According to Alnoor Ladha, 'dominant culture' refers to the overarching set of norms, values, beliefs, practices, and institutions that wield the most power and influence within a given society. This culture shapes societal assumptions about what is considered 'normal' or 'acceptable,' thereby marginalizing alternative or minority cultures. It is perpetuated through various mechanisms such as media, education, and policy, reinforcing the status quo and maintaining the hegemonic structures that benefit those in positions of power. Ladha emphasizes that dominant culture is not static but dynamically shifts to maintain its dominance, often co-opting and assimilating elements of subcultures that pose a threat to its supremacy. This concept is crucial in understanding how systemic inequalities are maintained and how cultural resistance can emerge as a form of reclaiming agency and fostering social change.

See also: native people, social change, capitalist modernity, neoliberal capitalism