Essay Database

Ethnocentrism is a person's use of their own cultural "norms", values and morals to judge another culture. We tend to view the way in which we think and act as correct; deviance from these internal "norms" is seen as wrong or abnormal. I think this tendency exists because our ingrained beliefs are often so strong that the guidelines created for us by our culture makes us see our way as the proper and natural way …

…is a reasonable stand point to not want to interfere with the systems of other cultures but, this is what I find to be the largest problem within the concept of cultural relativism. Direct interference maybe uncalled for, but making inhumane and unfair practices throughout the world known, could lead to indirect measures for improvement (without the involvement of the ethnographer) or perhaps a practice of selective or limited cultural relativism would be more ethical.