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ETHNOCENTRISM AND CULTURAL RELATIVISM

Culture is a composite or multifarious area that comprises beliefs, practices, values, attitudes, laws,
norms, artifacts, symbols, knowledge, and everything that a person learns and shares as a member of
society. As mentioned by Dean Champion and his associates, “the range of variations between cultures is
almost endless and yet at the same time cultures ensemble one another in many important ways”.
Somehow, cultural variation is affected by man’s geographical set-up and social experiences. Cultural
variation refers to the differences in social behaviors that different cultures exhibit around the world.
Have you ever seen or eaten food from another place, such as dried squid or fried crickets, and thought of
it as weird and gross? This is an example of ethnocentrism! 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 norms, values, or beliefs. Thinking “dried squid is smelly” or “people
shouldn’t eat insects” are examples of ethnocentrism in societies where people may not eat dried squid or
insects.
Is ethnocentrism bad or good? On the one hand, ethnocentrism can lead to negative judgments of the
behaviors of groups or societies. It can also lead to discrimination against people who are different. For
example, in many countries, religious minorities (religions that are not the dominant religion) often face
discrimination. But on the other hand, ethnocentrism can create loyalty among the same social group or
people in the same society. For example, during the World Cup or Olympics, you may tend to root for
your own country and believe that the players or teams representing your country are much better.
National pride is also part of ethnocentrism.

Ethnocentrism is the view that one's cultural elements such as norms values, ideology, customs,
and traditions are dominant and superior to others (Brown,2007).

William Graham Sumner (1906) coined the term ethnocentrism in his work Folkways which
served as the foundation in the social analysis of every culture. According to his definition,
ethnocentrism is a technical name to see things in which one's own cultural identity is the center
of everything over which all must be scaled, rated, and referred to. This perspective led to
conceited behavior and the belief of the superiority of one's group with great prejudice to
outsiders. While ethnocentrism takes the universal stage, which propels cohesion and continuity
at all levels of social structure, it provides a rational explanation for the attack made on other
cultures or subcultures in its extreme forms.
Sumner mentioned some characteristics of an individual with an ethnocentric view. Ethnocentric
persons:

 Have a dominant cultural element which they see as superior to other

cultures:
 View rigidly their own socio-economic, political, and cultural elements.
 See their cultural elements as normal and acceptable to all.
  Consider in-group norms can be universalized.
 Discard out-group ethnicities and culture
 Believe the other cultures as inferior and
 Look at other cultures' elements as inferior and unacceptable.
It can be seen in Philippine society that ethnocentrism is still emerging. The sense of identity
seems to be contributing reason for this. It goes deeper in our history that the mixture of different
cultures has created several identity marks resulting in our diverse cultural heritage, both tangible
and intangible. Also, our indigenous culture can be categorized as old, non-advanced technology
with no sense of modernity. After primitive age, we begin to the melting pot of western and
oriental cultures resulting in a shaky and complex identity attributed to us today. With this
characteristic, it is very difficult to blend this type of indigenous culture into the fast-changing
society.

Chinof (2016) made some observations on how to address this growing concern on Filipino
ethnocentrism.
1. Identify indigenous culture that truly reflects Filipino identity.
2. Eliminate foreign influences and stick to “home-grown" practices.
3. If we want to settle our identity, we must accept the good part of the foreign influences that come to us.

Although colonization by the Spaniards, Americans, and Japanese has caused a shift in several of our
cultural, social, political, and economic policies, it made the Philippines a single nation. Thus, the
Philippines today stands strongly behind our acceptance of our Filipino identity marked by our
appreciation of foreign influences. Truly, it is difficult to do away with these influences, because if we
disregard them, we will run the risk of being left with nothing but purely our own native culture and
tradition that may alienate us from the globalized world. We need to acknowledge their part in the
richness of the tapestry that is the Filipino culture.

