Ethnocentrism Essay

Ethnocentrism Essay
Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism is the name given to a tendency to interpret or evaluate other cultures in terms of
one's own. This tendency has been, perhaps, more prevalent in modern nations than among
preliterate tribes. The citizens of a large nation, especially in the past, have been less likely to
observe people in another nation or culture than have been members of small tribes who are well
acquainted with the ways of their culturally diverse neighbours. Thus, the American tourist could
report that Londoners drive "on the wrong side of the street" or an Englishman might find some
customs on the Continent "queer" or "boorish," merely because they are different. Members of a
Pueblo tribe in the American Southwest, on the other hand,...show more content...
What is moral in one culture might be immoral or ethically neutral in another. For example, it was
not immoral to kill a baby girl at birth or an aged grandparent who was nonproductive when it was
impossible to obtain enough food for all; or wife lending among the Eskimo might be practiced as a
gesture of hospitality, a way of cementing a friendship and promoting mutual aid in a harsh and
dangerous environment, and thus may acquire the status of a high moral value. The view that
elements of a culture are to be understood and judged in terms of their relationship to the culture as a
whole––a doctrine known as cultural relativism––led to the conclusion that the cultures themselves
could not be evaluated or graded as higher and lower, superior or inferior. If it was unwarranted to
say that patriliny (descent through the male line) was superior or inferior to matriliny (descent
through the female line), if it was unjustified or meaningless to say that monogamy was better or
worse than polygamy, then it was equally unsound or meaningless to say that one culture was higher
or superior to another. A large number of anthropologists subscribed to this view; they argued that
such judgments were subjective and therefore unscientific. It is, of course, true that some values are
imponderable and some criteria are
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

Ethnocentrism Essay
In a world with many different cultures, ethnocentrism is a constant threat to society. When
horrendous acts of racism, sexism , and disability discrimination are constantly the headlines of
multiple news outlets. It is clear that the perils of ethnocentrism are now considered common things
to happen. One example of have ethnocentrism was presented in the past would be in 1904 the Bronx
Zoo had an exhibition containing a person from the Congo of Africa. The Aboriginals in Australia
are also another good example of how ethnocentrism has developed. Lastly in early creation tales
there is a common theme of that men are superior to women. Although ethnocentrism has been
developing over centuries some immediate dangers include a variety of discrimination, and in result
can cause an assortment of violence.
In 1904 The New York Times illustrates what a normal day is like for an african man trapped in
his own exhibit, and how the public reacted to it. Since of the time period the public was
fascinated about the exhibit. The New York Times describes a normal day: " Several thousand
persons took the Subway, the elevated, and surface cars to the New York Zoological Park, inthe
Bronx yesterday, and there watched Ota Benga, the Bushman, who had been put by management on
exhibition there in monkey cages" ( New York Times). Everyone who saw the exhibit they did not
see this man as an equal, if they did he would have not been put in a cage. Ethnocentrism can be
blamed for racist

Ethnocentrism Essay
Are we limited in knowledge, in imagination, and in understanding by the culture we grow up in? In
other words, are we ethnocentric, and if so is it a bad thing? To answer that, one must understand
what ethnocentrism is. According to Macionis (2004), ethnocentrism is "the practice of judging
another culture by the standards of one's own culture".
We are not born with culture; culture is a socially learned behavior, or set of values that a given
groups holds as a norm and are considered to be true and right. It is these cultural norms that connect
the individuals of the group, which make up a society. No society can exist without culture and no
culture can exist without a society (Giddens, Duneier, & Applebaum, 2002). The two are...show more
content...
What is important to know and remember about ethnocentrism is through understanding and coming
to terms with another's culture does not mean you have to agree with it, act upon it, or embrace it.
One must only respect the differing value and acknowledge its existence. This includes all values,
ethical and unethical. For example, understanding some cultures embrace bull fighting which your
culture may find as a cruel way to end the bull's life. Accepting this value as a valid part of their
culture does not preclude or dismiss your belief that it is unethical (Rosaldo, 2000). Allowing and
understanding that these two values can and in fact do exist side–by–side in both cultural norms is
the ability to get past ethnocentrism through cultural relativism.
There are three levels of ethnocentrism: a positive perspective, a negative perspective, and an
extremely negative perspective. This is important to note in terms of the degree that ethnocentrism
can be tolerable. The positive perspective views one culture as being preferential to others while
maintaining respect for other cultures. The negative perspective views one culture as the standard
from which to compare and evaluate all other cultures. And the extreme negative perspective imposes
their cultural values and beliefs on others, insisting they adapt and conform, leaving their cultural
norms behind where they will cease to exist (Manon, 1999). In comparing a show such as the

