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UNDERSTANDING CULTURE,
SOCIETY AND POLITICS 11
QUARTER 1– MODULE 3
Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

MELC 3 Week No.3 Code: UCSP11/12DCS-Id10

Competency:Explain the importance of cultural relativism in attaining cultural
understanding
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UCSP– Grade 11
Supplementary Learning Material
Quarter 1 Module 3 :Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

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DEVELOPMENT TEAM OF THE MODULE

Writer: ELSA G. GARRIDO
Content Editor: MR.CEASAR NACHOR
Language Editor: ELSA G. GARRIDO
Layout and Design Editor: ELSA G.GARRIDO
Illustrator: ELSA G. GARRIDO
Cover Layout Artist: ELSA G. GARRIDO
MANAGEMENT TEAM
OIC-SDS: Romela M. Cruz, CESE
CID Chief: Alyn G. Mendoza, PhDTE
SGOD Chief: Emma G. Arrubio
EPS-in-Charge: CEASAR NACHOR
EPS-LRMS: Ruby E. Baniqued, EDD

Department of Education – Schools Division Office, Mandaluyong

Office Address: Calbayog St. Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City
Telephone number: CID- 79552557
E-mail Address:sdo.mandaluyong@deped.gov.ph ● www.depedmandaluyong.org

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Handle this module with care. Use a separate sheet in answering the exercises.
2. Read the directions carefully before doing each task.
3. Activities in this module can be done individually or with the help of your teacher,
home learning partner or knowledge source partner.
4. Finish this module for the intended week.
5. Return this module to the authorize person in charge of retrieval.

MELC 3 Week No.3 Code: UCSP11/12DCS-Id10

Competency:Explain the importance of cultural relativism in attaining cultural
understanding
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UCSP 11

Name :__________________________________________Date:___________Score:__________

Objectives:
A. Become aware of why and how cultural relativism mitigates ethnocentrism
B. Identify forms of tangible and intangible heritage and the threats to these.
C. Value cultural heritage and express pride of place without being ethnocentric.

KEY CONCEPTS

As the anthropologist Edward Tylor defined it, “Culture… is that complex whole which

includes knowledge, belief, arts, morals, law, customs, and other capabilities and habits

acquired by man as a member of society.” It encompasses everything—from a cultural group’s

choice of clothing, to the language they use every day. Every society has its own unique

culture that sets it apart from others. As learners trying to understand culture, one must be

aware of the diversity of culture, as well as one’s disposition in perceiving them.

PRETEST

Directions: “TRAVELLER”
Imagine yourself traveling to a foreign country with an entirely different culture from yours. You are
walking down the street, and you see vendors selling street food, just like in the Philippines. As you
come closer, you realize that they do not sell pork barbecue and or chicken innards; instead, they sell
fried insects of different colors, sizes, and shapes. What are your initial thoughts? Would you try and
eat their street food? Find a partner and share your thoughts with each othe r.

MELC 3 Week No.3 Code: UCSP11/12DCS-Id10

Competency:Explain the importance of cultural relativism in attaining cultural
understanding
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Deep-fried insects on sale at a food stall in Bangkok, Thailand

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entomophagy

REVIEW

1. What is the different aspect of culture? Why culture is important in our society ?

INTRODUCTION

LETS BEGIN
Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism

As mentioned by Dean Champion and his Associates," the range of variations between culture is
almost endless and yet at the same time cultures ensemble one another in many ways.”somehow,
cultural variations is affected by man’s geographical set-up and social experience. Cultural Variations
refers to the differences in social behavior and that different cultures exhibit around the world. What
maybe considered good etiquette in one culture maybe considered bad etiquette in another.there are
two important perceptions on cultural variability namely Ethnocentrism and Cultural relativism.
ETHNOCENTRISM is a bent to believe that one’s culture is superior or above other cultures. the
ethnocentric view considers one’s own culture as the “center of everything,” seeing the world only
from the perspective of one’s own culture judging another culture solely by the values, and standards
of one’s own culture. An ethnocentric individual believes that his own culture is right, more proper,
more natural or normal.

A Different Perspective: Cultural Relativism

CULTURAL RELATIVISM
Franz Boas, a German-American anthropologist, was among the scholars who first introduced this
concept of cultural relativism. The plan to judge behavior consistent with its cultural
context. The principle that a private person’s beliefs and activities should be understood by others
concerning that individual’s own culture. Cultural relativism begs us to respect differences, always
taking into consideration the cultural context in which a behavior or practice belongs. By taking an
insider’s perspective or an Emic perspective in studying cultural groups, and their practices, one can
gather a richer and more comprehensive understanding of the subjects at hand.

MELC 3 Week No.3 Code: UCSP11/12DCS-Id10

Competency:Explain the importance of cultural relativism in attaining cultural
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Think about this

Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism provide two distinct perspectives in the
study of cultures. Ethnocentric beliefs may provide a sense of belongingness with the members of
your own culture, due to similar beliefs and worldviews. However, it is essential to employ cultural
relativism if one wishes to fully understand cultures outside of one’s own. In cultural relativism,
neither one is civilized nor primitive, only different, but equal. Where ethnocentrism ends, cultural
relativism begins.

