Spotlight on Students: Cultural Relativism & Ethnocentrism Assignment

The following post features exemplary work from one of my Anth 101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology students.  For this assignment on cultural relativism & ethnocentrism students were tasked with analyzing these viewpoints on a real life situation that occurred in Quebec, Canada. Please acknowledge this student's hard work by letting her know how well she did and how much you enjoy her work.  :)

Source: Google Images

By: Kayley Phillips

In any society, forms of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism will exist. No matter the country, it is ultimately up to the individual to decide how he or she will form opinions on different cultures. Everyone, at some point in their life, will experience ethnocentrism, though it can be overcome with knowledge and understanding. In this article, we will be faced with two opposing views on the hijab, a traditional head scarf worn by Muslim women. I will analyze each woman's views on the hijab, whether ethnocentric or cultural relativistic, in the courtroom.

Ethnocentrism can be defined as a way of ignorance. This stems from the belief that the only correct way of doing or viewing specific tasks is how ones own culture does it with no regard as to how another culture might view or do things. Ethnocentrism strictly emphasizes the fact that any other view, besides one's own, is not only silly, but completely wrong (Welsch and Vivanco 11).

In comparison, cultural relativism is the exact opposite. Heavily emphasized, anthropologists have introduced this idea of acceptance, which is a principle based on the notion that one should be open-minded when learning about a new culture. Being open-minded allows one to neglect judgment when viewing new cultural practices and beliefs. Not only moral, this practice implies intellectual insight as to how to properly go about learning new cultural beliefs (Welsch and Vivanco 12).

Putting this into perspective, a Canadian judge is being criticized for the way she handled a specific court case. Quebec judge Eliana Marengo told a Muslim woman that she refused to hear her case until she removed her hijab. Marengo could be heard telling Rania El-Alloul that the courtroom is a secular place, claiming that she is not properly dressed. Judge Marengo continues on saying that one cannot wear things like hats or sunglasses inside a courtroom, so head scarves should not be allowed either (Rukavina par. 2).

Although every human being is brought up with some degree of ethnocentrism, as we are all prideful of our own culture, too much leads to ignorance. Judge Marengo displayed this view rather bluntly. Upon seeing El-Alloul in her courtroom, she immediately began to define the rules and regulations of the Quebec court. While the rules state one must be dressed suitably, it makes no indication towards religious head coverings. After reading her the rules, she then informed El-Alloul that she either remove her hijab or apply for a postponement so she can consult a lawyer (Rukavina par. 8). What judge Marengo failed to do was hear her case and instead chose to focus her attention to a head scarf that had no significant value to her case. Perhaps this strong viewpoint came from Marengo's own ethnocentrism or maybe she was just trying to uphold the courtroom rules.

Another way judge Marengo could and should have gone about this is through a cultural relativistic perspective. Instead of focusing her attention to a head scarf, she should have taken the time to view her hijab as culturally significant. Most people around the world know or have at least seen a hijab being worn and have some idea that it is religiously significant. Given that Marengo is a judge, I would fully expect her to understand that El-Alloul is wearing a hijab as a faithful Muslim woman. El-Alloul, when asked why she was wearing a scarf on her head, replied that she was a Muslim woman (Rukavina par. 7). Worn for modesty, many Muslim women wear the hijab all around the world and have for many years. Wearing the hijab as a Muslim woman signifies the act of faith many women make to Islamic religion. Although the Quebec court rules do state that one must be suitably dressed in order to be heard in court, El-Alloul is, by her standards, suitably dressed. While the courts may or may not make exceptions to religious clothing, the underlying issue is that Judge Marengo is seen as ignorant and inconsiderate when addressing El-Alloul in her courtroom.

Upon reading this article, I could not help but understand each woman's side of the story. Both views, cultural relativistic and ethnocentric, plays a large role in the outcome. Judge Marengo wanted to keep the sanctity of the courtroom, upholding its values and beliefs but El-Alloul was just following her religious beliefs as a Muslim woman.

My first reaction was shock, which quickly shifted to clarity and understanding. Though Judge Marengo was just trying to uphold the Quebec courtroom rules, she did not go about it in a friendly or intelligent matter. My reaction to El-Alloul having to explain her hijab was shock too. I was surprised in today's world that a Muslim woman would have to defend herself for wearing a culturally appropriate head scarf. I thought the fact that the judge called for an immediate postponement to her case if she did not remove her hijab was asinine. For any person to be that ignorant makes me wonder if she still has a job. Whether directly or indirectly, religious culture has no place in a courtroom.

Works Cited:

Rukavina, Steve. "Quebec Judge Wouldn't Hear Case of Woman Wearing Hijab." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 2015. Web. 16 Feb.

Welsch, Robert Louis, and Luis Antonio Vivanco.  Cultural Anthropology Asking Questions about Humanity. New York: Oxford UP, 2015. Print.b. 2016.