A detailed presentation on ethnocentrism in various parts of the country and its impact on lifestyle of the people and laws to prohibit those. In this presentation you can also find an overview of ethnocentrism and its negative impact in the workplace in the organization and various ways to deal with it.

2. ETHNOCENTRISM IN
CULTURE
&
BUSINESS
COMMUNICATION

3. ABSTRACT
 In the upcoming slides we are trying to put some light on the major impacts of Ethnocentrism on
our culture and how it affects our life, health, and beliefs. On the basis of our brief research we
are able to find out some cultural practices and beliefs in our country that are not only harmful
for people’s life but is also pushing our society backwards and making us more and more
immoral and inhuman.

4. CONTENT
 INTRODUCTION ON ETHNOCENTRISM.
 ETHNOCENTRISM AND CULTURE.
 ETHNOCENTRISM IN CULTURAL PRACTISE OF ODISHA
 WITCH HUNTING:-
 EVIDENCES OF WITCH HUNTING
 EFFORTS OF POLICE ADMINISTRATION
 LAWS AGAINST WITCH HUNTING
 HOT IRON ROD BRANDING
 EVIDENCES OF IRON BRANDING
 EFFORTS BY ADMINISTRATION
 OTHER ETHNOCENTRIC PRACTISES IN ODISHA

5.  Ethnocentrism In Cultural Practice Of Bihar
 Marriages Of Tanks, Wells & Trees
 The Superstitions Connected To Birth And Death
 The Superstition To Stop Rain
 Ethnocentrism In Cultural Practice Of Himanchal Pradesh
 Dib Ghara Gola
 Dib Karahi
 Dib Dali
 Ethnocentrism And Superstitions Practices In Other Cultures Of India
 Advantages & Disadvantages Of Ethnocentrism
 Ethnocentrism In Business Environment
 How Do We Deal With Ethnocentrism In Workplace
 Cultural Relativism
 Similarities & Difference Between Ethnocentrism & Cultural Relativism
 How To Avoid Ethnocentrism
 Conclusion

6. INTRODUCTION
 Ethnocentrism is a belief in the superiority of their own culture. It results from judging other
cultures by our own ideals. Ethnocentrism is linked to cultural blind spots. Blind spots occur when
we fail to attribute differences between our behaviors and beliefs and those of other differences
in cultural schemas.
 In the other hand superstition is a culturally transmitted human behavior. The superstitions arise
out of fear, uncertainty or unpredictable situations. It may vary from place to place, culture to
culture. And when these superstitions are imposed forcefully and considered as superior then it
ultimately takes the form of ethnocentrism.

7. ETHNOCENTRISM AND CULTURE

8. (I) ETHNOCENTRISM IN CULTURAL
PRACTICE OF ODISHA
 WITCH-HUNTING
 Laws against witch-hunting:
 The Odisha Prevention of Witch-hunting Bill, 2013 was
passed by the state Assembly in December 2013 before
becoming an Act in February 2014.
 Every offence under the Act is cognizable and non-
bailable. Under the law, anyone indulging in an act of
witch-hunting, or abetting or provoking such an act
could be punished with a prison term extending up to
three years and a fine of no less than Rs 1,000.

9.  HOT IRON ROD BRANDING
 Efforts by administration to prevent iron
 The Nabarangpur district administration has been
imparting training to over 4000 traditional healers
dissuade them from branding children with hot iron
to cure their ailments under a special program titled
“JYOTI” since 2016. And on June 2016 the Odisha
Govt. awarded Nabarangpur district administrative
authority of Rs. 15 lakhs for successful launch of the
program “JYOTI”.
 By providing free health services and regular health
awareness camps in the tribal-dominated village of
Odisha so that there will be a permanent stop on
branding of hot iron on children.

10.  OTHER ETHNOCENTRIC CULTURE IN ODISHA
 In an astonishing ritual practiced in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, people roll on top of Cactus thorns
and whip themselves in order to get their wishes fulfilled by gods and goddesses.
 Among a number of other practices, people walk on the burning coals.
 In tribal places of Keonjhar people were murdered for allegedly practicing black magic.
 In some parts of Mayurbhanj district people still believe that self torturing is a best way to prove their
devotion to god. They practice different kind of self punishment techniques such as rolling themselves
cactus plants, self whipping, and walking on fire.
 Tribal-dominated Sundergarh, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sambalpur districts are among the worst hit by
crimes related to superstition.
 People in such places believed killing small children will bring good harvest to them.

