Spotlight on Students: Cultural Relativism vs. Ethnocentrism

This post highlights the work required of my SA 202: Introduction to Anthropology students.  Students were given the opportunity to explore a different culture through two lenses, cultural relativism and ethnocentrism, and through this exercise learn about themselves and the other culture. Several students were given the opportunity to have their exemplary work featured on the blog, and the students who provided permission have their work featured here in this and the following blog posts.   Please show your appreciation for their work through the comments.

 

 

By: McKenzie Williams

 

Typically, when presented with a situation we automatically have an opinion and do not take the time to think about other people, their culture, their beliefs, or how what we do or say can affect them. There are two types of views regarding culture: cultural relativism and ethnocentrism. People usually take the ethnocentric approach instead of the cultural relativistic approach because it is their first reaction to a situation. Instead, people should take the time to assess the situation and think of the values and practices of other cultures. In this essay I will discuss the two approaches associated with cultural anthropology. 

The original view of most people have upon encountering a new culture is ethnocentrism, which according to the book Anthropology: Asking Questions About Human Origins, Diversity, and Culture is “the assumption that one’s own way of doing things is correct, while dismissing other people’s practices or views as wrong or ignorant” (Fuentes, Vivanco and Welsch 531). The other point of view is cultural relativism, which is “the moral and intellectual principle that one should withhold judgement about seemingly strange or exotic beliefs and practices” (Fuentes, Vivanco and Welsch 530). We can see both points of view at play in a scenario wherein Helga sent birthday invitations to all of her friends.  Two of her friends, Jessie and Riley, each read the invitation and had two different reactions to the invitation’s content. In the situation presented, Jessie took the ethnocentric approach and Riley took the cultural relativistic approach.

From an ethnocentric interpretation of the situation, Jessie read Helga’s request to not be told happy birthday until her actual birthday and choose to ignore it. Being this ethnocentric person, Jessie said that she would tell Helga happy birthday the next time that she saw her because she thinks Helga is superstitious and the whole situation is crazy and dumb. Like an ethnocentric person Jessie dismissed Helga’s cultural practices and considered them ignorant. Jessie did not take the time out of her day to think about how this action would make Helga feel or if this action would bring bad luck to her. Jessie did not think of how her intended action would affect her if she were in Helga’s position. She was so caught up in her own practices to try to access the situation from another point of view.

Riley approached the situation with a culturally relativistic interpretation.  Riley considered Helga’s request and decided to honor her wish to tell Helga happy birthday on her actual birthday.  She also took it upon herself to convince Jessie to do the same. Whether Riley agreed with Helga’s request or not she chose not judge her for her choice and thought about how she would want someone to treat her had it been her in the situation. She also used different scenarios to help Jessie realize that she was a hypocrite. She helped Jessie realize that no one judged her or her beliefs, and by doing this, Riley may have stopped Jessie from ruining Helga’s birthday.  In addition, she helped Jessie understand that it is okay to look at situations from a different cultural perspective.

After assessing both interpretations of the situation, I understand that people have different cultural views, but in this situation I think that there is only one correct view. I could honestly say that I would have taken the culturally relativistic approach. I would want my friends to take my cultural beliefs and feelings into account, especially if I already told them my wishes ahead of time. I think that Jessie is wrong in this situation, and I believe she would be upset if someone judged her for her superstitious beliefs if the situation was flipped. On the other hand, Riley chose not to judge Helga and also teach a lesson that hopefully Jessie can take into consideration next time a cultural situation is presented.  I understand that people have different opinions about cultural beliefs, but I do not think some thoughts should be expressed out loud. Had I been Helga’s friend in this situation I would have honored her wish to not be told happy birthday until the appropriate date out of respect for her and her cultural practices.

In conclusion this situation goes to show there are two ways to think of a cultural situation. People’s cultural views change depending on the situation and possibly the individual’s upbringing. Some people are able to think of other’s feelings or how they would want someone to act if their positions were switched, while others will be hypocrites and judge someone else for their cultural beliefs. Although it is okay to have our own opinions on a situation, we need to be able to see both sides of a situation before acting or saying things. We never know how what we do or say can affect someone or what damage it can do to any type of relationship.

 

Works Cited

Fuentes, Agustin, Luis A. Vivanco, and Robert L. Welsch. Anthropology: Asking Questions About Human Origins, Diversity, and Culture (1st ed., pg. 530, 531). Oxford University Press, 2017. 23 January 2022.

 

 

 

 

Spotlight on Students: Cultural Relativism vs. Ethnocentrism

This post highlights the work required of my SA 202: Introduction to Anthropology students.  Students were given the opportunity to explore a different culture through two lenses, cultural relativism and ethnocentrism, and through this exercise learn about themselves and the other culture. Several students were given the opportunity to have their exemplary work featured on the blog, and the students who provided permission have their work featured here in this and the following blog posts.   Please show your appreciation for their work through the comments.

 

By: Lindsey Kluesner

 

            Cultural relativism and ethnocentrism are two different ways of viewing another person’s culture. Cultural relativism is defined in Anthropology Asking Questions About Human Origins, Diversity, and Culture as “The moral and intellectual principle that one should withhold judgment about seemingly strange or exotic beliefs and practices” (Fuentes et al. 12). In other words, cultural relativism is showing empathy or understanding towards cultures and ways of life that differ from your own. On the other hand, ethnocentrism is defined in Anthropology Asking Questions About Human Origins, Diversity, and Culture as “The assumption that one’s own way of doing things is correct, while dismissing other people’s practices or views as wrong or ignorant” (Fuentes et al. 11). More simply put, ethnocentrism is quite the opposite of cultural relativism and takes more of a close-minded approach when viewing another’s culture. Throughout this paper, both views will be used to provide an example for a culturally sensitive scenario involving Helga, Jessie, and Riley.

