The
following post features exemplary work from one of my SA 202: Introduction
to Anthropology students. For this assignment on cultural
relativism & ethnocentrism they were tasked with a hypothetical
situation involving bathroom hygiene. Please acknowledge the hard work by letting her know how well she did and how much you enjoy her work. :)
By: Tricia Timpe
Military
personnel are being deployed worldwide. A friend of [mine] just returned from
deployment in the Middle East (location unknown), and he is telling everyone
about his “adventures”. He [begins] talking about “the locals” who shared the
base with him and he disgustingly exclaims, “They were disgusting! There were
toilets, but they never used them properly! Instead they squatted over the
toilet and pooped everywhere! They never used toilet paper. It was disgusting!” My friend’s views were based on his cultural expectations,
thus his negative view of how another group uses the restroom. This paper will address the following: defining
ethnocentrism and viewing the situation with an ethnocentric interpretation,
defining cultural relativism and viewing the situation with a culturally
relativistic interpretation, and reflecting upon both interpretations of the
situation and discussion of my own thoughts and reactions to the article’s
content while identifying my own ethnocentric and cultural relativistic
reactions to the events.
Ethnocentrism
is “the attitude that other societies’ customs and ideas can be judged in the
context of one’s own culture”. (Anthropology, 2011). This mindset is evidenced in my friend’s
claim, “There were toilets, but they never used them properly! Instead they
squatted over the toilet and pooped everywhere!
They never used toilet paper.” He
obviously expected that the locals would do what he had been taught when using
the bathroom. If they used the toilet
like that, he would not want to associate with them due to their uncivilized
bathroom habits.
Cultural
relativism is “the attitude that a society’s customs and ideas should be viewed
within the context of that society’s problems and opportunities”. (Anthropology,
2011). From the local’s perspective, the
area is not as highly sanitized as in the West and diseases like dysentery can
be more easily spread via infected feces.
(National Health Service, 2015).
The local population refrains from using toilet paper because it will
“block up the plumbing system”. (Thumb,
2010). They instead use their hands to
guide a stream of water to their behinds for rinsing. (Toilet Hygiene in Bangladesh). Thus, the locals squat over the toilet to
minimize their chances of contracting fecal-borne diseases and use water for
rinsing to prevent clogging the drain pipes.
Ethnocentrism
and cultural relativism are differing viewpoints of the situation. Ethnocentrism is judging a culture from your
personal viewpoint. Culture relativism
sees the situation from the locals’ viewpoint.
When my friend first told me about the experience, I was initially
shocked but then inquisitive as to why the locals used the bathroom that
particular way. After reading Thumb
(2010) and doing research, I began seeing the situation from the other
viewpoint. I now believe that my friend
experienced culture shock due to not being aware of the norms of using the
restroom where he was deployed. Had he
known of the local population’s manner of using the toilet before he was
deployed, he would not have suffered such a culture shock and developed a
negative view.
The
bathroom etiquette varies widely from one culture to another. Ethnocentrism has a damaging effect on
personal outlooks and can impair a person’s judgement of a particular
subject. In contrast, cultural
relativism strives to comprehend why a culture will perform a task like
bathroom etiquette a certain way. It is
my personal belief that my friend quickly judged the locals and their bathroom
etiquette before he was aware of the reasons they used the bathroom in that
manner. Had he been informed of bathroom
etiquette before deployment, he would not have experienced such a culture
shock.
References:
Dysentery. (2015).
National Health Service. Retrieved
from http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Dysentery/Pages/Introduction.aspx.
Ember, C. R.,
Ember, M., and Peregrine, P. E. (2011).
Anthropology. Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice Hall.
Thumb, T. (2010).
The Left Hand Toilet Technique and Spitting – Most of the World Does
It. Retrieved from http://www.roadjunky.com/1585/the-left-hand-toilet-technique-and-spitting-world-hygiene/.
Toilet Hygiene in
Bangladesh. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sciencetoymaker.org/bangladesh/toiletHygene.htm.
