: List down three famous personalities who excel in

their field of specialization. From your list, analyze their
situations and answer the questions below.

WOMEN
WHO EXPERTISE

TRANSGENDER/TRANSEXUAL
WHO EXPERTISE

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Process Questions:
1. Do you agree that men and women should be treated the same
way? Explain your answer.

2. Do you think men and women today have equal opportunities in

our society? Why or why not?

Deepen
Activity 2: Stop Look Listen. Brows social media platforms like
Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and list down 3 topics or
issues that has something to do with complaints about
injustices or inequalities.
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________

Processing Questions:
1. What group of people is complaining?
2. Why do you think these people are bringing their complaints
over social media platforms?
3. Why do you think such complaints are happening in our
society?
4. Is there some ways on how you can help eradicate these
problems? How?

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 Gauge
Directions: Carefully read each item. Write only the letter of the
correct answer.

1. It refers to the resources available to a group of individual on the

basis of honor, prestige, recognition, and serves as the value that
holds within a culture.
A. non-state actor C. state actor
B. gender inequalities D. symbolic capital

2. The distance between masses and the decision makers, the more
layers of authority and the decision, the greater the
_______________.
A. gender inequality C. political inequality
B. cultural inequality D. social inequality

3. It is referred to as minorities living traditionalistic lives far away

from the city and technology and may appear differently than
usual.
A. ethnic minorities C. other minorities
B. LGBT D. PWDs

4. It is a relevant concept involved in global inequality described as

the unequal distribution of social gaps across nations.
A. global inequality C. social stratification
B. global stratification D. social inequality

5. It refers to the idea of inequality between countries.

A. global inequality C. social stratification
B. global stratification D. social inequality

6. It is referred to as the institution implementing the functions of

the government.

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 A. non-state actor C. state actor
B. symbolic capital D. society

7. It is referred to as an individual or organization that has powerful

economic, political, and social power.
A. non-state actor C. state actor
B. symbolic capital D. society

8. It manifests relationship between states and non-state actors in

the global community
A. global inequality C. social inequality
B. global stratification D. society

9. They are always treated indifferently and discriminately because

they do not fall within a biologically gender group.
A. ethnic minorities C. PWD’s
B. LGBT D. other minorities

10. These are groups composed of less dominant classifications in

the society that experience disproportionately lower opportunities
than their dominant counterparts.
A. ethnic minorities C. PWD’s
B. LGBT D. other minorities

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 SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Understanding Culture,
Society and Politics
Quarter 4 - Week 6
Human Adaptation on New Challenges in the
Physical, Social and Cultural Environment

Learning Task Mode of

Competencies Delivery
By the end of this Do the following activities: Have the
module, you are 1. EXPLORE parent hand-in
expected to: • Activity 1 the output to
• Activity 2 the assigned
Examine human 2. GAUGE area.
responses to
emerging challenges
in contemporary
societies

1
 Target

Change is the only permanent in this world as they say,

do you agree with this? If yes, what are your coping
mechanisms with these changes? How will these changes
affect you as an individual? or the society as a whole?
These changes in our society brought a great challenge to
humanity. However, humans are generally adaptive to
changes in the environment. If people perceive relevant
changes in the environment they are in, they readily adapt
their behavior to meet these new challenges for their own
benefit. Even in the past, humans modify their behaviors to
suit themselves in the new conditions where they are.
In your previous lesson, you have learned the about social
inequalities, the existence of uneven opportunities and
rewards for a diverse social positions. You have learned the
ways on how to manage these inequalities.
This learning material consists of discussions and
activities that will help you understand how human societies
should adapt to new challenges in the physical, social and
cultural environment.

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. identify the new challenges to human adaptation and social
change;
2. explain the effect of global warming, climate change and
transmigration of families and values;
3. examine human responses to emerging challenges in
contemporary societies.

