Final answer:
A group within a society with different norms and values from the dominant group is called a subculture or minority group. Minority groups have distinguishing characteristics and less power, and are sometimes known as subordinate groups. Subcultures and countercultures differ; the latter reject and actively defy the dominant society's norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
A group within a society that shares norms and values that differ significantly from those of the dominant group is often referred to as a subculture or a minority group. These groups are characterized by a specific identification and can be defined by sociologist Louis Wirth as βany group of people who, because of their physical or cultural characteristics, are singled out from the others in the society in which they live for differential and unequal treatment, and who therefore regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination.β Subordinate groups are also related terms, signifying groups that have less power than the dominant group within a society.
Sociologically, a minority group has distinct characteristics that make it a minority, such as unequal treatment and less power over their lives, distinct physical or cultural traits, involuntary membership, awareness of subordination, and a high rate of in-group marriage. These groups could range from racial and ethnic minorities to the LGBTQ community, religious minorities, and people with disabilities. It's essential to differentiate between subcultures and countercultures: while subcultures coexist with the larger society, countercultures actively defy the larger society's norms and values, sometimes forming their own communities with different rules and norms.