What is a Co-culture?

Co-cultures are akin to subcultures. These are groups of people that develop their own culture within or otherwise concurrently with the dominant one. However, in the context of CCT, “co-culture” specifically refers to those of marginalized and/or minority groups.

The Five Assumptions of CCT

• Power Hierarchies
  • These are built by, protected by, and serve certain groups of people in a society that have greater access and ability to use power and influence than others within that society.
    • Traditionally, these are built and maintained by men. In the U.S., specifically, these are older straight, white men.
• Power is Occupied by the Dominant Group
  • By extension, the second assumption suggests that members of the dominant group will hold more positions of power (and, possibly, for longer periods of time – and maybe less resistance) than those in minority or underrepresented groups.
    • This is why most U.S. leaders are older, straight, white men.
    • Second to that, we’ll see white women.
    • Less likely, we find people that represent other cultures and identities.
• Dominant Groups Exclude Minority Communication
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