We explain what cultural minorities are, their characteristics and examples, and also the problems they face and the laws that protect them.
What Are Cultural Minorities?
Cultural minorities are groups of people who have a cultural identity distinct from the majority in a given society. These groups can be differentiated by various factors, such as language, religion, customs, traditions, or beliefs.
Cultural minorities often face problems such as discrimination, forced assimilation, or the loss of their cultural identity, and they seek to preserve and promote their culture within a majority society. You must read about Greek Mythology once.
The term “minority” does not necessarily refer to the numerical size of a cultural group, but rather to its subordinate position vis-à-vis another dominant group, whether due to its cultural, economic, or political influence. Therefore, a cultural group may be numerically larger than other groups in society but be considered a cultural minority because it lives in a subordinate position vis-à-vis a dominant cultural group.
Currently, there are various international regulations aimed at protecting cultural minorities in different countries around the world, such as the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005). Furthermore, several national constitutions recognize the specific rights of minorities and promote the preservation and development of their cultures. Maybe you should definitely read about Greek Culture once.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Characteristics of Cultural Minorities
Cultural minorities have different characteristics that can vary depending on the specific context in which they are found. In general, the following characteristics can be highlighted:
- Cultural identity: Cultural minorities maintain a cultural identity distinct from the majority culture in the region or country they inhabit. This identity may include languages or dialects, traditions, religious beliefs, and other social practices.
- Territorial relationship: Cultural minorities sometimes have a connection to a specific region or territory, which may be of historical, spiritual, or economic importance to their culture.
- Language: Cultural minorities may speak a language or dialect different from the dominant language in the country where they live.
- Customs: Cultural minorities maintain traditional cultural practices, festivals, and ways of life that are often passed down from generation to generation.
- History: The cultural and social identity of cultural minorities is often linked to a shared history and a specific origin. This may include historical experiences of displacement, colonization, or resistance.
- Social structure: Cultural minorities may have forms of social organization distinct from those prevalent in the dominant majority, including unique forms of leadership, kinship, and social norms.
- Resistance: Minorities often fight for the recognition and preservation of their cultural rights, including the right to maintain their traditions and languages, and to receive protection from forced assimilation or discrimination.
Examples of Cultural Minorities
There are thousands of groups around the world that are considered cultural minorities in the territories they inhabit. Among them are:
- Nahua in Mexico: These are the people descended from the ancient Aztecs who inhabited Mexico before the arrival of the Spanish. They retain their Nahuatl language and some ancestral customs, despite the predominance of mestizo and Western culture.
- Garifuna in Central America: These are an ethnic group that inhabits different parts of Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. Their culture is a product of contact between Africans, Carib aboriginals, and Arawaks.
- Sinti and Roma in Europe: These groups, also known as “Gypsies,” have a culture distinct from the majorities in the regions they inhabit. They speak the Romani language of Indo-European origin and have their own traditions. They often face discrimination and marginalization in several European countries. San in southern Africa: This is an indigenous group that inhabits different regions in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Its members are also known as “Bushmen.” They maintain a way of life based on hunting and gathering.
- Ainu in Japan: This is a cultural minority that lives in northern Japan. Their culture and language are distinct from the Japanese majority, and they have historically faced marginalization and various efforts at cultural assimilation.
- Quechua in Peru: This is an indigenous group that lives primarily in the Andean region of Peru, as well as parts of Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia. Its members retain their Quechua language and maintain many traditional customs, despite the influence of mestizo and Western culture in the region.
- Hmong in the United States: This is a community of Asian origin that immigrated to the United States after the Vietnam War. Its members retain their language, customs, and cultural practices, adapting to their new Western environment.
Problems of Cultural Minorities
Cultural minorities can live in social contexts of acceptance, tolerance, and respect. However, they often face problems of discrimination and racism, which manifest themselves in prejudice and unequal treatment.
In some situations, discrimination leads to cultural minorities facing structural problems of economic inequality. This limits their access to resources and jobs. These types of systematic barriers and lack of political representation also play a crucial role, as they can result in a lack of voice in decisions that affect their communities and in policies that do not address their specific needs.
On the other hand, cultural minorities may face direct violence related to their identity. In some cases, the majority culture attempts to impose forced assimilation, in which the cultural minority is pressured to abandon their traditions.
Cultural Minority Activism
Throughout history, different cultural minorities in different parts of the world have organized to protect their rights and cultural identities. Currently, movements for the rights of cultural minorities seek to highlight the injustices and inequalities they face, such as discrimination and the loss of cultural identity.
Often, these movements self-organize and promote awareness-raising campaigns to raise awareness of their specific issues. They also seek to influence local policies and legislation to achieve recognition of their rights or prevent social practices that threaten their cultural identity.
On the other hand, many organizations work to preserve and promote their cultural heritage. This may include the revitalization of languages that have fallen into disuse, the celebration of traditional festivals, and education about their customs and traditions. In this way, they seek to ensure that new generations continue to value and maintain their unique cultural practices.
Legislation on Cultural Minorities
At the international level, there are several laws and agreements that seek to protect the rights of cultural minorities. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) guarantees the fundamental rights of all people, including freedom of expression and protection against discrimination.
In 1992, the United Nations (UN) signed the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992). This declaration aims to create tools to guarantee minorities the right to express their cultural, religious, and linguistic identity and ensure their equal participation in public and political life.
In addition, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007) recognizes specific rights to preserve the culture, language, and traditions of indigenous peoples. It also seeks to promote their participation in public life and respect for their cultural identities.
In Latin America, there is also international legislation that advocates for the protection of cultural minorities. International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (1989), ratified by several Latin American countries, establishes rights for indigenous peoples, including respect for their culture and traditions.
The national constitutions of countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia, among others, recognize and guarantee cultural rights for minorities, promoting their identity and participation in political and social life.
References
All the information we offer is supported by authoritative and up-to-date bibliographic sources, ensuring reliable content in line with our editorial principles.
- Barfield, T. (Ed.) (2001). Mediated minorities; Nation, nationalism. Dictionary of anthropology. Bellaterra.
- Campo Aráuz, A. L. (Ed.) (2008). Assimilation; Minority groups. Basic dictionary of anthropology. Ediciones Abya-Yala.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024). Minority. Encyclopedia Britannica.