Ethnocentrism
(Ethnocentrism vs. Cultural Relativism)
As a Sociologist, should we practice Cultural Ethnocentrism or Cultural Relativism?
We must first understand the two distinct theories regarding perception of outside cultures:
Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism. Ethnocentrism is judging another culture solely by the values
and standards of one's own culture.[1] The ethnocentric individual will judge other groups relative to
his or her own particular ethnic group or culture, especially with concern to language, behavior,
customs, and religion – these ethnic distinctions and subdivisions serve to define each ethnicity's
unique cultural identity.[2] The logical alternative to ethnocentrism isCultural relativism, the practice
of judging a...show more content...
We live in a rapidly changing world, which is increasingly bringing people of various cultures in
closer interaction with each other. This interaction can be positive or negative depending on the
level of sensitivity and respect people have for other cultural groups. Negative attitudes towards
other cultures and/or ethnic groups arise out of ethnocentrism, while positive attitudes are the result
of a culturally relativist approach. If people are going to be successful in today's multicultural,
informative society, they will need to develop a culturally sensitive frame of reference and mode of
operation.
Some of the pros/strengths that Cultural relativism presents are listed below: 1. It encourages
respect and tolerance for all cultures and societies. 2. By extension, it advocates for equality among
and between cultures 3. It encourages a sense of unity within a culture by maintaining that all are
bound by the same rules. 4. It warns us against assuming that all of our own cultural practices are
based on some "absolute rational standard". 5. It stresses the benefits of keeping an open mind and
not rushing to judgment.
Cultural relativism suggests that whatever any culture does is acceptable and we must positively
judge other cultures' practices–it is "right" for them. Who am I to judge differently? Cultural
relativism arises out of a concern not to impose our cultural values on other cultures. The problem
with believing that all values are

Ethnocentrism Essay
Dr. Wayne Dyer once stated that "the ultimate ignorance is the rejection of something you know
nothing about." This ignorance has been found in humanity time and time again, and has been the
root of unparalleled devastation. The rejection of other cultures is a troubling trait that has persisted
throughout the ages, and must be put to a stop. Mankind's biggest flaw is its belief that one culture is
superior to another, thus practicing ethnocentrism, which leads to conflict.
As mentioned above, ethnocentrism is the instance of one culture believing they are superior to
another. This false sense of superiority has been the beginning of discrimination across the ages.
In the short story "By Any Other Name" ethnocentrism is demonstrated clearly when an English
teacher moves an Indian girl to the back of the room "because Indians cheat" (Rama Rau 2). This
woman discriminated against a little girl whom she had just met solely because she believed that
the girl's culture was inferior to her own. This arrogance can often lead to the victim feeling as if
their culture is undesirable, and they often feel compelled to conform to the so called "superior"
culture. Likewise in a letter written by the caring father of a young boy, the father claims that his
Native American boy is being bullied relentlessly by the majority of his Kindergarten classmates on
account of his heritage and culture. The forced assimilation was quickly taken note of by his father,
and he soon spoke out against it.

Essay about Ethnocentrism
Webster's dictionary defines ethnocentrism as "The tendency to evaluate other groups according to
the values and standards of one's own ethnic group, especially with the conviction that one's own
ethnic group is superior to the other groups." When first reading this definition, one would naturally
agree that ethnocentrism does exist in our world and society, often confusing it with patriotism.
However, many do not realize that ethnocentrism is, has been, and continues to be a leading cause
for violence in America. Different ethnic groups such as African Americans andNative Americans
have suffered through years of violent crimes against them because of the white man's ethnocentric
views of themselves when compared with other races and...show more content...
Throughout the history of our great nation, over and over again, the white man has bullied the
Native Americans. They have ultimately been pushed off land that originally belonged to them and
been allotted meager portions of land to live on which the government (run by the white man) has
felt that they have little use for (reservations). Looking passed the fact that the Native Americans
have been stripped of their land, these feelings of white Ethnocentrism throughout America's history
has also caused great violence against the Native Americans, massacring them time and time again
and diminishing their population to only a minute percentage of what it once was. For example, in
the final defeat of the American Indian in 1890, known as the Massacre at Wounded Knee, nearly
300 Lakota men, women, and children – old and young – were massacred in a highly charged,
violent encounter with U.S. soldiers because the soldiers incorrectly perceived a ritual ghost dance
as a war dance. Native American corpses of men, women, and children laid still and lifeless in the
dirt on that cold December night all due to the ethnocentric beliefs of the white man.
The Native Americans only cover chapter 1 of white supremacy and ethnocentrism as a means of
breeding violence in America throughout its history. When the Native American's did not work as
slaves for the white settlers because of their lack

Ethnocentrism Essay

Empfohlen

Empfohlen

Weitere ähnliche Inhalte

Mehr von Best Online Paper Writing Service

Mehr von Best Online Paper Writing Service (20)

Kürzlich hochgeladen

Kürzlich hochgeladen (20)

Ethnocentrism Essay