Forms of Tangible and Intangible Heritage

According to the ideas of Franz Boas, a culture is a product of the unique history it had gone
through. Thus, to understand a specific culture, one must also understand what the culture was in
the past. By studying a culture’s history, one can have insights about how its material and non-
material culture have evolved.
The Concept of Heritage
Heritage refers to anything that is being passed down from one generation to another. It could be
related to acquiring something from birth, like how infants inherit the social status of their parents. It
could also refer to the inheritance of property, such as a father entrusting his estate to his son. In
studying culture, the concept of heritage is also very relevant.
Cultural heritage, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO), “is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are
inherited from past generations, maintained within the present and bestowed for the advantage of
future generations”. Cultural heritage is a representation of a particular group’s way of living that is
passed down from one generation to another.Everything that was received from a culture’s ancestors
that are still present in the culture’s current form can be considered as part of its cultural heritage.
Cultural heritage can be broken down into two categories: tangible and intangible heritage
1. Tangible it is an objects that are part of a culture which were passed on from one generation to
another. a concrete and physical heritage of a culture.It is composed of both movable and immovable
cultural heritage. Examples of movable cultural heritage are artifacts or objects that can be easily
transported, such as sculptures, musical instruments, clothing, and tools for livelihood. Immovable
cultural heritage includes structures such as monuments, buildings, or even a whole town. In the
Philippines, an example of immovable cultural heritage is the city of Vigan.
2. Intangible Heritage a form of cultural heritage which has no material dimension; examples of
intangible heritage are folklore, rituals, social practices, and customs

ACTVITY 1: Reflect Upon

Directions: Reflecting on what you’ve learned, try to think of any social group or person that you
have judged based on your ethnocentric beliefs. If you were in their position, what would you have
felt? Can you think of ways to create better judgments about them using cultural relativism? Write
your answer on a piece of paper and reflect on it.

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Competency:Explain the importance of cultural relativism in attaining cultural
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ACTVITY 2: Comprehension and Analysis

DIRECTIONS : Answer the following questions briefly.

1. Is there such as superior and inferior culture? Explain your answer.
2. Apo Whang-Od is the last mambabatok of the Butbut tribe from the Buscalan Village in Kalinga.
Batok is a form of body-tattoo, which is done by tapping a thorn of a pomelo tree on skin, using
charcoal and water as ink. In the past, body tattoos in the tribe were given to women and men,
especially warriors who protected the tribe from the enemies or outsiders. At present, the
practice has been opened to tourists, who come up to Kalinga to get themselves some tattoos. In
this situation, do you agree with the current application of the cultural practice? Would you
consider it a great way of preserving the cultural heritage? Why or why not? Can you suggest
some ways to preserve the intangible heritage in the scenario?

Activity 3: Apply It

Directions: Create a small artwork that represents the cultural heritage of your community that
you are most proud of. After this, reflect and think of reasons for liking it. Also, suggest ways on how
to preserve that cultural heritage

POST TEST
Direction: Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.

1. Everything that includes laws, beliefs, practices, customs and traditions of a group or society is
referred to as ____________________________________.
2. The orientation or perspective that views one’s culture as the center of everything,using it as a
standard for judging other cultures is called_____________________.
3. The concept or methodological position which allows social scientists to study a specific culture
without any bias is termed as _______________________________.
4. The concept which argues that each culture is a product of its own history is called
_________________________________.
5. The German-American anthropologist who was among the first to introduce the concept of
cultural relativism was __________________________________.
6. Any aspect of way of living developed by a group that is passed down from generation to
generation is called ____________________________.
7. Objects like artifacts, buildings, monuments, and musical instruments are examples of
_______________________________.
8. Rituals, social norms, practices, performance arts, and folklore are examples of
_______________________________.
9. A process developed by Simon Thurley suggesting ways on how to keep heritage for future
generations is called _____________________________.
10. A special form of tangible heritage that includes the environmental sites are important to a
group’s culture is called ____________________________.

MELC 3 Week No.3 Code: UCSP11/12DCS-Id10

Competency:Explain the importance of cultural relativism in attaining cultural
understanding
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References:

1. Alejandria-Gonzalez, Maria Carinnes P. Understanding Culture,Society and

Politics.Philippines:Diwa LearningSystem Inc.2016
2. Baleña, Ederlina D, Lucero,Dolores M, Peralta, Arnel M. Understanding Culture,Society and
Politics.Philippines:Educational Resources Corporation. 2016
3. “What is Cultural Heritage”. Khan Academy. Accessed January 17, 2018.
http://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history-basics/beginners arthistory/a/what-
is-cultural-heritage
4. “Tangible Cultural Heritage”. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization. Accessed January 17, 2018. www.unesco.org/new/en/cairo/culture/tangible-
culturalheritage/
5. https://www.quipper.com/ph/UNIT 4: Ethnocentrism and Cultural
Relativism
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt2tikGSu98&t=335s major elements of culture
7. https://www.scribd.com/presentation/415106024/UNCU

MELC 3 Week No.3 Code: UCSP11/12DCS-Id10

Competency:Explain the importance of cultural relativism in attaining cultural
understanding
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For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Schools Division Office-

Mandaluyong

Calbayog Street, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City 1500

Telefax: (632) 79552557

Email Address: sdo.mandaluyong@deped.gov.ph

●www.depedmandaluyong.org

MELC 3 Week No.3 Code: UCSP11/12DCS-Id10

Competency:Explain the importance of cultural relativism in attaining cultural
understanding