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Name: _______________________________ Understanding Culture, Society and Politics

Understanding Culture, Society

and Politics

Quarter 3 - Module 2:
Ethnocentrism
and
Cultural Relativism

Prepared by: Checked by:

JERAMEEL D. CABANOS YOLANDA L. MANONGSONG

SHS Teacher School Principal

Sir Vhong
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Module 2
Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
Learning Objectives
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. explain the meaning of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism;
2. appreciate and recognize one’s own cultural identity;
3. reconcile the perspectives of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism;
4. analyze situations in the Philippines where cultural relativism must be
practiced through a Case Study; and;
5. Observe manifestations of ethnocentrism in different societies by constructing
a data retrieval chart.

What I Know
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer and write it on a separate sheet of paper.
1. It assumes that each society has a unique and different form of culture that cannot
be judged into one’s own culture.
A. Ethnocentric View C. Historical Particularism
B. Cultural Relativism D. Participant Observation
2. James Rachel made a critical position about accepting cultural relativism. Which
among the following is NOT part of his claims about this perspective?
A. Moral progress is always questionable.
B. Objective criticism of one’s own culture is shallow.
C. Moral progress is slow because of acceptance of other’s culture.
D. Rightfulness of an action within a society is primarily determined by the
moral standards of that society.
3. American President Donald Trump made a “Pocahontas” joke at a ceremony
honoring Navajo native veterans. If were a cultural relativist, what advice would
you give to Donald Trump? Tell him that
A. different societies have different moral codes.
B. there are no moral truths that always holds for all people.
C. the moral code of a society determines what is right or wrong within the
society.
D. All of the above.
4. What strategy are you using when you take into account another person’s thoughts,
values, background, and perspectives while you interact with him/her?
A. Common Courtesy C. Paraphrasing
B. Empathy D. Social decentering

5. The dominant belief that one's culture is superior to others is

called .
A. Assuming Similarity C. Ethnocentrism
B. Enculturation D. Stereotyping
6. Believing that eating balut is a disgusting and gross behavior is an example of
.
A. Agency 2 C. Ethnocentrism
B. Cultural Relativism D. Xenocentrism
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7. Which of the following explanations is one of the major reasons why people engage
in acts of ethnocentrism?
A. People participate in ethnocentric behavior to fit into a particular group.
B. Ethnocentric behavior comes out of a lack of understanding of other cultures
or a genuine fear of outsiders.
C. Workers participate in ethnocentric behavior because of a poor economy
and the need for a scapegoat.

D. Young people participate in ethnocentric behavior because they see their

friends participating in ethnocentric behavior and they want to be accepted.
8. The concept of ethnocentrism poses critical issues and concerns until today. How
can you mitigate an ethnocentric behavior through cultural relativism?
A. Read articles authored by non-sociologists with narrow perspectives.
B. Participate in community programs recognizing only your community’s
culture.
C. Be understanding with other people even if their origin and culture are
different from yours.
D. Refuse invitations to participate in community outreach programs catering
to indigenous group of people.
9. Which of the following is FALSE regarding cultural relativism?
A. It is difficult or even impossible to force your own culture's rituals onto
another group.
B. When studying another culture, you must convert to its religious beliefs to
understand its customs.
C. Something that might be taboo in your own society might be perfectly
acceptable in another society.
D. People tend to be more tolerant of another culture's customs when they
learn the meaning behind them.

Lesson

1 Ethnocentrism and Cultural

Relativism
You learned the concepts and theories in Sociology, Anthropology, and Political
Science in the previous module. These new understandings will equip you to have a better
perspective on our society especially in dealing with cultural and societal issues.
The idea of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism challenges the pillars of
anthropology and sociology in terms of universality and common awareness. In this
module, you will learn that reconciling ethnocentrism and cultural relativism requires
rigorous analysis in decision-making and critical thinking.

