SOCI 100A Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Culture Shock, Cultural Relativism, Ethnocentrism
13 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Question Number 2:
Briefly define and give examples for ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, and review
Oberg’s 4-stage of culture shock.
(5 marks) Ability to define/review/give own examples for ethnocentrism:
Ethnocentrism: the tendency to view one’s own culture as superior to others/
thinking of your own culture as superior to others.
Class example: we discussed a film maker, watching a women being beaten by
her husband and deciding if the film maker themselves should step in and help her.
The western film maker believes this is morally wrong, but this culture believes this is
a sign of love. It would be ethnocentric of the film maker to step in and stop the
beating, as he would be proving he believes his cultures customs are superior to
theirs.
My example: I personally view the united states gun policy as morally wrong,
compared to my country’s (Canada) gun policy. I do not believe citizens have a write
to possess guns to protect themselves. It is ethnocentric of me to look down on
people in the US that possess guns as wrong, because guns have become a part of US
culture.
Second example: I love dogs, but it is ethnocentric of me to view countries that
eat dogs as morally wrong.
- Shark fin soup could be a good example
Ethnocentrism is inconsistent with the sociological perspective because it restricts
your ability to appreciate cultural diversity (keeps you from seeing the shades of grey
in the black and white).
(5 marks) Ability to define/review/give examples for cultural relativism:
Cultural relativism: appreciation that all cultures have their own mores, norms,
and customs and should be evaluated and understood on their own terms, rather than
according to one’s own cultural standards.
Class example: ex. Honor killings “when in Rome” we need to understand why
cultures do what they do and not just make snap judgements.
Textbook example: I cannot judge a country that eats dogs, as its part of their
norms and customs. Where I come from it is part of my norms and customs to eat
cows, pigs, etc which they might not agree with.
My example: this could be related to anything from how other countries treat
women, their laws/views on abortion and education etc.… and other controversial
issues, including democracy.
To a certain extent cultural relativism is an ethical position that assumes that no one
should judge other people’s customs and norms before truly trying to understand
them.
Could possibly critique the fact that cultural relativism affects human rights, and
whether or not human rights are universal? How would we decide?
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Briefly define and give examples for ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, and review. Ethnocentrism: the tendency to view one"s own culture as superior to others/ The western film maker believes this is morally wrong, but this culture believes this is a sign of love. It would be ethnocentric of the film maker to step in and stop the beating, as he would be proving he believes his cultures customs are superior to theirs. compared to my country"s (canada) gun policy. I do not believe citizens have a write to possess guns to protect themselves. It is ethnocentric of me to look down on people in the us that possess guns as wrong, because guns have become a part of us culture. eat dogs as morally wrong. My example: i personally view the united states gun policy as morally wrong, Second example: i love dogs, but it is ethnocentric of me to view countries that. Shark fin soup could be a good example.
