Cultural Relativism and Ethnocentrism

Ben is an ethnocentric. He considers other people, specifically indigenous tribes, as backwards people who have no manners at all. Why do you think Ben come up with this bias?

• He regards another culture as superior.

• He regards his own culture as superior.

• He regards his own culture as normal and uses it to measure foreign cultures.

• He regards another culture as superior and uses it to measure his own culture

Lisa was a proud cultural relativist. She sees that Ilocanos are thrifty because of their geographical location. Likewise, she sees nothing wrong about it. What did Lisa exhibit in that situation?

• She believes anything goes in one’s own culture.

• She measures behavior by how the other culture regards this practice.

• She has no concept of right or wrong.

• She measures which cultures are related to others.

What might be the result of ethnocentrism on a global scale?

• Other people may be treated as savage or morally corrupt.

• There is no way to determine which is right or wrong.

• Native people often wish to colonize superior culture.

• Believing one’s own culture is superior makes one a morally corrupt savage.

For better opportunities, many Filipinos were forced to work abroad, exposing themselves to unfamiliar culture. Culture shock is a feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to other’s way of life or set of attitudes. Which of the following is NOT a symptom of culture shock?

• Feeling homesick when in a new place

• Feeling like the new culture is superior to your own

• Obsessing about the cleanliness of food and water in a new place

• Feeling the hostility towards natives or locals

Which of the following statements is a positive effect of ethnocentrism?

• Rina posted on her Facebook wall saying that eating fried tarantula is “yuckie.”

• Greg posted a statement which says, “Ang galing ng Pinoy, angat sa iba, kaya’t tayo ay magkaisa.”

• Shiela posted a picture of Carlos P. Romulo with a caption, “This little brown monkey that you are referring to does not eat banana peelings. He is a Filipino not an American.

• Wendel tweeted, “Nakakatakot na ang panahon ngayon daming taong gumagala na tadtad ng tattoo ang katawan.”

Identify whether the given statement is an example of ethnocentrism or cultural relativism.

"Korean culture is better than our culture because many Filipinos try to imitate and adopt this culture."

• ethnocentrism

• cultural relativism

Identify whether the given statement is an example of ethnocentrism or cultural relativism.

"The Aetas of Zambales ,the Mangyans of Mindoro and other Filipino tribes have different religious beliefs. Their Gods are manifested on the different forms of nature like trees, mountains, rivers, volcano, their dead ancestors,and many more. I think there is nothing wrong about that. It does not make them a lesser group of people.

• ethnocentrism

• cultural relativism

Identify whether the given statement is an example of ethnocentrism or cultural relativism.

"Indigenous people should learn to change their old and traditional ways of life in order to be happy and successful."

• ethnocentrism

• cultural relativism

Identify whether the given statement is an example of ethnocentrism or cultural relativism.

"People in my culture could learn a lot from people in other cultures."

• ethnocentrism

• cultural relativism

Identify whether the given statement is an example of ethnocentrism or cultural relativism

"Filipinos’ religious traditions like the celebration of fiestas should be banned because it is just a waste of time, energy, and resources"

• ethnocentrism

• cultural relativism