11. (II) ETHNOCENTRISM IN CULTURAL
PRACTICE OF BIHAR
 MARRIAGES OF TANKS, WELLS & TREES
 When a tank or well is dug and completed, it is emblematically married to a tree or wooden image,
which is planted in the middle in the case of tanks, and alongside in the case of wells. A summary
marriage (called jalotsarg) is gone through, after which the tank or well is declared to be open for use.
 Mango groves on being planted are also married to a bar tree (Indian Ficus), which is planted
in the north-east comer of the tope. A thread is passed round the whole grove, or sometimes
only round the first planted tree and the '' husband '' bar tree, and a summary marriage
ceremony is gone through: after which the mango grove is declared to be married.

12.  THE SUPERSTITIONS CONNECTED TO BIRTH AND DEATH
 On the birth, a torn shoe or the neck of a broken earthen chatty is hung prominently over the doorway.
scorpion, if found, is also burnt in the fire in the doorway, in the belief that a scorpion sting will have no
effect on the child in after-life. A weapon of any kind, such as a sword, a knife, a scythe, or a piece of iron
even, is put near the head of the infant to guard it from evil demons. A child born in the month of Bhado
(August-September) is especially liable to be attacked by the demon called Jamhua and is guarded by
off a gun close to the child.
 A woman who dies before her husband is considered to be very fortunate.

13.  THE SUPERSTITION TO STOP RAIN
 If the rain continues too long, weights (used in weighing) are dropped into a well; a chirag (oil lamp) is lit
and put on a musal (pestle for pounding paddy), which is erected in the compound in the open air
otherwise some figures are drawn with chalk on walls by the women and are worshiped.
 To stop the continuous rain, a piece of stick is dressed up as a doll, with a small bundle of grain in one
and a lighted torch in the other. This effigy is then put up on a pole in the yard. It is called ”Musafir” and
intended to invoke the pity of the god of rain, who, it is supposed, will relent and cause the rain to stop,
and thus enable the benighted traveler to find his way home to his family with what he is carrying for

14. (III) ETHNOCENTRISM IN CULTURAL
PRACTICE OF HIMANCHAL PRADESH
 DIB GHARA GOLA
 This is a very weird practice been carried out in Himachal Pradesh to prove who is guilty and who is not.
Under this process they depend upon a brass vessel, two balls of dough and one rupee coin to
determine whether a person is innocent or guilty.
 DIB KARAHI
 Another such practice which is carried out is Dib Karahi; this is very cruel and very inhuman practice.
Under this process a person’s hand is wrapped with a piece of cloth and then dipped into heated oil. And
after some days if the person’s hand is totally fine then the person is innocent or else is guilty.
 DIB DALI
 Another such inhuman practice carried out in Himachal Pradesh ignoring the justice system of our
country is Dib Dali. Under this process a person has to hold a red hot iron ball and is supposed to walk
to certain distance if he/she is able to walk without dropping it then the person is innocent.

15. IV) ETHNOCENTRISM AND SUPERSTITIONS
PRACTICES IN OTHER CULTURES OF INDIA
 SELF FLAGELLATION

16.  BABY TOSSING

17.  FIRE-WALKING

18.  YEDE SNANA

19. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
ETHNOCENTRISM
 ADVANTAGES
 An ethnocentric perspective eliminates social order criticisms.
 It can increase the levels of devotion to a community, country, or society
 Ethnocentrism can enhance solidarity in society.
 It can produce higher levels of self-esteem.
 It creates an attitude of independence.
 DISADVANTAGES
 Decisions are made based on unrealistic comparisons.
 Ethnocentrism can cause societal polarization.
 It can impact every aspect of life if we allow it to do so.
 Ethnocentrism drives people away from what they love.
 It is a philosophy which limits the human perspective.