What’s In
Loop-A-Term!
To prove your understanding from the past lesson, you should be ready to
accomplish this task. You may do the following.
3
Directions:
1. The 10 words listed below are hidden inside the grid. These words can run on all
possible directions – horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
2. Locate the words and circle them as you find them.
SOCIET MORES POWER LANGUAG BELIEF
Y S N S C I T I L OE P M S S
MAN CULTUR LAWS POLITICS NORM
E EO D F C U L T U R E F
R R C D Q H A P A C H E
O M X I R E W O P C H I
M A N G E R S E S C J L
D R B N M T H O E G K E
S A G C M O Y R W J L B
K O L O E G A U G N A L
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What’s New
Analyze the words and phrases listed inside the box as they will enable you to gain
an easier understanding and deeper appreciation of this lesson.

Cultural Relativism Ethnocentrism Filipino Identity

Ethnocentrism
Luis Jorge De Barbuda published a map in 1584 showing China as the center of the
world. Analyze the map and answer the guide questions in another sheet of paper.

Figure 1. A new description of China, once called the region of Sina, by Ludovicus Georgius
(Courtesy of Wikimedia. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CEM- 11-Chinae-nova-
descriptio-2521.jpg

Think about this!

1. What can you say about the picture?

2. What does the map tell you about how the Chinese see themselves in relation to the
world?

What is It
The concept of Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism has been a critical issue of
morality in our society for a long period of time. With the complexities of these topics, it is
helpful to analyze the points of view of experts regarding this concern.

Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism is the view that one’s own 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 that served as the foundation in 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 own
group with great prejudice to outsiders. While ethnocentrism takes universal stage, which
propels cohesion and continuity at all levels of social structure, it provides a rational
explanation for attack made on other culture or subculture 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 cultures;
 believe that other cultures are inferior; and
 look at other culture’s elements as inferior and unacceptable
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It can be seen in Philippine society that ethnocentrism is still emerging. The sense of
identity seems to be a 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 the
primitive age, we begin to be 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 to 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 will totally 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.

Cultural Relativism
Culture, just like a story, conveys different meanings and it can vary among the
people who created it. It poses a challenge to the idea that culture is the same for
everyone. Also, culture like a story has a life of its own. This notion rejects the concept of
cultural universality.
Cultural relativism refers to an objective analysis of
one’s own culture – seeing and understanding of
one’s beliefs and traditions from his/her own point
of view. It also entails not to judge the practices of
others based on your own culture; hence, respecting
it in their own cultural context. For example, you
may find eating insects as an unacceptable and a
disgusting practice. However, in Thailand, as well
as parts of Central America like Mexico, it is
considered 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 of comparison among
societies.
4. The moral code of our own society is just part of a larger body of morality and
ethical standards.
5. High tolerance among all culture 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.
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2. The decision 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 other’s culture.

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 standard can be a way to
understand individual differences.

What I Have Learned

Directions: Read and analyze each question. Write your answers on a separate sheet of
paper.

1. Cultural relativism tends to promote one’s own culture. Which of your ancestral
culture and traditions are you most proud of?
2. In our divided world of perspectives and points of view, how can we maintain
respect despite cultural differences?
3. James Rachel made some critical observations regarding cultural relativism. In the
Philippines where we highly respect cultural differences, suggest some good points
that contradict Rachel’s assertions.
4. In our present society where some leaders use their ethnocentric ego to establish
rules and authority, as a youth, how can you uplift laws and democratic principles
which should be applied equally to all, regardless of one’s religion, political beliefs,
gender, economic, and social status?
5. What do you think are the root causes of ethnocentric view? What can you suggest
to prevent people from having this characteristic?

Assessment
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 C. Culture Shock
B. Culture Indoctrination 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
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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 C. Enlightenment
B. Cultural relativism 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 judgment. 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 C. Ethnocentrism
B. Culture Shock 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

Additional Activities

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! Filipino Ethnocentrism

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?
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4. As a student, what plan can you suggest to prevent the spread of
these observable practices in your community?
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