Spotlight on Students: Cultural Relativism/Ethnocentrism

The Spotlight on Students series features the work of my students, and this edition focuses on the differences of cultural relativism and ethnocentrism.  Anth 101 students were given a scenario based on a local news article about individuals of the Wicca faith, and they were to discuss the culturally relativistic and ethnocentric reactions to that situation.  I hope you enjoy this example of fantastic student work:

Image Copyright: Robin Day, print available here

Courteney Hedicke, Anth 101

Culture is a widely varying factor in society. The way cultures meet and identify each other, either as equal or inferior, sets the behavior for how the two cultures interact. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism are two terms used to classify different viewpoints. Either term could be used to interpret any culture. One culture that is often judged is witchcraft. The founders of Reno Magick Store are individuals who practice witchcraft rituals from many different cultures. One of their more controversial practices is the blood offerings of small animals, such as rabbits and chickens (Fisher 2014).  This practice viewed in either the lens of ethnocentrism or cultural relativism defines how it is distinguished and connected with by those of another culture.

One way to view cultures is through an ethnocentric lens. Ethnocentrism is defined as “the tendency to view one’s own culture as superior and to apply one’s own cultural values in judging the behavior and beliefs of people raised in other cultures” (Gezan and Kottak 30). Ethnocentrism uses the values of one culture to judge the values in other cultures, effectively comparing the cultures. With an ethnocentric standpoint one’s own culture always ends up as superior to the other culture. Tolerance is not an aspect considered in this viewpoint. An ethnocentric view reinforces the belief that one’s own culture is the only correct culture and can, in the most extreme circumstances, create the persecution of other belief systems. Ethnocentrism can lead to the belief that other cultural practices are morally wrong. In most cases,  however, ethnocentrism leads to pride in one’s cultural values and norms. Ethnocentrism is a viewpoint that creates a hierarchy and judges cultures by how they measure up to standards from one culture.

From an ethnocentric standpoint, these people are killing innocent animals for ceremony, which is considered morally wrong from an American Christian standpoint. In America, most religious practices do not consist of the ceremonial slaughtering of animals for worship. This practice carries with it the connotations of “devil worship” and ritualistic behavior, which in mainstream American society  is considered to be disconcerting.  With an ethnocentric view, of course, the  slaughter of animals for a ritual would be considered a disgusting act with no purpose.

A viewpoint that is distinctly contrasted with ethnocentrism is cultural relativism.Cultural relativism is the belief that “behavior in one culture should not be judged by the standards of another culture” (Gezan and Kottak 30). This idea argues that every culture should be considered equal. No culture  nor any moral or ethical compass is better, or more right, than any other. This belief system, while allowing for more equality, also allows for the complete acceptance of cultural and societal practices that are detrimental to society as a whole. Cultural relativism is a viewpoint that accepts both the positive and negative aspects of a culture no matter the cost to the greater good.

From a culturally relativistic viewpoint, every culture is equal, including witchcraft, despite the ceremonial killing of innocent animals.  One cannot judge this ritualistic practice by the cultural standards most Americans hold.  The blood sacrifice of animals must be considered as valid and morally correct as drinking wine and eating a communion wafer in church on Sunday.  The sacrifice is ameliorated with prayer and the act of killing the animal painlessly. From the standpoint of cultural relativism, ritualistic killings of human beings could also be justified. Cultural relativism is the argument that every culture and its practices, no matter what they may be, are a valid and acceptable behavior.

My standpoint lies between the standpoints of cultural relativism and ethnocentrism. Logically and morally, I believe that all cultures should be accepted, even ones that do not fall within the lines of my culture, but as a vegetarian who would never harm an animal, I find it difficult to condone the behavior practiced at Reno Magick Shop. From my slightly ethnocentric viewpoint I find this practice to be abhorrent and ethically wrong, but from my slightly culturally relativistic point of view I understand that animal sacrifice is normal and accepted in their subculture.

Both ethnocentrism and cultural relativism express valid viewpoints.  The danger is when either view is expressed in an extreme way.  Considering witchcraft in through the lens of both ethnocentrism and cultural relativism provides two contrasting views of the culture. On one side witchcraft is wrong and on the other it is completely valid. Ethnocentrism, a critical viewpoint, and cultural relativism, an accepting viewpoint, are two way to view the differences between cultures.

 

Works Cited

Fisher, G.. "Witches of the West - Arts & Culture - Arts&Culture - November 27, 2014." Reno News & Review. Chico Community Publishing, 27 Nov. 2014. Web.  Accessed 12 Feb. 2015. <http://www.newsreview.com/reno/witches-of-the-west/content?oid=15716407>.

Gezon, Lisa, and Conrad Kottak. Culture. Truckee Meadows Community College ed. New York: McGraw Hill Education, 2014. Print.