20. ETHNOCENTRISM IN BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT

21.  The enemy of a productive, happy multicultural workplace is "ethnocentrism" --- the attitude that one's
culture is the correct, sensible one, and that other cultures are inferior and wrong.
 Ethnocentrism naturally comes with doing business, both locally and internationally. There certainly is an
ethnocentric approach in international business. If you fail to understand ethnocentrism, you risk
alienating your customers. However, if you recognize and understand it, you could find a way to benefit
from it.
 Every International business venture require that individuals should communicate cross-culturally. This
can either turn into a promising business partnership and even a delightful way to share cultures into a
complete devolution of business relation.
 As a domestic company, you will see consumers are more likely to buy your products and less likely to
buy products that have been manufactured abroad. This can keep foreign companies out of the market
and allow your company to flourish. You, therefore, won’t have to deal with the stiff competition that
often comes from cheap foreign products.

22. HOW DO WE DEAL WITH ETHNOCENTRISM IN
WORKPLACE
 As a company, you should look to minimize the setbacks brought about by ethnocentrism and
maximize the opportunities as much as you can. It helps to show how tied you are to a country
and culture when you are promoting your products in your ads.
 When you want to expand into a foreign country that is highly ethnocentric, it may help to play
down your ties to your home country as much as you can. You can even establish a subsidiary in
the country that you’re expanding to, with a different name and a different marketing campaign
altogether. That subsidiary can then focus on strengthening ties with the locals and getting them
to accept your products
 In order to avoid ethnocentrism and resultant conflicts in work place, the managers and the
employees should objectively analyze their own culture and biases, learn about other cultures,
and always strive to maintain open channels of communication.

23. WHAT IS CULTURAL RELATIVISM?
 Cultural relativism is the idea that a person’s beliefs, values and practices should be understood
based on the person’s own culture and not judged against the criteria of another.
 According to this concept each and every society has their own rules and moral code and it’s
completely wrong to judge anyone depending upon our perspective.

24. SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
ETHNOCENTRISM AND CULTURE RELATIVISM
 Both these viewpoints present extremist views; while ethnocentrism leans towards intolerance,
cultural relativism leans towards incredibly high tolerance of cultural features.
 Both views present negative connotations. Ethnocentrism in its extreme form gives rise to
prejudice, while cultural relativism allows the propagation of a sense of equity.
 In terms of sensitivity, ethnocentrism is insensitive to other cultures, while cultural relativism shows
high cultural sensitivity.
 These views involve examining a culture and all its aspects and evaluating them. The basis for
evaluation differs according to the view point.

25. HOW TO AVOID ETHNOCENTRISM?
 AVOID ASSUMPTIONS
 Don’t forget that people from different culture would have other customs, beliefs, values or traditions
that we should respect.
 AVOID JUDGEMENTS
 When people around you act differently, do not assume they are making a mistake. Learn to appreciate
differences.
 LEARN ABOUT OTHER CULTURE
 Research about traditions and lifestyle from other countries; when you keep an open mind to new or
different things it’s easy to learn appreciate culture diversity.
 BE RESPECTFUL
 Keep in mind the golden rule. “Treat people the way you want to be treated”.

26. CONCLUSION
 On the basis our brief research work we can conclude that Ethnocentrism is culturally insensitive
whereas Cultural relativism is culturally sensitive. It can be traced everywhere starting from
cultural practices to our work place. Sometimes when any culture or any tradition is blindly
believed and followed ignoring other cultures and humanity it becomes superstition. And when
these are followed deliberately it becomes completely miserable for our society. The only
possible way is to follow the path of equity or Cultural relativism. Which states we should not
consider our culture and practices to be supreme over others, instead we should learn how to
respect and understand them. Because no culture is supreme.

27. REFERENCES
 https://www.wisesayings.com/unity-quotes/
 https://courses.lumenlearning.com/culturalanthropology/chapter/ethnocentrism/
 https://smallbusiness.chron.com/ethnocentrism-business-26317.html
 https://m.timesofindia.com/life-style/home-garden/5-indian-superstitions-and-facts-behind-
them/amp_etphotostory/64948049.cms

28. Thank You
PRESENTED BY:
• Anshuman Patnaik
• Suvasanjog Mohanty
• Gourab Rout
• Deepa Kumari
• Anuraj Sharma