Ethnocentrism as a word can be good or bad. When we use it to find fault in our own cultures it is good. Think about Mexican Workers, compared to our culure they work harder and more efficient then Americans (based on my own experiences). When we say that there are jobs below us that we can give to Mexican workers it is bad.
In general we should support cultural relativism. We our always learning things from other cultures and adapting them for our own benefits. Remember we are not all Native Americans.
I believe its natural to judge another culture because what they do may be different but I do believe that we should always sasupport cultural relativism. We should never make another person feel uncomfortable based upon things we don't know or aren't use to. I don't feel like there is any beneft to ethnocentrism but there could potentially be some benefit to cultural relativism, you would have the opportunity to get know another culture other than your own.
I agree with Erika, it is natural to judge other cultures because what they do seems weird to us. I find myself many times turning my nose up at something because I do not think it is "the norm". I do not believe that ethnocentrism benefits anyone because it doesn't allow other cultures to accept other cultures and we tend to stay in a box and ignore our surroundings. I think that cultural relativism should always be supported because we are able to gain a better understanding of other ways of life. It allows us to realize that there is more than one way to do something and many times may be easier done that way. The banana discussion we had in class is a perfect example of this. I never once thought that a banana would be easier to peel if peeled upside down (to others that may be right side up).
I believe that for the most part, ethnocentrism is not good. I for one believe firmly that we have no given right to judge anybody (in most cases), especially not without judging ourselves first. I battle with this almost daily with trying to defend the hip hop culture. I feel that we should not be judged on what music we listen to, or the way we talk or dress to an extent. However, when we start emulating what we hear on a song and become a danger to society, then we open doors for judgement and criticism.
I can't say that I truly agree with Erika on there can be no benefit to ethnocentrism. I feel that as long as we're not judging someone arbitrarily then maybe there can be a benefit. If a culture is becoming a threat or danger to themselves or another culture, how can we not judge them. but in that case, I feel that the only way we should judge is if we also plan on taking the neccessary steps in helping that culture.
I feel there is no need to judge ones culture. Judging others brings about so many problems. In ethics class (Which ties so well into Social Science for some odd reason)we discussed the idea of how in america it's just not right to marry at a young age, unknowing of other cultures that believe it's perfectly fine to marry young because it symbolizes the uniting of two families. The law has told us to conduct ourselves in a manner that's good for society, which causes us to put ourselves in a box and not realize the other cultures' point of view. Helping a culture adapt to ours makes us seem like we're trying to "convert" people to our regular norms. For once, I'd like to see people study a culture, rather than look at it with disgust ready to change their mind. Socially, it should be unacceptable tobe ignorant of other cultures without knowing something about them.
I believe that we should treat everyone like we would want to be treated. Therefore we should practice cultural relativism. Just because we grow up differnt from others does not make them different, and in fact to them they think that we are different. The only way that iwould say that we should ever practice ethnocetrism is when in that other person culture it affect them in a horrible way. in in that matter we should try to help them if they want help not discourage them. Cultural Relativism can also be bad because if you always see it from the other person's point of view you in fact might be leaving them suffering in their culture instead of making a difference. So yes there are benefits in each, however, there are also downfalls in each.
I would definitely agree that to judge a culture based on our perceived faults is dangerous and wrong. To judge a culture based on what they can contribute for the good of society as a whole can be benficial. We may frown on the Amish for being "backwards", but other residents of central Pennsylvania use them for fresh dairy and produce and for hard goods like quilts and furniture. They are masters of a trade that benefit the society they live in.
I believe that supporting cultural relativism is good for us because it forces us to get to understand each culture as if it was our own this will make us as Americans well rounded and break the sterotypes that we have been socially constructed to believe.
i think cultural relativism and that we support it that it can make the world a better place. we all know what all cultural think and how they feel about something that we can work together it my be less fighting and war if we try to see eye to eye...
We never really know what will happen to each type of culture if we practice one or another. If we practice cultural relativism it can turn out to be a bad thing to other cultures depending on how thay look at things. The culture could be like i don't like to get to undersatnd other cultures and if they cross us (my culture) then they will be punished. In some cultures ethnocentrism could be a good thing. It could allow them to be sane or grounded to their culture and like not having to care about other cultures. I personally don't agree with this thought but you always have to look at it in a different perspective and see how others feel.
Denney With the discussion of forgiveness, it all depends on how harsh the situation is and who it consumes. Forgiving someone for such a small incident is a easy task to obtain but if it's something that contains me getting out of character and losing family and friends I dont think I'll be able to forgive and forget. Forgetting and forgiving is a life long process that you would have to practice. Forgiving someone would make life much easier and be an end to a new beginning. But forgetting something is seeing things as it never happened and in that process it could be difficult. But my suggestion to this is to just work on being able to forgive and forget to alleviate stress and anger.
Denney We may judge other cultures because of oyr beliefs that we were socially constructed to adapt to. I somtimes find it as being ignorant towards others because its something different of our liking. As for supporting cultural reletivism thats something we should all strive on doing because its an opprtunity for you/us getting to know other cultures and be fond of their beliefs.