2
 Discover

A change or the process of change by which an organism or

species becomes better suited to its environment is called adaptation.
This also refers to the action or process of adapting or being adapted
or the process of changing to suit different conditions. Adaptations
enhance the fitness and survival of everyone.
Adaptation is not always easy and not something simple. An
individual or organism must be physically fit and viable at all stages
of its development evolution to be able to survive. All of organisms or
even human should possess adaptation traits and these may be:

A) Structural adaptations are physical features of an organism

such as shape, body covering, armament; and even the
internal organization (e.g. a penguin has blubbered to protect
itself from freezing temperatures).
B) Behavioral adaptations are composed of inherited behavior
chains and/or the ability to learn (e.g. bears hibernate in
winter to escape the cold temperature and preserve energy).
C) Physiological adaptations permit the organism to perform
special functions like venom (in the snakes and the like),
secreting slime, phototropism; and more general functions
such as growth and development, temperature regulation
and ionic balance. This means that adaptation is making
adjustment to decisions and activities in order to manage
risks and capture potential opportunities brought about by
any changes in the environment such as global warming and
climate change.
Humans like any other organisms and animals try to act more
cautious if changes in their environment are perceived to have a
dangerous impact on their welfare. They may try to work on new
ways to meet own goals more effectively. This action is called
behavioral adaptation, risk compensation or risk homeostasis, or
rebound effect. Behavioral adaptation is defined as the things
organisms do to survive. Unlike other adaptations, these are not
always heritable but are learned. An example of this is the difference
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 between populations of animals that live in the wild and those that
live among humans. Wild birds tend to be scared of people, but birds
that live in urban areas are often less fearful of people and they even
see people as source of food.
The ability of humans to be able to rapidly adapt to varying
environment conditions and changes has made it possible for them
to survive in any regions or places anywhere in the world. They can
normally adapt to environment changes in several ways such as:
A) Genetic change is an inherited or acquired modification in
organisms that makes them better suited to survive and a
particular environment. For instance, people whose
ancestors have lived in areas that had endemic, malaria for
thousands of years often inherit some degree of immunity to
this serious disease.
B) Developmental adjustments. One of the more powerful
types of adjustments to environmental stresses is a change
in growth patterns and development. This occurs in
childhood and typically results in anatomical and/or
physiological changes that are mostly irreversible in
adulthood. An example of the latter was the now illegal
custom in China of tightly wrapping or binding the feet of
young girls with cloth in order to hinder normal growth. While
this caused permanent, crippling deformities of the foot
bones, it also resulted in extremely tiny feet which were
considered to be very attractive. Parents crippled their
daughters with good intentions. Small feet would make them
more attractive marriage partners for rich important men and
save them from a life of drudgery.
C) Acclimatization and cultural practices. All other forms of
adjustment to environmental stresses are usually reversible
whether they occur in childhood or adulthood. These
reversible changes are referred to as acclimatization or
acclamatory adjustment. It is useful to consider the different
forms of acclimatization in terms of the length of time over
which they can occur. An example of a long term
acclimatization is people who lose excess body fat and are
very slender as a result of mild, long- term
undernourishment. If they later increase their diet to a

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 consistent level of excessive calories, they will very likely
retain more body fat and eventually become obese.
D) Use of technology. Humans do not only interact with their
environments biologically. People invented technological aids
that allowed us to occupy new environments without having
to first evolve biological adaptations to them. Houses,
clothing, and fire permitted us to live in temperate and,
ultimately, arctic regions despite the fact we still essentially
have the bodies of tropical animals. Human made technology
eliminates the biological adaptive advantages of particular
individuals or groups. People wo have thicker layers of fat
insulation under their skin still usually survive better in cold
climates, while people who are slender do better in hot ones.

