Cultural Relativism and Ethnocentrism PDF

Cultural Relativism and Ethnocentrism OBJECTIVES: 1. Describe your own culture and compare it to the culture of others. 2. Determine the difference between ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. 3. Shows the ill effects of ethnocentrism; and 4. Become aware why and how cultural relativism mit...

Cultural Relativism and Ethnocentrism OBJECTIVES: 1. Describe your own culture and compare it to the culture of others. 2. Determine the difference between ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. 3. Shows the ill effects of ethnocentrism; and 4. Become aware why and how cultural relativism mitigates ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism -a belief that one’s own culture is better than others. -compare, evaluate, and even judge other people’s ways based on the values and standards set in one’s own culture. -It is the practice of judging another culture by the standards of one’s own culture. -In anthropology, it is also called ethnic bias or cultural bias. *What is the effect of ethnocentric beliefs? Ethnocentrism Example: For instance, Pedro is an ethnocentric from the Philippines; he considers others' beliefs and practices to be savage or corrupt, or he is often confused by other people's cultures. Very often, people that are ethnocentric don't know they are using their culture to judge another's. The culture of an ethnocentric person is considered the 'normal' way that things are done, just as Pedro believes. Cultural Relativism -a belief that cultures are equally complex. There is no such thing as superior or inferior culture. It is a way of viewing the beliefs, values, and practices of a culture from its own viewpoint. -refers to the practice of assessing a culture by its own standards rather than viewing it through the lens of one’s own culture. -We use our appreciation, acknowledgement, understanding and credit. Cultural Relativism -The main goal of cultural relativism is cultural equality. *What is the importance of cultural relativism? -Space for verification and validation of beliefs, traditions and prcatices. -Evaluation of morality and ethical soundness of cultural practices. -Ability to see the holistic point of view of the culture Kilman (2017) Cultural Relativism Example: For instance, Pepay is a cultural relativist from the Philippines; she prefers to look at other cultures in terms of what their practices bring to them. She believes that if a tribe paints their faces for religious ceremonies, there must be a good reason why they do that. Is there a practical reason for it, or is it symbolic? If symbolic, where do the symbols come from? These questions allow a closer examination of the practices of others than ethnocentrism. This doesn't imply that a relativist, like Casey, doesn't have strong beliefs of her own. Rather, other cultures are simply not judged with reference to one's own culture. Thank You! References: Learners Packet Module (Understanding Culture, Society and Politics)