In the scenario, Helga, who is German, hands out invitations for her birthday party but attaches a note explaining that it is bad luck for her to receive birthday wishes prior to her actual birthday. She kindly asks that people respect her wishes. I happen to overhear a conversation between Jessie and Riley. Jessie begins to share a rather ethnocentric point of view in regards to Helga’s wishes, while Riley takes a culturally relativistic approach to try and explain things to Jessie.

            Following the ethnocentric view of Jessie, it is easy to see how an opposing view would come about, whether it is right or wrong. Jessie is unfamiliar with German culture, and she most likely did not take time to consider her own superstitions before speaking. To her the notion of bad luck coming from wishing a happy birthday early sounds silly because her background is not rooted in this belief. Many people do not take time to consider others or think before they speak, just as Jessie did. Thus, we end up with ethnocentric views on cultures everywhere. Many times ethnocentric views can result in conflict because a person of one culture disrespects a person of another culture. In this scenario, Jessie was planning to cause conflict by wishing Helga a happy birthday early. Luckily, Riley stepped up and offered her culturally relativistic view.

            This approach provides insight and offers similarities between Helga’s German superstition and common American superstitions. Riley was empathetic in her view towards Helga’s wishes, and bold enough to speak up and share it with Jessie. By showing Jessie similarities between her and Helga’s cultures, Riley was hopefully able to change her mind on how she treated Helga. Riley took time to consider that not everyone grew up with the same views and ideas, but recognized how even though Helga’s superstition was foreign to them, they had their own set of superstitions that could be viewed as crazy too.

            Given the situation, my initial reaction was that I had never heard of Helga’s superstition, so it was strange to me. However, I would never purposely go out of my way to disrespect another’s wishes or beliefs as Jessie initially intended to. Knowing how outspoken I can be, I probably would have had a similar reaction to Riley’s. I often find myself pointing out opposing points of views to people who react close-mindedly. Generally, I would say my initial reaction to most cultural differences is more ethnocentric because I do tend to form my impression based on my own culture. However, I am empathetic by nature and proceed in a more culturally relativistic way by being more understanding than judgmental.

            After analyzing this scenario from both perspectives, it is easy to see why a culturally relativist approach is the best, as opposed to an ethnocentric approach. After all, we are all just human. Everyone is different, even within the same culture. It is better and more respectful to always just be kind. Compare the similarities between two cultures, or at least respect the differences. After all, there will always be differences, and choosing kindness over ignorance is the purest form of respect to another culture. 

 

 

                                                            Works Cited

Welsch, Robert Louis, et al. “Anthropology Asking Questions About Humanity.” Anthropology: Asking Questions about Human Origins, Diversity, and Culture, Oxford University Press, New York, 2017, pp. 11–12. 

 

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By: Tyler Schaefer

            In these next few paragraphs we will be comparing the views of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism in a hypothetical scenario of three friends.  In this scenario one person is presenting an aspect of their culture and two other friends each react based upon how they view the cultural differences.  First however we must understand what ethnocentrism and cultural relativism mean.  Ethnocentrism is “assuming our way of doing things is correct, while simply dismissing other people’s assumptions as wrong or ignorant.” (Welsch et al. 11-12).  In contrast, cultural relativism is “the moral and intellectual principle that one should withhold judgement about seemingly strange or exotic beliefs and practices.” (Welsch et al. 12).  Now that we know their meaning, we can look at the scenario of three friends from either perspective.

            Helga a German student had sent out letters for people to come to her birthday party, but asked if no one would tell her happy birthday until the real day.  Jessie then goes on to rant about how crazy Germans are, and decides that she is going to tell Helga happy birthday no matter what she asked.  Jessie’s comment about how Germans are crazy shows that she has ethnocentric stand point.  Someone looking at this from an ethnocentric view would more than likely side with Jessie in this situation, rather than Riley.  This is because both that person and Jessie assume that how they act and behave is the best way, while ignoring Helga’s request to not wish her happy birthday yet.  The third friend Riley however, points out that Jessie has her own beliefs that are similar to superstitions.  Jessie, even though she had her own beliefs, was unwilling to accept or at least respect Helga’s beliefs.

            Someone that would be looking at this situation from a culturally relativistic stand point would take the side of Riley.  This is because that person would see the letter and accept it or not disregard it just because the views are different or strange to you.  Riley sees the letter and respects Helga’s request to not wish her happy birthday, but then had to stop Jessie and try to explain to her that she should respect Helga’s request.  Jessie though, probably would not have changed her mind about telling Helga if Riley would not have made her realize that even she has her own strange beliefs.  Hopefully someone that has a culturally relativistic view of this situation, or any other situation, would help to correct anyone that would have an ethnocentric view of things.

            When looking at both points of view it seems, to me at least, that the correct way to look at this situation is through a culturally relativistic view.  I believe that it’s the best way because it shows the most reverence to that culture as possible, and it’s also just very rude to ignore other people’s ideas, beliefs, or even if it’s just something they asked you to do.  My personal reaction if someone said this to me would probably be similar to Riley’s reaction, meaning that I would take the cultural relativism stance in this scenario.  I found this scenario to be a learning experience because even though I come from a pretty heavy German background, I had never heard of that birthday superstition until now.  However there is a German tradition that my family does every Christmas that some people I have told haven’t heard of.  On Christmas morning the parents hide a pickle ornament in the tree and then the first kid to go and find the pickle hidden in the tree gets to open presents first.  You would think though that in modern day with the rise of the internet and world travel, more people would have seen or at least be more aware of the cultural differences in other countries.

 

Work Cited

Welsch, Robert et al. Anthropology: Asking Questions about Human Origins, Diversity, and        Culture. New York: Oxford University Press, 2017. Print.