Cultural Relativity
Look at the following descriptions of different cultures. Decide for yourself whether you think that they
are true or they are false.
1.
In Nepal, girl babies are allowed to die at birth because families do not
want daughters.
2. If you were a member of an Amazon Indian Tribe you would want your
relatives to be eaten by the rest of the tribe after they died.
3. There were some Arab people who thought that to be really beautiful, a
woman should be so fat that her thighs would slap together loudly as she
walked.
4. Some North American Indians have huge parties with all their friends
where they give away almost everything that they own
5. If Eskimo families are facing starvation, the old women are expected to
commit suicide for the sake of the tribe by walking naked in the snow.
6. The first Europeans to Tasmania thought that Tasmanians were not real
humans so they hunted them with horses and hounds because there were
no foxes on the Island.
7. There is an African tribe where it is against the law for you to marry
anyone with the same name as one of your parents.
8. In some societies, men can only get a wife by stealing her from another
family.
9. Some Chinese people go the cemetery to wash and polish the bones and to
have a picnic with their dead relatives.
10. There are countries where it is illegal to drink alcohol, but you can use
other drugs if you wish.
Conclusion:
Cultural relativity means
All of the above are true. Possible reasons are suggested.
In Nepal, girl babies are allowed to die at
birth because families do not want
daughters.
It is an extreme form of population control in
an area where land and food is scarce.
If you were a member of an Amazon Indian
Tribe you would want your relatives to be
eaten by the rest of the tribe after they
died.
Eating someone in a religious ceremony makes
them part of you and they therefore live on in
you.
There were some Arab people who thought
that to be really beautiful, a woman should
be so fat that her thighs would slap
together loudly as she walked.
Extreme slimness is a sign of TB. A fat woman
was therefore a healthy, rich woman.
Some North American Indians have huge
parties with all their friends where they
give away almost everything that they own
What better proof of wealth and power is
there than being able to throw things away?
If Eskimo families are facing starvation,
the old women are expected to commit
suicide for the sake of the tribe by walking
naked in the snow.
It’s a form of population control. Food is
scarce, and older women are not therefore
needed for the survival of the tribe.
The first Europeans to Tasmania thought
that Tasmanians were not real humans so
they hunted them with horses and hounds
because there were no foxes on the Island.
This was simple ignorance. All the aboriginals
were killed and it was a very shameful story in
history.
There is an African tribe where it is
against the law for you to marry anyone
with the same name as one of your parents.
This is because they are possible a relative as
names are given in a strict rule according to
family and position
In some societies, men can only get a wife
by stealing her from another family.
It proves he has the necessary hunting skills
to provide for a family.
Some Chinese people go the cemetery to
wash and polish the bones and to have a
picnic with their dead relatives.
Ancestors are seen as close to the Gods and
honoured
There are countries where it is illegal to
drink alcohol, but you may use other drugs
if you wish.
This is a religious rule. Alcohol is a very
dangerous drug and some religions view it as a
sin to become drunk.