Adaptation to Global Warming and Climate Change

Adaptation to global warming and climate change will be
needed, but it will not be as simple as it seems to be. Global
warming is still unsolved issue. There are different programs
implemented to avoid global warming and climate change. These
actions seek to lessen the vulnerability of all social and biological
systems to the current and immediate issue of climate change. But,
in reality is, even if emissions are stabilized relatively soon, global
warming and its effects will definitely still last many years from now.
And as human population will increase in number and more people
are living in highly arranged societies, there is a greater impact of
global warming, the more difficult adaptation will be.
Adaptation councils or committees have been formed to
oversee the various way people can adapt to the changing
environment in some countries. Each councils and committees have
duties to ensure that private parties should be responsible for
managing risks to private assets and incomes, while government
entities, on behalf of the community should be responsible primarily
for managing risks to public schools and assets including the
natural environment and to government service delivery, and for
creating an institutional, market and regulatory environment that
support and promotes private adaptation.
Mitigation is another term for adaptation to climate change
which is defined as technological change and substitution that

5
 reduces resource inputs and emissions per unit of output. Several
ways of mitigation include the following:
A) Using efficient energy generation technology.
B) Using more efficient energy end user technology.
C) Replacing fossil fuels with none or low carbon emitting
energy generating technology such as renewable energy
sources or nuclear energy.
D) Adopting a more sustainable natural resource
management.
E) Harvesting or extraction technologies and practice.

Adaptation is a broader one than mitigation because

adaptation requires a good understanding of the natural
environment and the ongoing effects of climate change within and
needs a thorough earth and environment observation.

Transnational Migration and Overseas Filipino Workers

People on earth are also facing adaptation challenges borne
by the need for mobility. Life has been moving so fast and people as
well as changing residences as rapidly.
The process of geographic mobility or the change of
residence of a person from one community to another with the
intention of settling temporarily or permanently is migration. The
movement is often over long distances and from one country to
another, or it can be within the immediate community. Migration
can also be done by individuals, family units or in larger groups.
There are three types of mobility or migration namely:
A) International Migration is the permanent transfer of
residence from one country to another. It is the change of
residence over national boundaries. An international
migrant is someone who moves to a different country.
International migrants can be further classified as legal
immigrants, illegal immigrants and refugee. Legal
immigrants are those who moved with the legal
permission of the receiver nation. Illegal immigrants are
those who moved without legal permission, and refugees
are those crossed an international boundary to escape
persecution.

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 B) Internal Migration is a change in residence within a
country and refers to a change of residence within
national boundaries, such as between states, provinces,
cities, or municipalities. An internal migrant is someone
who moves to a different administrative territory.
C) Circulation Migration is a temporary movement of a
person. The change in residence is temporary due to work
or study, but the migrant will definitely return in his
home community.

Migration is not a one-way street. There are reasons why

people transfer from one residence to another because they just
want to. Sometimes, people relocate to other places or countries in
the hope of finding a greener pasture. Some move from an insecure
land to a securer region or from places without employment
opportunities to areas which are hoped to offer better economic,
political, cultural, and social prospects. Some people move to places
even if they do not want t, given the chance, but because they need
to.
A new form of migration is termed as transnational
migration. These are the people who having migrated from one
nation-state to another live their lives across borders, participating
simultaneously in social relations that embed them in more than
one nation-state are called transnational migrants. Not all migrants
can be considered as transnational migrants, and not all who take
part in transnational practices do so all the time. Most migrants are
occasional transnational activists. They more focused on their
countries of origin while at others they are more involved in their
countries of reception.
Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is a person of Filipino origin
who works and lives outside the country. This term applies to
Filipinos who are abroad indefinitely as citizens or as permanent
residents of a different country and to those Filipino citizens who
are abroad for a limited, definite period as workers or as students.
What are the effects on family of migrants? Work migration
is increasing globally. Children of migrant workers have grown up
not knowing both of their parents and have experienced long term
absence of parents which is the reason why there is very little
affection between them. Many family relationships are broken as

7
 one parent emigrates which causes a larger proportion of children
growing up with divorced or separated parents.
Some families experiencing these effects on family of
migrants want to avoid getting into this situation; some Filipinos do
not have much choice because of very limited job opportunities in
the country. Filipinos believe that they and their family will have a
bigger chance of having a better future if they work abroad. To keep
in touch with their family, OFW can use video chat, Facebook,
Messenger, Instagram, Twitter, and the like to keep in touch with
their family.

