The document discusses cultural relativism, which is the view that cultural practices should be understood based on their cultural context rather than being judged by the standards of another culture. Absolute cultural relativism holds that no cultural practices should ever be questioned, while critical cultural relativism allows asking questions about why practices exist and their effects. Examples discussed include foot binding in China and lip plates in Ethiopia's Mursi culture. Ethnocentrism is defined as the view that one's own culture is superior to others.

1. 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.
CULTURAL RELATIVISM

2. THAT MEANS YOU USE YOUR OWN
CULTURE AS THE CENTER AND EVALUATE
OTHER CULTURES BASED ON IT. YOU ARE
JUDGING, OR MAKING ASSUMPTIONS
ABOUT THE FOOD OF OTHER COUNTRIES
BASED ON YOUR OWN NORMS, VALUES,
OR BELIEFS.
CULTURAL RELATIVISM

3. THAT MEANS YOU USE YOUR OWN
CULTURE AS THE CENTER AND EVALUATE
OTHER CULTURES BASED ON IT. YOU ARE
JUDGING, OR MAKING ASSUMPTIONS
ABOUT THE FOOD OF OTHER COUNTRIES
BASED ON YOUR OWN NORMS, VALUES,
OR BELIEFS.
EXAMPLE: CULTURAL RELATIVISM

4. ABSOLUTE CULTURAL RELATIVISM
•indicates that whatever activities are
practiced within a culture, no matter
how weird and dangerous they appear
to be, should not be questioned by
other cultures.

5. EXAMPLE:
• An example of absolute culture relativism is the tying of feet of Chinese women in the 19th and
20th centuries. Though this culture later became abolished, other cultures had no contribution to
its practice. The practice appeared torturous to women for the purpose of beauty. According to
history, Chinese people found small feet in women as a symbol of beauty. Therefore, for women
to get married, they had to go through the process of feet beautification. The process involved
tying a young lady's feet to inhibit its growth. Women from rich families were mostly able to
undergo this practice since it was difficult for a person with such tied feet to move around and
make a living. Other cultures shunned this practice, but they had no influence over it.

6. • Another example comes from the Mursi, an
ethnic group in Ethiopia. Mursi women cut their
lower lip and extend it with a round plate. This is
considered a symbol of identity and beauty for
the women. The cutting of the lower lip happens
when a girl turns 15 or 16.

7. CRITICAL CULTURAL RELATIVISM
• asks questions about cultural practices
and why they are practiced. It seeks
answers about the cultural practices in
line with who is accepting them and
why they are doing so.

8. EXAMPLE
• An example of critical cultural relativism is when the
residents of Spain practice El Colacho, which is a
baby-jumping ritual practiced since 1620. It is said
that jumping over the babies chases the devil and
keeps them safe. This practice has been critiqued by
people seeking answers as to its relevance in
protecting the children.

9. Is Cultural Relativism
good?

10. Cultural relativism is good because it
allows people to practice their beliefs
and enjoy their cultural heritage or
religious beliefs without having to fear
or have fear of others for why they do
what they do.

11. ETHNOCENTRISM
•The view that one’s
group is superior
compared to another.

12. ETHNOCENTRISM
• is a term applied to the cultural or ethnic bias—
whether conscious or unconscious—in which an
individual views the world from the perspective of his
or her own group, establishing the in-group as
archetypal and rating all other groups with reference
to this ideal.