To avoid judging the cultural practices of groups that are different from yours, we can use the cultural
relativism approach. Cultural relativism refers to not judging a culture to our standards of what is right or
wrong, strange, or normal. Instead, we should try to understand the cultural practices of other groups in
their cultural context. For example, instead of thinking, “Fried crickets are disgusting!” one should
instead ask, “Why do some cultures eat fried insects?”
Cultural relativism is the ability to understand a culture on its terms and not to make judgments using the
standards of one’s own culture. The goal of this is to promote understanding of cultural practices that are
not typically part of one’s own culture. Using the perspective of cultural relativism leads to the view that
no one culture is superior to another culture when compared to systems of morality, law, politics, and the
like. For example, you are assessing one’s culture by its standards rather than viewing it through the lens
of your own culture. On the other hand, ethnocentrism is a perception that arises from the fact that
cultures differ, and each culture defines reality differently. For example, you are judging another culture
or person solely based on your values and standards. You think you are superior to others.
Cultural relativism refers to an objective analysis of one’s own culture – seeing and understanding one’s
beliefs and traditions from his/her point of view. It also entails not judging the practices of others based
on your own culture; hence, respecting it in their cultural context. For example, you may find eating
insects unacceptable and disgusting practice. However, in Thailand, as well as parts of Central America
like Mexico, it is considered a delicacy. Instead of being prejudiced, one can pose an interesting question
like “Why do some cultures eat fried insects?”.
According to James Rachels (2003), the following claims have all been made by cultural relativists:
1. Each society has a diverse set of moral conducts.
2. The rightfulness of an action within a society is primarily determined by the moral standards of that
society.
3. There is no objective standard that can be used as a basis for comparison among societies.
4. The moral code of our society is just part of a larger body of morality and ethical standards.
5. High tolerance among all cultures must be exercised always.
However, in his critical analysis, he also posited some observations and consequences of accepting
cultural relativism.
1. It is difficult to determine if the custom of other societies is morally inferior to others.
2. The decision of whether actions are right or wrong can be done just by consulting the standards of our
society.
3. The idea of moral progress is always questionable.
4. The objective criticism of one’s own culture is shallow.
5. There will be no idea of moral progress because of acceptance of others’ cultures.
The aspect of mutual respect and understanding must be observed. This is the first step towards a deeper
appreciation of one’s culture. Tolerance and acceptance of cultural diversities within the bounds of our
own moral and ethical standards can be a way to understand individual differences. Encouraging you to
examine the diversity of other cultures and explore the beliefs, values, and practices from the perspective
of someone else can help you understand the complex concept of cultural relativism.

Answer Me!
Activity 1: Article Analysis!

We are exposed to several societies and cultures making us aware that their thinking and valuing may be
different from our own; therefore, cultural relativism makes it possible for us to understand these
concerns deeply.

Directions:

1. Read and analyze the article.

2. Answer the following guide questions on a separate sheet of paper.

Think About This! (Guide Question)

1. What is the article about?

2. Can one justify that the “culture” of fraternities deserves respect? What are the advantages and
disadvantages of this claim?
3. What are the ill effects of hazing?

4. ABC Fraternity is the most prestigious fraternity in your school. Its members are high ranking
government officials and rich business owners. Your teacher recruits you on the promise that you will be
spared from hazing. Would you join the fraternity? Why or why not?

CA affirms disciplinary proceedings vs students linked to UP hazing case

Published October 14, 2016 1:07am

The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed its decision allowing the University of the Philippines (UP) to
continue the administrative proceedings against students suspected to have been involved in the fatal
hazing of Cris Anthony Mendez in 2007. Penned by Associate Justice Zenaida Galapate-Laguilles, the CA
10th Division stood pat on its October 6, 2015 decision reversing the ruling of the Quezon City Regional
Trial Court that nullified the proceedings of the UP Student Disciplinary Tribunal (UP SDT). The
petitioners include Ariel Paolo Ante, Marcelino Veloso III, Keefee de la Cruz, and Armand Lorenze
Sapital, who are part of the 13 members of the Sigma Rho Fraternity accused of participating in the
violent initiation rites that took the life of Mendez, a senior public administration student. In their
appeal, the petitioners reiterated that Section 1, Rule II, of the Rules Governing Fraternities relating to
the filing of charges is similar to existing rules on preliminary investigation in criminal cases. They said
deviating from the provision is a violation of due process.

The petitioners also criticized the preliminary inquiries since it was allegedly conducted by the University
Prosecutor instead of a member of the UP-SDT as stated in the Rules Governing Fraternities. The CA said
the case was administrative in nature, thus "it is not subject to the rigorous requirements of criminal
due process." “The preliminary inquiry and the formal charges herein are but components of the
investigative and disciplinary action an academic university is mandated to take against its students
suspected of being engaged in hazing activities,” the appellate court said. "What is at stake here is not
the petitioners-appellees' liberty from criminal incarceration, but their continued admission to an
institution of higher learning, which is discretionary upon a school, the same being a privilege on the
part of the student rather than a right," it added. Investigators said Mendez was seen in a compound at
Bonifacio Village, Quezon City along with other young men before he was brought to the Veteran's
Memorial Medical Center on August 27, 2007. Mendez, 20, was pronounced dead on arrival by doctors
noting several hematomas on his wrists, thighs and feet. His death sparked calls for justice and
condemnation from various groups including the UP Diliman administration on the use of violence as a
prerequisite for admission into any organization. — BAP, GMA News

Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/metro/584950/ca-affirms-disciplinary-

proceedings-vs-studentslinked-to-up-hazing-case/story/
Activity 2: Pinoy Ako! Pinoy Tayo! The Ethnocentric Encounters.

We cannot avoid ethnocentric views and practices because of our diverse cultural backgrounds and
limited knowledge of the culture of others. You can clearly see some of these common manifestations of
ethnocentrism in your own community. To have a clear grasp of this concept, you perform this task.

