ETHNOCENTRISM

AND CULTURAL
RELATIVISM
ORIENTATIONS IN VIEWING OTHER CULTURES
OBJECTIVES
 Identify forms of tangible and intangible
heritage and the threats to these
 Articulate observations on human cultural
variation, social differences, and social change.
 Develop an awareness of why and how cultural
relativism mitigates ethnocentrism
 WHAT IS
ETHNOCENTRISM?
 culturalor ethnic bias—whether conscious or
unconscious—in which an individual or group
views the world from the perspective of his or
her own group
 Inability to adequately understand cultures
that are different from one’s own
 Itis the idea that one's own culture is the
main standard by which other cultures may
be measured.
EFFECTS OF
ETHNOCENTRISM
 Multiple forms of prejudice (preconceived
opinion) that leads to discrimination
 Racism and sexism
EXAMPLES OF
ETHNOCENTRISM
Eurocentrism
Sinocentrism
Xenocentrism
WHAT IS CULTURAL
RELATIVISM?
 The view that no culture is superior to
any other culture when comparing
systems of morality, law, politics, etc.
 Those who hold to cultural relativism
hold that all beliefs are completely
relative to the individual within a
cultural identity.
WHAT IS CULTURAL
RELATIVISM?
 “right”and “wrong” are culture specific;
what is considered moral in one society
may be considered immoral in another
 No one has the right to judge another
society’s customs
 EFFECT OF CULTURAL
RELATIVISM
 Respect for each
culture and better
tolerance and
understanding
 Acceptance and
freedom of
expression
HOW DOES CULTURAL
RELATIVISM MITIGATE
ETHNOCENTRISM?
If you are a cultural
relativist…
 Youwill consider all cultures as legitimate
expressions of human existence
 You will believe that all cultures are
worthy in their own right and are of equal
value
 You will believe that what constitutes
right or wrong is determined solely by
the individual or the society
CULTURAL
HERITAGES
 Cultural heritage is typically
understood to be built heritage,
monuments related to culture such as
museums, religious buildings, ancient
structures and sites. (TANGIBLE)
 also includes traditions or living
expressions inherited from our
ancestors and passed on to our
descendants (INTANGIBLE)
 A) oral traditions, B) performing arts, C)
social practices, D) rituals, E) festive events,
F) knowledge and practices concerning
nature and the universe or G) the
knowledge and skills to produce
traditional crafts.
WHAT ARE THE THREATS?
 WHY IS THERE A NEED TO
PRESERVE HERITAGE?

 It gives us a sense of identity and belonging,

linking our past, through the present, with our
future.
 Itgives us an understanding of the tangible
and intangible cultural heritage of different
communities
 It also helps with intercultural dialogue, and
encourages mutual respect for other ways of
life.