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1. Essay about Ethnocentrism
Webster's dictionary defines ethnocentrism as "The tendency to evaluate other groups according to the values and standards of one's own ethnic group,
especially with the conviction that one's own ethnic group is superior to the other groups." When first reading this definition, one would naturally agree
that ethnocentrism does exist in our world and society, often confusing it with patriotism. However, many do not realize that ethnocentrism is, has
been, and continues to be a leading cause for violence in America. Different ethnic groups such as African Americans andNative Americans have
suffered through years of violent crimes against them because of the white man's ethnocentric views of themselves when compared with other races and
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Throughout the history of our great nation, over and over again, the white man has bullied the Native Americans. They have ultimately been pushed off
land that originally belonged to them and been allotted meager portions of land to live on which the government (run by the white man) has felt that
they have little use for (reservations). Looking passed the fact that the Native Americans have been stripped of their land, these feelings of white
Ethnocentrism throughout America's history has also caused great violence against the Native Americans, massacring them time and time again and
diminishing their population to only a minute percentage of what it once was. For example, in the final defeat of the American Indian in 1890, known
as the Massacre at Wounded Knee, nearly 300 Lakota men, women, and children– old and young – were massacred in a highly charged, violent
encounter with U.S. soldiers because the soldiers incorrectly perceived a ritual ghost dance as a war dance. Native American corpses of men, women,
and children laid still and lifeless in the dirt on that cold December night all due to the ethnocentric beliefs of the white man.
The Native Americans only cover chapter 1 of white supremacy and ethnocentrism as a means of breeding violence in America throughout its history.
When the Native American's did not work as slaves for the white settlers because of their lack
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2. Ethnocentrism Essay
In a world with many different cultures, ethnocentrism is a constant threat to society. When horrendous acts of racism, sexism , and disability
discrimination are constantly the headlines of multiple news outlets. It is clear that the perils of ethnocentrism are now considered common things to
happen. One example of have ethnocentrism was presented in the past would be in 1904 the Bronx Zoo had an exhibition containing a person from the
Congo of Africa. The Aboriginals in Australia are also another good example of how ethnocentrism has developed. Lastly in early creation tales there is
a common theme of that men are superior to women. Although ethnocentrism has been developing over centuries some immediate dangers include a
variety of discrimination, and in result can cause an assortment of violence.
In 1904 The New York Times illustrates what a normal day is like for an african man trapped in his own exhibit, and how the public reacted to it.
Since of the time period the public was fascinated about the exhibit. The New York Times describes a normal day: " Several thousand persons took
the Subway, the elevated, and surface cars to the New York Zoological Park, inthe Bronx yesterday, and there watched Ota Benga, the Bushman, who
had been put by management on exhibition there in monkey cages" ( New York Times). Everyone who saw the exhibit they did not see this man as
an equal, if they did he would have not been put in a cage. Ethnocentrism can be blamed for racist
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3. Ethnocentrism Essay
Are we limited in knowledge, in imagination, and in understanding by the culture we grow up in? In other words, are we ethnocentric, and if so is it a
bad thing? To answer that, one must understand what ethnocentrism is. According to Macionis (2004), ethnocentrism is "the practice of judging
another culture by the standards of one's own culture".
We are not born with culture; culture is a socially learned behavior, or set of values that a given groups holds as anorm and are considered to be true
and right. It is these cultural norms that connect the individuals of the group, which make up a society. No society can exist without culture and no
culture can exist without a society (Giddens, Duneier, & Applebaum, 2002). The two are...show more content...
What is important to know and remember about ethnocentrism is through understanding and coming to terms with another's culture does not mean you
have to agree with it, act upon it, or embrace it. One must only respect the differing value and acknowledge its existence. This includes all values,
ethical and unethical. For example, understanding some cultures embrace bull fighting which your culture may find as a cruel way to end the bull's
life. Accepting this value as a valid part of their culture does not preclude or dismiss your belief that it is unethical (Rosaldo, 2000). Allowing and
understanding that these two values can and in fact do exist side–by–side in both cultural norms is the ability to get past ethnocentrism through cultural
relativism.
There are three levels of ethnocentrism: a positive perspective, a negative perspective, and an extremely negative perspective. This is important to note
in terms of the degree that ethnocentrism can be tolerable. The positive perspective views one culture as being preferential to others while maintaining
respect for other cultures. The negative perspective views one culture as the standard from which to compare and evaluate all other cultures. And the
extreme negative perspective imposes their cultural values and beliefs on others, insisting they adapt and conform, leaving their cultural norms behind
where they will cease to exist (Manon, 1999). In comparing a show such as the
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4. Ethnocentrism Essay
Dr. Wayne Dyer once stated that "the ultimate ignorance is the rejection of something you know nothing about." This ignorance has been found in
humanity time and time again, and has been the root of unparalleled devastation. The rejection of other cultures is a troubling trait that has persisted
throughout the ages, and must be put to a stop. Mankind's biggest flaw is its belief that one culture is superior to another, thus practicing ethnocentrism,
which leads to conflict.
As mentioned above, ethnocentrism is the instance of one culture believing they are superior to another. This false sense of superiority has been the
beginning of discrimination across the ages. In the short story "By Any Other Name" ethnocentrism is demonstrated clearly when an English
teacher moves an Indian girl to the back of the room "because Indians cheat" (Rama Rau 2). This woman discriminated against a little girl whom she
had just met solely because she believed that the girl's culture was inferior to her own. This arrogance can often lead to the victim feeling as if their
culture is undesirable, and they often feel compelled to conform to the so called "superior" culture. Likewise in a letter written by the caring father of
a young boy, the father claims that his Native American boy is being bullied relentlessly by the majority of his Kindergarten classmates on account of
his heritage and culture. The forced assimilation was quickly taken note of by his father, and he soon spoke out against it.
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5. Ethnocentrism
(Ethnocentrism vs. Cultural Relativism)
As a Sociologist, should we practice Cultural Ethnocentrism or Cultural Relativism?
We must first understand the two distinct theories regarding perception of outside cultures: Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism. Ethnocentrism is
judging another culture solely by the values and standards of one's own culture.[1] The ethnocentric individual will judge other groups relative to his or
her own particular ethnic group or culture, especially with concern to language, behavior, customs, and religion – these ethnic distinctions and
subdivisions serve to define each ethnicity's unique cultural identity.[2] The logical alternative to ethnocentrism is Cultural relativism, the practice of
judging a...show more content...
We live in a rapidly changing world, which is increasingly bringing people of various cultures in closer interaction with each other. This interaction can
be positive or negative depending on the level of sensitivity and respect people have for other cultural groups. Negative attitudes towards other cultures
and/or ethnic groups arise out of ethnocentrism, while positive attitudes are the result of a culturally relativist approach. If people are going to be
successful in today's multicultural, informative society, they will need to develop a culturally sensitive frame of reference and mode of operation.
Some of the pros/strengths that Cultural relativism presents are listed below: 1. It encourages respect and tolerance for all cultures and societies. 2. By
extension, it advocates for equality among and between cultures 3. It encourages a sense of unity within a culture by maintaining that all are bound by
the same rules. 4. It warns us against assuming that all of our own cultural practices are based on some "absolute rational standard". 5. It stresses the
benefits of keeping an open mind and not rushing to judgment.
Cultural relativism suggests that whatever any culture does is acceptable and we must positively judge other cultures' practices–it is "right" for them.
Who am I to judge differently? Cultural relativism arises out of a concern not to impose our cultural values on other cultures. The problem with
believing that all values are
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