Explore
Enrichment Activity 1:
Diamond Picture Collage. Draw pictures that show the effects of
climate change. Give a simple one to
two-lines descriptions for each image.

Criteria 10 15 15
Content Drawing helps Drawing helps Drawing helps
explain the a few explain majority of explain all the
details of the the details of the details of the
content. content content
Clarity Drawing is illegible Drawing is legible Drawing is clearly
and and details are in and details is legible, and details
Size small size. visible hence some are large and clear
details are vague. enough.
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 Neatness Mistakes/Erasures Mistakes/Erasures Mistakes/Erasures
of the drawing are of the drawing is of the drawing is
untidily done. neat but small dirt neat, and colors
are seen. are nearly done/
Total – 40 Points

Enrichment Activity 2:
Take A Note. Answer the following questions briefly.

1. What are the different ways on how humans can adapt to

climate change?
2. What are the adaptation challenges faced by people borne
by the need for mobility? How will they respond to these
challenges?

Criteria 5 10 15
The answer
talks about
The answer
what is
directly talks
The answer is not being asked in
each item about what is
connected to what
Content being asked in
is being asked in hence there are
information each item all
each item.
included that information is
are necessary.
unnecessary.
The answer The answer
The answer
provided gives provided gives
Clarity provided does not clear and exact
some clear
give clear points. points.
points.
Output is written Output is Output is
illegibly and has written legibly written legibly
Neatness
a lot of erasures. but with few and has no
erasures. erasure.
Total – 30 Points

9
 Gauge

Assessment 1:
Multiple Choice. Read very carefully the questions below and
choose the letter that corresponds to your answer.

1. The process of change by which an organism or species becomes

better suited to its environment
A. Adaptation
B. Climate change
C. Migration
D. Mitigation
2. Adaptive traits can be:
A. Behavioral, structural, and physiological
B. Cultural, structural, and physiological
C. Physiological, cultural, and behavioral
D. Structural, cultural, and behavioral
3. A technological change and substitution that reduces resource
inputs and emissions per unit of output.
A. Adaptation
B. Climate change
C. Migration
D. Mitigation

4. The process of geographic mobility or the change of residence of a

person from one community to another with the intention of setting
temporarily or permanently.
A. Migration
B. Mobilization
C. Transnationalism
D. Urbanization

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 5. This kind of migration exists when a person is moved against his
will such as slaves, or when the move is initiated because of external
factors like natural disaster or civil war.
A. Circulatory migration
B. Force Migration
C. Internal Migration
D. International Migration

6. All of the following are example of mitigation, EXCEPT: A. Using a

more efficient energy generation technology.
B. Using more efficient energy end user technology.
C. Conducting local or regional assessment of sensitivity to
environmental impacts.
D. Replacing fossil fuels with none or low carbon emitting
energy.

7. Those persons who having migrated from one nation-state to

another live their lives across borders, participating simultaneously
in social relations that embed them in more than one nation-state.
A. Illegal Migrants
B. Legal Migrants
C. Refugees
D. Transnational Migrants

8. Those people who moved with the legal permission of the receiver
nation.
A. Adaptation
B. Climate change
C. Migration
D. Mitigation

9. This refers to a change of residence within national boundaries

such as between states, provinces, cities, or municipalities.
A. Circulatory migration
B. Force Migration
C. Internal Migration
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 D. International Migration

10. Persons who moves to a different administrative territory.

A. Illegal Migrants
B. Legal Migrants
C. Internal Migrants
D. Refugees

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