WRITTEN REPORT ON CULTURAL RELATIVISM
Prepared by:
DELIZON, CHERRY MAE T.
DIODOCO, ALEAH C.
(BSED-ENGLISH 2)
Today's world is home to millions of distinct civilizations, which are
concentrated all over. Everyone is bound to think that cultures differ from one
another given the number of civilizations in the world. All of them share some
traits with one another despite having some differences. If this is the case,
then do we as humans have the right to label these civilizations as unethical
or merely different from our own? The idea of cultural relativism holds that
other nations' cultural traditions cannot be judged and should be respected.
The way society distinguishes right from wrong within a culture is known as
cultural relativism. Our understanding of what is "good" and "evil" is influenced
by our cultural values. Every culture has equally valid beliefs, and none are
superior to any other.
CULTURAL RELATIVISM:Meanings and Examples
Understanding a culture on its own terms and refraining from passing
judgment based on the norms of one's own culture is known as cultural
relativism. Promoting awareness of cultural traditions that are not generally a
part of one's own culture is the aim of this. When viewing things from the
standpoint of cultural relativism, one comes to the conclusion that no culture
has better moral, legal, or political systems than any other.
The idea that cultural norms and values receive their significance from
a particular social setting. This is likewise predicated on the notion that there
is no unchanging standard of good or evil; hence, every choice and
determination of what is right and wrong in every culture is made on an
individual basis. According to the theory of cultural relativism, everyone's
perspective on ethics is influenced by the culture they are a part of. In
general, there is no ethical system that is right or bad. In a broad sense, the
word "cultural relativism" refers to an approach that seeks to understand
cultural practices that are foreign to other cultures, such as eating insects,
genocides, or genital cutting, in order to combat ethnocentrism.
CATEGORIES OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM
Absolute: Complete acceptance and tolerance for any type of cultural practice.
Critical: Critiquing cultural practices in terms of human rights.
Several tribes that engage in female genital cutting, particularly those in
Africa, exhibit absolute cultural relativism. This operation includes any harm to the
female reproductive/genital organs, including partial or complete removal of the
external female genitalia. Females become regarded women and are then permitted
to get married by enabling this process to take place. Mostly due to culture, religion,
and tradition, FGC is practiced. FGC is viewed as cruel by civilizations outside of its
own, even those like the United States, but they are powerless to stop it from
occurring because of its cultural protection.
(Female Genital Mutilation (FGC) is a cultural practice in Africa. Although it may
seem to be a torture to women based on other country’s perspective, it is anchored
by their culture; it is to be respected.)
The Chinese culture's practice of foot binding is another example of cultural
relativism in action. Foot binding was used to reduce foot size and stop foot growth.
Usually between the ages of four and seven, the procedure started. The toes would
be forced under the foot by wrapping a ten-foot bandage around the foot. It made
the big toe closer to the heel, which made the foot bow2. Little feet were regarded
as attractive in China and a sign of social prestige. "Three-inch golden lotuses," the
women wished for their feet to be. Also, it was the only method to get married. Even
after this practice was outlawed in 1912, women persisted since males only desired
women with little feet. Although the concept of foot binding may appear like torture
to Western cultures, it is a sign of beauty in Chinese culture and has been for
hundreds of years. Every culture has a different conception of what is beautiful.
(Foot Binding is a cultural practice in China. Although it may seem to be a torture to
women based on other country’s perspective, it is anchored by their culture; it is to
be respected.)
