Ethnocentrism Vs Cultural Relativism PDF

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How does cultural relativism differ from ethnocentrism essay?
Simply put, ethnocentrism is defined as “judging other groups from the perspective of one's own cultural point of view.” Cultural relativism, on the other hand, is defined as “the view that all beliefs are equally valid and that tru...

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Cultural Relativism over Ethnocentricism According to Michael Carrithers, the central problem of Anthropology is the diversity of human life. In how humans interact, communicate and form relationships with other people. To what extent do all humans, cultures or societies have something in common, and how much are they unique? How can this central problem be resolved? There are two ways of seeing and judging one’s culture; Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism. The Ethnocentrism came from the word’s “ethnos” which means people and “centrism” which means center or middle. It is evaluating other people from one’s own vantage-point and describing them in one’s own terms. That one’s own ethnos, including one’s cultural values, is literally placed at the center. With this kind of thinking, other people would necessarily appear as inferior to oneself. For example, as a member of a certain ethnic group, we sometimes look at other groups and still think that ours is better. Being proud and loyal to one’s own ethnic group is alright, but this might lead to being ethnic-centered and bias to other groups. While, cultural relativism refers to not judging a culture to our own standards of what is right or wrong, strange or normal. Instead, we should try to understand cultural practices of other groups in its own cultural context. Having define the two, I would say and agree that Cultural Relativism strengthens our culture, society, and political. Being ethnocentric can lead to negative judgements against the culture of the people that surrounds you. It may also lead to discrimination as to religion, race, sex, and the like of others. Although I can also agree that being ethnocentric makes its member of the culture or society a more loyal among same social group or people in the same society. However, as I think deeply of the concept of Ethnocentrism, I tend to hate more this kind of approach because its negative effects weigh more than its positiveness. As a member of the religion Islam, I have always been discriminated a lot by other people because of the way I dress and the way I behave. It is normally and mandatory in Islam that women should be fully covered for good reasons and behave like a Maria Clara as that what our religion teaches us not just to be a good Muslimah but a good role model of society of women. In Cultural relativism, it suggests that societies or cultures are qualitatively different and have their own unique inner logic. It contends that there is no such thing as right and wrong. The perceived right and wrong is specified by the moral code of each society. By employing cultural relativism, we will be able to broaden our understanding of such differences and find a way to accept theses other point of views while still upholding our own beliefs and principles. It is a tool to temporarily disregard one’s own viewpoints and cultural bias in trying to understand the conditions of a particular cultural practice or problem.

In sum, cultural relativism is better and strengthens our vulture, society, and political way more than the Ethnocentrism. If we want to truly understand something, especially matters or issues that are quite sensitive or new to us just like the cultures of the other people, we have to approach it with as fresh and objective as mind as possible....