LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Introduction to Sociology
ROBERTO LAM
Prof.: BELKIS E. NECOS
January 20, 2005
ETHNOCENTRISM AND CULTURAL RELATIVISM
As it is defined, ethnocentrism is the practice of judging another culture by the standards of one’s
own culture. This means that people believe and feel in the superiority of one's own ethnic group over other
groups. On the other hand, cultural relativism is defined as the practice of evaluating a culture by its own
standards. It means that people who practice cultural relativism require understanding unfamiliar values
and norms from other culture and suspending or stopping judging them with the standards of one’s own
culture.
To better understand these two concepts here are examples of different perspectives from two
opposing ethnic groups; in this case, the view of Panamanians and Chinese living in the same community
in the Republic of Panama. First you will see how ethnocentrism is practiced in these two cultures. Then
you will see how cultural relativism might be used in this two ethnic groups.
Note that the following statements do not apply to all Panamanians or Chinese. These statements are just
used to show how ethnocentric people act in a diverse community. In addition, I may say that these
statements are the result from my own experience since I was born in this country and may not be taken as
completely true statements.
Chinese people living in Panama have a perspective where they assume that Panamanians are
economically not stable. They believe that the money Panamanians earn in a week or a month is wasted in
parties every weekend. They also assume that this happens because Panamanians are lazy people who
complain about unemployment and do not try to find jobs; they wait for help from the government instead.
In addition to this, since Panamanians are not economically stable, Chinese believe that they never pay the
bills and debts on time. Also, Chinese people judge black Panamanians as shoplifters and thieves because
of the way they look, and behave. They presume that these Panamanians, who wear loose-fitting jeans and
large size sweater, might be thieves.
From the perspective of Panamanians, they assume that Chinese people are gamblers. Every
weekend or night after working they go to the casino to gamble and they do not leave the casino until they
lose everything or win a large amount of money. They will also borrow large amount of money from other
Chinese and this will bring them a great debt that may cost their lives if they can not pay the debt on time.
Panamanians also suppose that Chinese people smoke a lot everyday. Chinese male people smoke a pack of
20 cigarettes every day; therefore, this makes their body thin and their skin pale. Panamanians believe that
Chinese people are stingy and not generous because they do not give to charity but gamble in casinos.
As you see in the examples, ethnocentrism is all about prejudging other cultures and believing that
one’s own culture is superior. Now, to avoid the practice of ethnocentrism, people need to understand the
values and norms of other cultures in order to practice cultural relativism. I will use the example above to
explain the way cultural relativism is used.
First, Chinese people have to know that economically not stable Panamanians might have a job,
but the wages of this job is not enough to make them economically stable. Also, Chinese people have to
learn that Panamanians are sociable people who go out with their friends and family; not every weekend
but at least one day a week. In addition, Chinese people need to learn that people, who wear loose-fitting
jeans and large size sweater, are not thieves. And the appearance does not make someone thief.
Second, Panamanians need to understand that gambling is something that some Chinese people
practice for entertainment or distraction. This also applies to those Chinese who smoke, and smoking is not
the cause of pale skin or thin bodies. Panamanians have to consider that Chinese people are not stingy, but
they save money for their family and future generations.
According to the definition of cultural relativism, people need to understand unfamiliar values and
norms from other culture and evaluate them by their own standards. This is why Panamanians and Chinese
can not say what behavior is wrong or right without understanding the standards of the culture.
In conclusion, the practice of either, ethnocentrism or cultural relativism has impacts in
relationships between different ethnic groups. If people only practice ethnocentrism, this will take them to
prejudge other cultures. As a result, it may create conflicts and hatred between ethnic groups and
consequently racism and genocide. On the other hand, if people just practice cultural relativism, people can
not judge the behavior of other cultures in cases where those seem inappropriate. In addition, it also makes
people incapable to judge the behaviors of other cultures in cases where it is necessary. It is not easy to say
which concept is better, because both have weak points as described previously. However, we must know
that when facing a new culture, we have to resist making prejudgments about the new culture and think first
about ours as other might see it.
Bibliography
Macionis, John J. Society: The Basics 7th Edition. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. 2004