ü What Ethnocentrism Means
Ethnocentrism
is the appraisal of other civilizations using one's own culture as a standard.
Because of this, cultural characteristics that resemble those of the observers
are deemed to be superior to those that are very distinct. A lack of
impartiality can be seen in the idea that one's own culture is superior to
another. Such a mindset makes it difficult for us to comprehend that what is
right to us may actually be quite wrong to others. It is an unspoken dispute
between one person or group and another person or group.
A belief
that one's own culture or group is fundamentally superior to others is known as
this attitude. Foreign cultures are viewed as inferior because they are
evaluated according to
Ø Ethnocentrism
Definition
There is a
tendency to judge other cultures, societies, groups, and races by one's
own standards. Ethnocentrism is defined as "a belief that one's own group,
race, society, and culture is good, normal, right, and superior to other
groups, culture, society, and races that are inferior, wrong, abnormal, and
bad."
Ethnocentrism Meaning, Definition and examples
Ø Ethnocentrism's
impact on both society and individuals:
Ethnocentrism
can have both beneficial and harmful effects on people and societies. If we
view ethnocentrism positively, someone may have unwavering faith in any certain
person, group, culture, nation, or ethnicity. On the other hand, a person may
believe that they, their culture, and other aspects of themselves are superior
to other people, other cultures, and other societies.
Examples
• Evaluating
the cuisine and specialties of various cultures.
• Evaluating
people's traditional attire.
• Demanding
that people speak your language and belittling them when they can't.
• Previous
colonialism.
• Making
assumptions about someone who chooses to live alone while it is customary in
your society to always live with family.
Another
example you may think about is the fact that when we make judgments about Hindu
or Western culture in Pakistan, we do so with our own cultural and societal
standards in mind. The fact that man has historically portrayed his own
interests, value system, cultural norms, and normative order as being proper,
normal, and superior to others is a historical reality. Such ideas and value
systems divided the population into numerous groups, making it harder for
people to assimilate into other cultures. As a result, different groups of the
population were treated differently.
A further
example of ethnocentrism is the fact that women in Pakistan typically observe the veil "pardah." As a result, we have been socialized to view free
women in Western society as less than good and modest women. As a result, we
despise Western culture because it has become the finest available culture to
us as a result of our conditioning in Pakistani society. People also evaluate
other religions from the standpoint of their own religious principles.
Ethnocentrism is a term used to describe this mindset.
Ethnocentrism Meaning, Definition and examples