Ethnocentrism as a word can be good or bad. When we use it to find fault in our own cultures it is good. Think about Mexican Workers, compared to our culure they work harder and more efficient then Americans (based on my own experiences). When we say that there are jobs below us that we can give to Mexican workers it is bad.
ReplyDeleteIn general we should support cultural relativism. We our always learning things from other cultures and adapting them for our own benefits. Remember we are not all Native Americans.
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ReplyDeleteI believe its natural to judge another culture because what they do may be different but I do believe that we should always sasupport cultural relativism. We should never make another person feel uncomfortable based upon things we don't know or aren't use to. I don't feel like there is any beneft to ethnocentrism but there could potentially be some benefit to cultural relativism, you would have the opportunity to get know another culture other than your own.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Erika, it is natural to judge other cultures because what they do seems weird to us. I find myself many times turning my nose up at something because I do not think it is "the norm". I do not believe that ethnocentrism benefits anyone because it doesn't allow other cultures to accept other cultures and we tend to stay in a box and ignore our surroundings. I think that cultural relativism should always be supported because we are able to gain a better understanding of other ways of life. It allows us to realize that there is more than one way to do something and many times may be easier done that way. The banana discussion we had in class is a perfect example of this. I never once thought that a banana would be easier to peel if peeled upside down (to others that may be right side up).
ReplyDeleteI believe that for the most part, ethnocentrism is not good. I for one believe firmly that we have no given right to judge anybody (in most cases), especially not without judging ourselves first. I battle with this almost daily with trying to defend the hip hop culture. I feel that we should not be judged on what music we listen to, or the way we talk or dress to an extent. However, when we start emulating what we hear on a song and become a danger to society, then we open doors for judgement and criticism.
ReplyDeleteI can't say that I truly agree with Erika on there can be no benefit to ethnocentrism. I feel that as long as we're not judging someone arbitrarily then maybe there can be a benefit. If a culture is becoming a threat or danger to themselves or another culture, how can we not judge them. but in that case, I feel that the only way we should judge is if we also plan on taking the neccessary steps in helping that culture.
ReplyDeleteI feel there is no need to judge ones culture. Judging others brings about so many problems. In ethics class (Which ties so well into Social Science for some odd reason)we discussed the idea of how in america it's just not right to marry at a young age, unknowing of other cultures that believe it's perfectly fine to marry young because it symbolizes the uniting of two families. The law has told us to conduct ourselves in a manner that's good for society, which causes us to put ourselves in a box and not realize the other cultures' point of view. Helping a culture adapt to ours makes us seem like we're trying to "convert" people to our regular norms. For once, I'd like to see people study a culture, rather than look at it with disgust ready to change their mind. Socially, it should be unacceptable tobe ignorant of other cultures without knowing something about them.
ReplyDeleteI believe that we should treat everyone like we would want to be treated. Therefore we should practice cultural relativism. Just because we grow up differnt from others does not make them different, and in fact to them they think that we are different. The only way that iwould say that we should ever practice ethnocetrism is when in that other person culture it affect them in a horrible way. in in that matter we should try to help them if they want help not discourage them. Cultural Relativism can also be bad because if you always see it from the other person's point of view you in fact might be leaving them suffering in their culture instead of making a difference. So yes there are benefits in each, however, there are also downfalls in each.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely agree that to judge a culture based on our perceived faults is dangerous and wrong. To judge a culture based on what they can contribute for the good of society as a whole can be benficial. We may frown on the Amish for being "backwards", but other residents of central Pennsylvania use them for fresh dairy and produce and for hard goods like quilts and furniture. They are masters of a trade that benefit the society they live in.
ReplyDeleteI believe that supporting cultural relativism is good for us because it forces us to get to understand each culture as if it was our own this will make us as Americans well rounded and break the sterotypes that we have been socially constructed to believe.
ReplyDeletei think cultural relativism and that we support it that it can make the world a better place. we all know what all cultural think and how they feel about something that we can work together it my be less fighting and war if we try to see eye to eye...
ReplyDeleteWe never really know what will happen to each type of culture if we practice one or another. If we practice cultural relativism it can turn out to be a bad thing to other cultures depending on how thay look at things. The culture could be like i don't like to get to undersatnd other cultures and if they cross us (my culture) then they will be punished. In some cultures ethnocentrism could be a good thing. It could allow them to be sane or grounded to their culture and like not having to care about other cultures. I personally don't agree with this thought but you always have to look at it in a different perspective and see how others feel.
ReplyDeleteDenney
ReplyDeleteWith the discussion of forgiveness, it all depends on how harsh the situation is and who it consumes. Forgiving someone for such a small incident is a easy task to obtain but if it's something that contains me getting out of character and losing family and friends I dont think I'll be able to forgive and forget. Forgetting and forgiving is a life long process that you would have to practice. Forgiving someone would make life much easier and be an end to a new beginning. But forgetting something is seeing things as it never happened and in that process it could be difficult. But my suggestion to this is to just work on being able to forgive and forget to alleviate stress and anger.
Denney
ReplyDeleteWe may judge other cultures because of oyr beliefs that we were socially constructed to adapt to. I somtimes find it as being ignorant towards others because its something different of our liking. As for supporting cultural reletivism thats something we should all strive on doing because its an opprtunity for you/us getting to know other cultures and be fond of their beliefs.