What are the drawbacks of the moral relativism theory? As seen by Shylock's speech, ethnocentrism is a powerful force that weakens human relations. These are rights that everyone agrees everyone should have. Shed learned a lot about Spain, but shed also discovered a lot about herself and her own culture. Avoiding the temptation to pass judgment over another culture and putting in effort to understand the culture. What is ethnocentrism and cultural relativism essay? These differences should not be a foundation for fear. How do cultural norms affect our behavior? Does cultural relativism fall under moral relativism? The term was first used by William Graham Summer (1840-1910) as he sought to describe the view that one's cultural heritage is the centre of everything and all other cultures are measured and referenced to it. They are affecting the society in the negative term by either contributing to populism, racism and other evils of the society. Culture shock may appear because people arent always expecting cultural differences. However, critics would argue that the idea that one culture should not impose its values on . Or in fact you could justify being an imperialist, because Western culture has a historical tradition of imperialism and you could simply be acting according to the norms of your own culture---so how can anyone judge you as wrong?Yet I understand where normative cultural relativism comes from; it is an attempt to respond to, and in some sense atone for, the extreme violence and destruction created by colonialism and imperialism. Ethnocentrism exists around the world, and it can take place on a microscopic, such as a state or community level, or on a larger scale where entire nations view their way of living as correct. Cultural relativism is the ability to understand a culture on its own terms and not to make judgments using the standards of one's own culture. Need a custom Essay sample written from scratch by Trying hard and working together, two nonmaterial values, were indeed much more important than winning. IvyPanda. February 18, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/reduction-of-ethnocentrism-and-promotion-of-cultural-relativism/. Many practices have drawn criticism over the years. How is cultural relativism different from individual relativism? The advantages of cultural relativism is that it is a very tolerant view and fits well with how cultures change, since cultures are constantly developing as our world continues to develop. 2.Ethnocentrism in its extreme form gives rise to and supremacist, while cultural relativism allows the propagation of certain practices that basic human rights In . OBJECTIVES, https://www.daytranslations.com/blog/20-traditions-around-the-world/, https://www.storyboardthat.com/storyboards/avery15799/ethnocentrism. Its defenders have ranged over a vast diversity of arguments. Origins and Overview . The LibreTexts libraries arePowered by NICE CXone Expertand are supported by the Department of Education Open Textbook Pilot Project, the UC Davis Office of the Provost, the UC Davis Library, the California State University Affordable Learning Solutions Program, and Merlot. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Summary: 1.Cultural relativism is the positive attitude or concept while ethnocentrism is the negative side. Cite actions that depict ethnocentric attitudes. How are ethical subjectivism and cultural relativism similar? What is an example? student. One example of ethnocentrism is the use of chopsticks in Asian cultures and the use of silverware in the United States. It normally means something quite negative---the tendency to view people of your own culture as inherently superior and people of other cultures as inherently inferior. 1.Image result for Give 5 situations on how cultural relativism mitigates ethnocentrism . It frequently results in hatred and even violence. They ought to be the basis of cooperation. Already a member? (2023, February 18). Latest answer posted June 18, 2019 at 6:25:00 AM. Social scientists strive to treat cultural differences as neither inferior nor superior. Cultural relativism can mitigate ethnocentrism by removing the justification for oppression. Cultural relativism is the belief that the concepts and values of a culture cannot be fully translated into, or fully understood in, other languages; that a specific cultural artifact (e.g., a ritual) has to be understood in terms of the larger symbolic system of which it is a part. What Caitlin hadnt realized was that people depend not only on spoken words but also on subtle cues like gestures and facial expressions, to communicate. Do you feel that feelings of ethnocentricity or xenocentricity are more prevalent in U.S. culture? However, critics would argue that the idea that one culture should not impose its values on another culture is, itself, a form of universalism and has no standing to argue against cultures who believe it is right to impose their values on others. Instruction: Write a 4-paragraph statement regarding why and how the. While ethnocentrism means someone may judge other cultures based on the standards of their own cultures, cultural relativism is the notion that a culture should be understood on its own terms, without . It has no regard for the cultures of another. Another example would be the deforestation of the Amazon Basin as indigenous cultures lose land to timber corporations. "Ethnocentrism" can also be an ambiguous word. And an appreciation for another culture shouldnt preclude individuals from studying it with a critical eye. Cultural relativism tries to counter ethnocentrism by promoting the understanding of cultural practices that are unfamiliar to other cultures such as eating insects, genocides or genital cutting. What is the difference between unitary and federal systems? Clipping is a handy way to collect important slides you want to go back to later. Ethnocentrism is sometimes called cultural ignorance. 1. Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism. Ethnocentric beliefs are often the foundation for many diversity-related [] Be aware of the cultural biases of your own culture recognize that it is not inherently superior. German philosopher and sociologist Heavily influenced branch of symbolic interactionist sociology called phenomenology Responsible for the core concept of social construction. People react to frustration in a new culture, Oberg found, by initially rejecting it and glorifying ones own culture. 3.Ethnocentrism is the belief that your culture is right or the best. Which of the following not describe energy conversation? Cultural relativism refers to not judging a culture to our own standards of what is right or wrong, strange or normal. Despite how much humans have in common, cultural differences are far more prevalent than cultural universals. A competing idea, cultural relativism is the belief that the culture of people serves particular needs and must be looked at in terms of the world the . (The Greek root word xeno, pronounced ZEE-no, means stranger or foreign guest.) An exchange student who goes home after a semester abroad or a sociologist who returns from the field may find it difficult to associate with the values of their own culture after having experienced what they deem a more upright or nobler way of living. ETHNOCENTRISM. Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism. Cultures change. The fundamental belief behind cultural relativism is that all societies are equal in the realm of morality, law and politics. If your professor comes into an early morning class holding a mug of liquid, what do you assume she is drinking? He knew hed never hold his own against these experts. , stems. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. North Americans keep more distance and maintain a larger personal space. Even something as simple as eating and drinking varies greatly from culture to culture. Does cultural anthropology support cultural relativism? What issues or events might inform this? Understanding the causes of ethnocentrism helps to reduce it and therefore promote cultural relativism. In sociology, we call thisculture shock. This cross-cultural relationship provides hope that new opportunities will be discovered, but at the same time it is threatening. Cultural relativism is the principle that an individual persons beliefs and activities should be understood by others in terms of that individuals own culture. But as they experience unanticipated differences from their own culture, their excitement gives way to discomfort and doubts about how to behave appropriately in the new situation. Experiencing new cultures offers an opportunity to practice cultural relativism. Ethnocentrism involves looking at another culture from the perspective of one's own culture, while cultural relativism involves looking at another culture by its own perspective instead of one's own culture. When considering harmful cultural traditions, it can be patronizing to use cultural relativism as an excuse for avoiding debate. "How to Avoid Ethnocentrism Essay on Promoting Cultural Relativism." Cultural relativismis the practice of assessing a culture by its own standards rather than viewing it through the lens of ones own culture. The relativism component comes into play in the sense that there is no right or wrong in a societys interpretation of different life events and components, and that their views must be taken into context based on the society itself. For in-group favoritism, it's simply a matter of how we feel about our own group (we favor them). Despite the fact that cultural relativism promotes the appreciation for cultural differences, it can also be problematic. Exposure to different cultures can help fight the negative attitude as well as stereotyping. An example of ethnocentrism is believing that ones way of traditional dress, such as wearing headscarves and hijabs, is strange or bizarre. Ethnocentrism, in contrast to cultural relativism, is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of ones own culture. By accepting, you agree to the updated privacy policy. Descriptive cultural relativism is basically undeniable . MEASURED OR UNDERSTOOD. Ethnocentrism is considered as the tendency in which . By the end of Caitlins trip, shed made new lifelong friends. One of the things that our imperialist forebears did was judge other people based on their own culture, so if we don't do that, maybe we won't be imperialists! So you are in the end still judging based on your own culture, and you are still faced with the question of why your culture's norms are better than anyone else's. This is ethnocentrism . That is probably ethnocentrism. Cultural relativism on the other hand is the belief that all cultures are equal. We've updated our privacy policy. The way to deal with our own assumptions is not to pretend that they dont exist but rather to acknowledge them, and then use the awareness that we are not neutral to inform our conclusions. What is the difference between cultural ethnocentrism and culture relativism? Exciting as it was, she felt isolated and disconnected. Ethnocentrism in its extreme form gives rise to and supremacist, while cultural relativism allows the propagation of certain practices that basic human rights In terms of sensitivity, ethnocentrism is insensitive to other cultures, while cultural relativism shows high cultural sensitivity. Copyright 2023 - IvyPanda is operated by, How to Avoid Ethnocentrism Essay on Promoting Cultural Relativism, Ethnocentrism and its Effects on Individuals, Societies, and Multinationals, Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism Differences, Intercultural Communication Sensitivity Against Ethnocentrism, Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism: America and Other Countries, Effect of Ethnocentrism on an Individual and Society, The Role of Ethnocentrism in Intercultural Communication, Ethnography: Ethnocentrism Concept Analysis, Relationship Between Ethnocentrism and Intercultural Communication, The Mystery of Chinese Culture: Behind the Walls of White, Efficient Intercultural Interaction and Communication, Concepts of Development of Jewish Culture. Cultural Relativism is not about imposing judgement or assessing the worth of other cultures. Explaining that many Muslims interpret Quran verses about jihad in a psychological rather than militaristic sen. Cultural relativism states "people should not judge the behavior of others. An example of cultural relativism is the perception of aesthetics among different societies. However, it can be used in many more ways than just as an adjective (e.g., the seas are calm). In international relations, cultural relativists . 2. People with different backgrounds can help each other see possibilities that they never thought were there because of limitations, or cultural proscriptions, posed by their own traditions. Understanding Culture Society and Politics. This is one of the worst, most extreme, and most tragic examples of ethnocentrism. For example, instead of thinking, "Fried crickets are disgusting! Ethnocentrism is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own culture. People with different backgrounds can help each other see possibilities that they never thought were there because of limitations, or cultural proscriptions, posed by their own traditions. Answers: 2 on a question: 1. Explained by FAQ Blog. Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism. Ethnocentrism is closely related to such as racism, prejudice, and even xenophobia but does not necessarily involve them. February 18, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/reduction-of-ethnocentrism-and-promotion-of-cultural-relativism/. Log in here. RELATIVISM Ethnocentric people value - this implies that one keeps its culture in the centre and their own culture and judge the other's . In reality, these travelers are guilty ofcultural imperialism, the deliberate imposition of ones own ostensibly advanced cultural values on another culture. , handwashing using soap breaks down the protein structure of the virus that kills them eventually.