50 comments:
Aaliyah Caldwell
This article is interesting and you learn a lot from so little, everyone doesn't use the bathroom the same and there's reasons behind it. The fact they squat instead of sitting to prevent from catching anything and they use water instead of tissue.
this past semester I have learned a lot about being culturally aware. honestly I cant say I wouldn't have been shocked but I sure would have wanted to know why they didn't use the bathroom the way I was taught. I too believe that if he was educated on the bathroom practices of that particular country then it would not have been such a shock or viewed as disgusting. I cant speak for him but I would have adapted to their practices quickly if it was preventing me from catching diseases or clogging their sewer lines.
I was kind of shocked at his explanation at first to when I read this article but after I read what you researched it would make since that he assumed those thing I don’t use public toilets because you never know who used them before you I would almost prefer squatting but I’m happy we don’t use water instead of toilet paper I think but I don’t judge them for their preference of course.
I kinda knew that the military used the restroom different, because of family that was in the military and would come home and tell all the different things they do.
I learned a lot from reading this article and it made me more understanding toward different cultures and thier beliefs. Before reading this article I would think that anyone who didn't use tissue was disgusting , but after reading this article I have a better understanding of why certain cultures decide not to use tissue.
-Brandon Hall
I never believe that some people experienced culture shock due to not being aware of using water in the restroom instead of toilet paper.
The article clears it up I guess because, just reading the first paragraph. I thought that it was just poop all over the toilet and where you stand and that the people was just okay with that. Yet its not that bad I mean at least the article made it seem least nasty. Not saying the use of a hand is not nasty but its not bad as it seems
I was very shocked when I started reading this article that they used the restroom the way they do which shows me just how easy it is for ethnocentrism to happen. But as I continued reading it made sense to me why they use it like that.
I had to learn that you can never judge someone because of how they go about things. Your friend, should have first asked questions to really know why that squatting and not using toliet tissue was not apart of their culture. As I continued reading it all made sense to why it's a way of using the restroom.
at first it seemed that other people were just unsanitary but then I realized that there can many different ways to do things and that our way might seem the same in others perspective
Ethnocentrism is not morally right in my point of view but at the end of the day, we all have ethnocentric moments in our lives whether we recognize it or not. Yes cultural relativism is understanding why people do the things they do but sometimes we have to just understand our differences. I don't feel we always need to conform because I stand strong on certain ways that I'm used to but other I'm open to try something new.
After learning how the Middle East bathroom etiquette differed from Americans I realized that their form use the restroom gets the job done just as good :)
This article was very interesting to read. Most people don't think about the different way things are done around the world. I can understand why the military friend was so confused and disgusted at first because it was a completely new experience for him. However, I would like to think that I would have taken the time to understand why they use the bathroom differently and that they felt that it was actually more sanitary than using toilet paper which would clog their sewer lines. - Shannon
I was thinking the same thing as the military personnel until I continued to read the article. I do think it's disgusting however I won't judge because they are not as fortunate as others and have a high risk of catching diseases just by sitting on a toilet because it's very unsanitary and they don't use tissue because they can't afford to clog pipes.
This is a very interesting article. Although people may judge other cultures and how they live they live but they may not agree with certain things we believe in. Yes , it is nasty how they use the bathroom and if they don't whip themselves then I'm pretty sure they don't wash their hands , so I don't feel bad about (her friend) not wanting to talk to them but still respect them because they are human , just keep your distance due to grams and diseases. - Jacquelyn Starks
We have to realize that there are alot of people in the world that might do things different. that doesnt make them weird or nasty, its just their ethnocentric outlook is different then what you might be used to.
After reading this article, I was shocked to learn that other cultures use the restroom differently than what is taught in the US. After also reading the article, I learned that you shouldn't judge a culture beliefs and traditions just because their different from your culture beliefs and traditions. As I go into my profession of social work, I will now know that when I am presented with clients of middle eastern descent before meeting with them to make sure that if they need to use the restroom that it will be properly equipped for their traditions of bathroom etiquette. -Brianne Pickett
After reading the article I have a better understanding of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. It just gave me more insight on how people in general view their own surrounding such as culture as well as how they view things foreign to them.
