Ethnocentrism

[angel4hope]

The objective meaning of ethnocentrism:

 

 

"Ethnocentrism" is a commonly used word in circles where ethnicity, inter-ethnic relations, and similar social issues are of concern. The usual definition of the term is "thinking one's own group's ways are superior to others" or "judging other groups as inferior to one's own." But this definition only reflects part of the attitude involved in ethnocentrism, and, more important, does not address the underlying issue of why people do this. Most people, thinking of the shallow definition, believe that they are not ethnocentric, but are rather "open minded" and "tolerant." However, as explained below, everyone is ethnocentric, and there is no way not to be ethnocentric... it cannot be avoided, nor can it be willed away by a positive or well-meaning attitude.

 

To address the deeper issues involved in ethnocentrism calls for a more explicit definition. In this sense, ethnocentrism can be defined as: making false assumptions about others' ways based on our own limited experience. The key word is assumptions, because we are not even aware that we are being ethnocentric... we don't understand that we don't understand.

 

One example of ethnocentrism is seen in the above comments on the Inuit snowshoe race. I assumed that I had "lost" the race, but it turns out the Inuit saw the same situation very differently than I did. Westerners have a binary conflict view of life (right or wrong, liberal versus conservative, etc.), and I had imposed my "win or lose" perspective of life on the situation. As a result, I did not understand how they experience life, that trying is a basic element of life. This did not necessarily involve thinking that my ways were superior, but rather that I assumed my experience was operational in another group's circumstances.

 

Another example illustrates how basic ethnocentrism is. If we go to a store and ask for a green coat and the sales clerk gives us a blue one, we would think the person was color blind at the best or plain stupid at the worst. However, "colors" are not so simple. The Inuit lump shades of what AngloAmericans call "blue" and "green" into one color category, tungortuk, which can only be translated as "bluegreen." Does this mean that they cannot see the difference? Just as we can distinguish between different shades (such as "sky blue" and "navy blue," and "kelly green" and "forest green"), so can the Inuit. If they want to refer to what we would call "green," they would say tungUYortuk, which can be translated something like "that bluegreen that looks like the color of a [conifer] tree." The point is that something so "simple" as colors has very different meanings to us and to the Inuit. How could an Inuk "feel blue"? Colors, after all, are only different wavelengths of light, and the rainbow can be divided in many different ways.

 

There are many, many examples of such differences in meanings that make life experience so unique for all the human groups around the world. For example, English has tenses built into our verb forms, so we automatically think in terms of time (being "punctual," "time is money," "make the time," etc.). But Algonquian Indian languages do not have tenses (not that they cannot express time if they wish), but rather have "animate" and "inanimate" verb forms, so they automatically think in terms of whether things around them have a life essence or not. So when Chippewa Indians do not show up for a medical appointment, Anglo health care workers may explain this as being "present oriented," since we normally cannot think except in terms of time frames. But this is the essence of ethnocentrism, since we may be imposing a time frame where none exists.

 

The assumptions we make about others' experience can involve false negative judgements, reflected in the common definition of ethnocentrism. For example, Anglos may observe Cree Indians sitting around a camp not doing obvious work that is needed and see Crees as "lazy". Westerners generally value "being busy" (industriousness), and so may not appreciate the Cree capacity to relax and not be compelled to pursue some activities of a temporary nature... nor realize how much effort is put into other activities like hunting.

 

Assumptions can also reflect false positive attitudes about others' ways. For example, we in urban industrial society frequently think of Cree Indians as being "free of the stresses of modern society," but this view fails to recognize that there are many stresses in their way of life, including the threat of starvation if injured while checking a trap line a hundred miles from base camp or when game cycles hit low ebbs. False positive assumptions are just as misleading as false negative assumptions.

 

Examples abound in our local communities, as well as around the world. When you think about your own experience with people from other ethnic groups and with attitudes expressed about relations with other countries, what examples come to your mind where you may have imposed your own views and feelings about life on their experience?

 

 

 

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Everybody is ethnocentric, as all of us around the world assume things about other people's ways.

 

So after reading this excerpt.... what do you think?

 

What is your individual view of ethnocentrism?

 

How do you define it- and does it include racism? ignorance? stereotype?

 

there ave been many anthropologists who were ethnocentric in the past and they viewed other cultures especially those that were newly discovered- as were the Trobrianders and Malay peoples- as inferior- they thought them to be primitive and underdeveloped -- in an evolutionary view they saw these so called "primitives" as abnormal versions- underdeveloped homo erectus/ homo sapiens... etc...

 

Malinowski was one of the first anthropologists to to actual field study with such newly discovered and colonized cultures as the Trobrianders as well as Annete Weiner- who followed his footsteps- Malinowski saw these "primitives" as nothing less than the norm- but different in their own traditions and values-

 

the whole debate with these newly discoverd (at Malinowskis time- they were newly discovered- early 18th century) cultures was whether colonization and westernization are tainting what nature has created....

 

what do you think?

 

is westernization as evil as it is being depicted by some researchers? or do you actually think capitalism and such western ways of life are beneficial for these "newly developing" economic entities?

[angel4hope]

this excerpt - about the Inuit was writetn by:

Ken Barger

Anthropology

IUPUI

January 1 2003

[sev-mard]

There is so much to say about this subject, but I don't nearly have enough time. I think being ethonocentric can be both a gift and a curse. It is needed to continue one's cultural ideals and practices, but it can also be the driving force in racism, hate and genocides.

I think have ethnocentric thought is natural, many times people know most intimately themselves and their ways, this is not wrong in any way. But assuming your way is best, or other's ways is wrong, no matter how much they diverge from yours is not a good practice.

Everyone will also have their idea about how one must act to be considered ethonocentric. Like I am very into being Black, I have no choice really, but at the same time there is nothing more I love than interacting, comparing with, and learning from other groups, languages and cultural areas. All this information is then processed in brain both from an objective view and from the view as how it relates to me as a Sev Mard. So with an open mind your ethocentrism can be used more for positive pursuits than negative ones.

Ethnocentrism is not wrong at all, I think it's great and is necessary to many cultural preservational aspects, but it can also be the impetus for hate, zenophobia and other more vile reperucussions.

 

peace

[angel4hope]

thank you sevook jan- i agree but ethnocentrism is usually used in a negative context- mainly associated wit hracism and inorance or other's cultures- but i very much comprehend what you are putting forth here- thanx - that was an interesting take on the issue Peace out