Ethnocentrism leads to prejudice and is the belief that one’s own race, nation, or culture is superior to all others. In contrast, examine how cultural relativism, (the judging of a culture by the standards of others) can affect society by influencing prejudice and discrimination.
How does ethnocentrism lead to prejudice and discrimination?
Provide an example from your personal life or your observation of the world around you.
Identify the aspects of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism in your example.
How can ethnocentrism be avoided to create a culturally sensitive environment?
Sample Solution
Ethnocentrism is defined as the belief that one’s own culture, nation or race is superior to all others. It results in prejudice and discrimination against people of different cultures, and leads to false assumptions about members of those groups. Prejudice can take many forms such as racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, ableism and homophobia. In contrast, cultural relativism is the belief that different cultures should be judged by their own standards rather than through comparison with another society’s beliefs or norms.
Sample Solution
Ethnocentrism is defined as the belief that one’s own culture, nation or race is superior to all others. It results in prejudice and discrimination against people of different cultures, and leads to false assumptions about members of those groups. Prejudice can take many forms such as racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, ableism and homophobia. In contrast, cultural relativism is the belief that different cultures should be judged by their own standards rather than through comparison with another society’s beliefs or norms.