- Arthur Holloway
People really should get a better understanding of another's culture as to why they do the things they do.
This is a prime example of cross culture. While he was foreign in the mid-east his customs seemed crazy to them just as theirs did to him. But neither were technically out of the norm.
this article made me realize that even though the vast majority follow one thing, it doesn't necessarily means that its the right thing to do. although im not saying wiping the defecation out of your body with your hand is the right thing to do either, it enlightens us on the harms of following the majority.
This is another topic that i feel like we really studied in depth and i found it jaw dropping as to how someone could put down someone else based on the differences hey do until i realized that i can also be guilty of it in the slightest way as well.
This article is good because it shows someone put in a different scene and how they would react as the person looking outside of a different culture.
Reading this reminds me about the paper we were assigned to write about with the foreigner slurping her food loudly and the other people not knowing her culture beliefs. So your friend didn't know they way they believed in using the restroom.
Ashley Jacobson
Ethnocentrism way of thinking can create difficulties when dealing with people from other countries. Yet everyone does it, it's natural. Whether you do it consciously or by accident, it happens. It's acceptable to think that your country is best but it's wrong to judge others for being different.
Shila, as discussed in class, ethnocentrism is perfectly normal and natural. As an aspiring lawyer I hope that you recognize that and the importance of what you said here regarding judging others. You will find yourself in those situations and will have to make some very important decisions for both yourself and your clients.
"The local population refrains from using toilet paper because it will “block up the plumbing system”. This has to be one of the dumbest things I've ever read in my life. There is no reason you shouldn't want to use tissue after you poop.
Monique, if you read through the post you will see that there are legitimate reasons why people do not use toilet paper. Reasons include not wanting to clog the pipes, not having access to toilet paper (due to cost or general access), etc. So what you may find dumb is actually very smart given the environmental and cultural circumstances that lead to it not being used. :)
After reading the article I have a better understanding of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism.
Tiffany Heavens
- This is very much a cultural shock but I believe if he was aware of the locals restroom difference he would have been quick to judge and may not have wanted to go anymore. This is a great way for you to appreciate America that we do not have to worry about these type of issues. I found this very interesting and believe that this should and would humble any individual that is placed in another country.
This post is all about cultural relativism. It opened my eyes up and let me know that everybody aren't the same and they wasn't raised the same. Even though people do things different from other don't mean that they are doing it wrong, maybe that's the way they was taught how to do it. This kinda go with the saying "Never judge a book by it's cover."
You really gain a better understanding of cultural relativism and ethnocentrism in this article. Weird to think that we might look at other countries restrooms as weird or gross, but others might think the same about ours.
To me, these practices this woman's friend is revolted at is actually pretty gross to me, too, however, after reading the whole thing through, I've come to better understand why they practice this, and it makes me feel a tad better about the whole situation. It just goes to show that when you take a few minutes of your time to better understand why people do the things they do, and, for the most part, they usually have a pretty good reason. It's troublesome, to be certain, but actually putting in a small effort in order to better understand these situations, and it pays off because where there's misunderstanding, conflict follows.
I agree on how it is disgusting to use the bathroom wherever but at the same time we don't understand their culture and how they do things so we can't really say nothing. I would be disgusted but have to get used to it if that is where I was put for a period of time.
Kenneth Granger
This was my favorite topic in Anthropology. Understanding ones culture is crucial to our understanding of the world.
Amber Barnes
I know that over in Japan a lot of their toilets are built in the ground. You also have to keep in mind how to squat and there is even a video online that shows the proper way to use the restroom.
Based on the article and previous conversations I have noticed how common it is for military men and women to go through cultural shock. My family members would tell me the different things they experienced over seas and how unusual it was for them. A better understanding of the culture the military men and women are about to be exposed to would be beatifically before deployment.