You may do the following:

1. Think of Filipino ethnocentric practices you have encountered in your community or in your life.

2. You can present these observations through a semantic web.

3. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Think About This! You may answer these questions on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What did you discover when you did your task?

2. Did you share what you personally encountered in your community?

3. What did you feel when you encountered these situations? How do you think these ethnocentric
practices can be eliminated from our Filipino values system?

4. As a student, what plan can you suggest preventing the spread of these observable practices in your
community?
Activity 3: Evaluation!

Multiple Choice.

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What is an attempt to judge behavior according to its own cultural context?

A. Cultural Identity

B. Culture Indoctrination

C. Culture Shock

D. Culture Relativism

2. Which among the choices is true about the statements on Cultural Relativism?

A. Cultural Relativism contends that judging a culture should be based on our own standards of what
is right or wrong, strange, or normal.

B. It understands cultural practices of other groups in its own cultural context.

A. Sentence A is correct while Sentence B is incorrect.

B. Sentence A is incorrect while sentence B is correct.

C. Both sentences are correct.

D. Both Sentences are incorrect

3. Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar are said to be illegal immigrants and described as the “world’s most
persecuted people”. What kind of inequality is BEST described in this situation?

A. Gender inequality, because it is characterized by having some people deprived of privileges.

B. Social inequality, because they experience unequal access to various resources and privileges.

C. Global inequality, because a discriminatory practice in the community can cause a significant alarm in
a global scale.

D. Ethnic minority inequality, because their civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights are
violated due to discrimination based on their ethnicity.

4. Which among the following is NOT an original Filipino culture?

A. Eating pork adobo

B. Bayanihan practice

C. Dancing to K-POP songs

D. Watching Ramon Obusan’s shows.

5. Karen used to tease her newly transferred Mangyan classmate because of his kinky hair and tanned
skin. What kind of cultural view did Karen have?

A. Culture B. Cultural Relativism C. Ethnocentrism D. Society

6. In New Zealand, broadcasters refuse to stop using Maori language despite complaints from English
speakers. Respecting the language of others is MOST significant because ________

A. it is used to understand each other.

B. it relates to a person’s interaction with others and the world.

C. it is the basic tool of communication and transmission of culture and is known as the storehouse of
culture.

D. it is attached to the people’s historical and cultural roots which served as their identity as members of
society.

7. Understanding female circumcision as a significant rite of passage for women as opposed to a kind of
mutilation is an example of _______________.

A. Agency B. Cultural relativism C. Enlightenment D. Ethnocentrism

8. Learning to take the role of the other person gives one the ability to see the perspective of the other
before articulating or giving judgement. To do this, it is MOST important to __________

A. study the cultural context where the action occurs.

B. look into the reasoning behind any cultural element.

C. determine the circumstances of place, time, and condition surrounding it.

D. all of the above.

9. The feeling of stress and anxiety that most people experience when encountering a culture different
from their own is referred to as ______________.

A. Acculturation B. Culture Shock C. Ethnocentrism D. Enculturation

10.Who coined the term ethnocentrism which served as the foundation in social analysis of every
culture?

A. Edward Tylor B. Emile Durkheim C. Max Weber D. William Sumner

References:

Balena, Ederlina D., Lucero, Dolores M., and Peralta, Arnel M., Understanding Culture, Society and
Politics for Senior High School, Educational Resources Corporation, 11-B Sunshine Drive, Barangay
Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Cubao, Quezon City: 2016
Brown, S. (2007). Ethnocentrism. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405165518.wbeose069

Copez, S. (2013, Oct.5). Discrimination of Igorots. Retrieved from

https://musicsimon.weebly.com/blog/discrimination-of-igorots

Coping with the Bisaya Accent. (2013, Sept. 18). Retrieved from
http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/2013/09/18/coping-with-thebisaya-accent/ Chinof. (2016).

What Problem with Filipino Identity? Retrieved from

https://www.getrealphilippines.com/2016/02/filipino-identity/

Malasig, J. (2019, Mar 20). Several Reasons Why Filipino Cuisine is Among Least Preferred Worldwide.
Retrieved from https://www.interaksyon.com/trendsspotlights/2019/03/20/146043/several-reasons-
why-filipino-cuisine-isamong-least-preferred-worldwide/

Rachels, J. (2003). The Elements of Moral Philosophy. Retrieved from

https://vulms.vu.edu.pk/Courses/ETH202/Downloads/The%20Eleme nts%20of%20Moral
%20Philosophy.pdf

Valiente, T.G. (2015, Mar 14). When Folk Songs are Called Cheesy, the Nation Goes Stale. Retrieved from
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2015/03/14/when-folk-songs-arecalled-cheesy-the-nation-goes-stale/