DIRECTIONS:
Connect the following
sentences from
column A to column B
that will make sense
about Cultural
Relativism.
Cultural relativism refers to not judging a
culture to our own standards of what is right or
wrong, strange or normal.
Instead, we should try to understand cultural
practices of other groups in its own cultural
context.
For example, instead of thinking, “Fried
crickets are disgusting! ” one should instead
ask, “Why do some cultures eat fried
insects?”.
You may learn that fried crickets or grasshoppers
are full of protein and in Mexico, it is famous
Oaxaca regional cuisine and have been eaten for
thousands of years as a healthy food source!
Ruth Benedict (1887–1948) anthropologist
argued that each culture has an internally
consistent pattern of thoughts and actions, which
alone could be the basis for judging the merits and
morality of the culture’s practices
Multiculturalism refers to both the fact of the
existence of a diversity of cultures within one
territory and to a way of conceptualizing and
managing cultural diversity.
Suspending Judgment Of Female Genital
Mutilation
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) refers to the
removal of various parts of the female genitalia.
Women’s dress codes:
Enforced coverings for women has long been a
touchpoint for cultural relativist debates. On the
one hand, western liberals might see the practice
as patriarchal, but they still respect a woman’s
right to participate in their own culture’s modes of
dress.
Hand holding:
Same-sex friends holding hands and walking in
public, though they are not in a romantic
relationship, may be frowned upon in one culture
but okay in the next.
Eating habits:
The eating of animals like horse and dog are
frowned upon in some cultures but accepted in
others. A cultural relativist would defend each
culture’s right to set their own moral rules here.
Diverse marriage arrangements:
Historically, some cultures have embraced
polygamy; while today, same-sex marriage is
increasingly accepted in the west. Cultural
relativism would observe but not judge each
culture’s approach to marriage.
Public Breastfeeding:
Suspending judgment of another culture’s
approach to public breastfeeding is an example of
cultural relativism.
Child Labor:
Whereas developed nations tend to see child labor
as inappropriate, people in developing countries
often see it as a necessity for family survival.
Public nudity:
European nations have been known to accept
public nudity far more than the United States.
Suspending judgment of one another’s cultures’
practices related to nudity would be an example of
cultural relativism.
•
•
Ethnocentrism, as sociologist William
Graham Sumner (1840-1910) described the
term, involves a belief or attitude that one’s
own culture is better than all others (1906).
Sumner mentioned some characteristics of
an Ethnocentric person
1. Have a dominant cultural element which
they see as superior to other cultures;
2. View rigidly their own socio-economic,
political, and cultural elements;
3. See their cultural elements as normal and
acceptable to all;
4. Consider in-group norms can be
universalized;
5. Discard out-group ethnicities and cultures;
6. Believe that other cultures are inferior;
7. Look at other culture’s elements as inferior
and unacceptable
Ethnocentrism can be so strong that when
confronted with all the differences of a new
culture, one may experience disorientation
and frustration.
In sociology, we call this culture shock.
Ethnocentrism is the belief that your culture is
natural and correct while other people’s
cultures are incorrect, unnatural, or inferior.
Ethnocentrism is the belief that your culture is
natural and correct while other people’s
cultures are incorrect, unnatural, or inferior.
On the one hand, ethnocentrism can lead to
negative judgments of the behaviors of groups
or societies. It can also lead to discrimination
against people who are different.
For example, in many countries, religious
minorities (religions that are not the dominant
religion) often face discrimination.
But on the other hand, ethnocentrism can
create loyalty among the same social group or
people in the same society.
For example, during the World Cup or
Olympics, you may tend to root for your own
country and believe that the players or teams
representing your country are much better.
National pride is also part of ethnocentrism.
Judging Other Countries’ Diets
An example of ethnocentrism is when you judge
other countries for the way they eat, but don’t have
a moral reason for this.
Expecting Others To Speak English
Many of us arrogantly believe that everyone
should speak English to us, no matter where we
are in the world.
Judging Women’s Cultural Outfits
Women’s outfits differ significantly across cultures
and societies. And while many of us might say “It’s
a woman’s right to decide what she wears and we
should respect her no matter what”, different
cultures have various views on this!
Thinking You Don’t Have An Accent (And
Everyone Else Does!)
When you grow up only hearing one accent, it
starts to feel like that ‘accent’ is normal and not an
accent at all.
Delegitimizing Others’ Religious Celebrations
Ethnocentrism is also often directed at other
cultures’ religious beliefs.
For example, in 2014, China attempted to crack
down on the celebration of Ramadan in the
Muslim region of Xinjiang.
Delegitimizing Others’ Religious Celebrations
Ethnocentrism is also often directed at other
cultures’ religious beliefs.
For example, in 2014, China attempted to crack
down on the celebration of Ramadan in the
Muslim region of Xinjiang.
Activity: Think
of Filipino
ethnocentric
practices you
have FILIPINO
encountered in
ETHNOCENTRISM
your
community or
life.
1. What did you feel when you
encountered these situations?
How do you think these
FILIPINO
ethnocentric practices can be
ETHNOCENTRISM eliminated from our Filipino
values system?
2. As a student, what plan can you
suggest to prevent the spread of
these observable practices in
your community?