I wonder if anthropologist that actually travel and put themselves into the culture that they are studying think of the term "Ethnocentrism". They are exposed to a lot of different things when they are away and based off of some of the films watched in class it is obvious that most of these cultures live completely different than us. this term is a good thing to keep in mind when exploring different places.
-Apreshana Page
What stuck out to me was the restroom part because that is unusual. My thoughts about other cultures have really opened up because before this class I did not have this much knowledge about other cultures. But this was one of the best articles I have read yet!
- Anthony Townsend
This blog made me realize it is all about cultural relativism. In fact , what makes it so cool is that everyone is different and was raised up different as well which is fine that's why it is so unique.
I feel like there's a difference between being open minded, and just doing things to improve ones quality of health. It is extremely unsanitary to have waste on the toilet and not to wipe. That is just a proven fact of science. I don't feel like that makes person an ethnocentric because they point out the unhealthy choices of another culture, just the way other countries do with America.
After reading this blog i think that People across the world should get a understanding of others and there culture like how over here in America we use toiletries and we think that is the most saintairy way to go about using the restroom. But , however those in other countries may think it is unsanitary the way we go about using the bathroom and vice versa we should just learn a little more about things like this before judging or calling it nasty . - Mykia Chaney
This blog is especially interesting because it compares one culture to another. The toilet for example, squatting over and causing a huge mess seems ridiculous and even nasty, but to them, it is saving them from the risk of a disease. Every person is raised a little different and we will not fully understand their thought process until we take the time to understand. I also feel it is important for people who might be looking foe specific answers form specific culture, be open to what they might find out. Even if your beliefs and rituals are different, does not mean they are the only way to do things.
Kahla Perry
While I enjoyed reading this post on the different cultural hygiene practices. I still find it odd that the norm of the bathroom is to be unsanitary. I know of many cultures who do not use toilet paper but instead have toilets where the water shoots out and cleans their bottom. I feel like this would be much more effective and would even help crack down of the spread of diseases through feces.
To put waste on the toilet and leaving it there is different from what I'm use to but people do things differently in their culture. What we may so maybe perceived unsusual for someone else..
Being in an anthropology course really has opened my mind to not only new information about different cultures , but as well as different terms used in cultures. When knowing about ethnocentrism I have to agree that a lot of people are a lot more judgemental now a days to how things should go , now know cultures have different norms. It’s amazing to me the people that can actually be open minded to different foods and or norms.beinf culturally relativistic makes you a very open minded person and as stated they are more intrigued to know the culture . I think I am a little of both .. I can see myself only going so far . I liked this topic in class.
-Jazlyn Logan
if people actually took the time to understand someones culture, then they would understand why they do some of the things that they do. but i will admit that leaving waste in the toilet is weird.
-Kyla Thomas
I seen something like this at a school in Oklahoma, I went to use the public restrooms at the football game and in the men's restrooms there was one urinal that extended 10 feet so all the males could use that one at the game. I didn't like that, I left the restroom and waited until we left the game. I later learned that they use to go to the bathroom like that a long time ago because it was to save water supply and bills. They never updated the restrooms so I judged as soon as I saw it but then it was normal to walk into a restroom as pee next to a man without separation between you too.
-Christopher McFadden
The Spotlight on Students: Cultural Relativism & Ethnocentrism, was a little hard for me to read. I say this because in the blog it stated that some people weren't using the toilets properly. They would squat and poop everywhere. That is very disturbing to me, but I had to realize that certain cultures don't use the toilets or have toilets. That's why it's very important to be thankful for what you do have. Also, it's important to learn more about different cultures, so when you run into experiences like that you won't be shocked. You will know how to deal with things of that nature. I was also surprised by how some people didn't use toilet paper. I do know in certain parts of Africa they would use leaves to wipe themselves.
AJ Moore
I had never realized that bathroom habits could be judges using ethnocentrism. As in other posts I have read, I've realized that using cultural relativism is important on aspects that I've never thought of before such as if someone squats over the toilet and gets fecal matter everywhere.
Elaine christopher
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