Lesson 5: CULTURAL RELATIVISM

For decades, anthropologists and sociologists have collected information on the diverse mores
of different cultures. Some societies hold bribery to be morally acceptable, but other societies condemn
it. Views on appropriate sexual behavior and practices vary widely. We commonly hear people say,
"What is right for one person is not necessarily right for another and "What is right in some
circumstances is not right in other circumstances." If this were true, then it would seem that we cannot
make any general or objective moral assessments. "When in Rome," should we not then "do as the
Romans do"? In other words, would not morality be either entirely a personal matter or a function of
cultural values? These are questions about ethical relativism. In this chapter, we will examine ethical
relativism and its two basic forms and then present reasons for and against it.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After studying this chapter, the students should be able to:

1. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of cultural relativism;
2. Evaluate the issue on Female Genital Mutilation; and
3. Create a collage out of the list of the different beliefs and practices around the world.

LECTURE NOTES

What is Cultural Relativism?

There are various views on what the best way to understand cultural relativism is or what the
term essentially means. According to some philosophers, cultural relativism is a theory that holds that
there are no universally accepted ethical standards. This is surely true, as one only needs to have a
minimal understanding of various cultures to see this. But relativism holds more than this. It is the view
that there is no objective standard of right and wrong, even in principle. There are only different views
of what is right and wrong. In saying they are "relative" to individuals or societies; we mean that they
are a function of, or dependent on, what those individuals or societies do, in fact, believe. According to
ethical relativism, there is no objective right and wrong. The opposite point of view, that there is an
objective right and wrong.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Cultural Relativism

What are the Advantages of Cultural Relativism?

• It is a system which promotes cooperation.
For the most part, humanity is strong because of the differences we all have. Every individual has a
different perspective that is based on their upbringing, experiences, and personal thoughts. By
embracing the many differences we have, the cooperation creates the potential for a stronger society.
• It creates a society where equality is possible.
In any society, people rise by climbing on top of other people. It is a socially acceptable way of creating
discrimination. We see this today in the wage gap that women face, the educational opportunities that
minority groups face, and the violence we see because of political oppression. Cultural relativism allows
the individual to define their moral code without defining the moral code of others.
• People can pursue a genuine interest.
You set the definitions of what you can have and what you cannot have. When implemented
successfully, each person would get to focus on their strengths instead of their weaknesses.

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 • Respect is encouraged in a system of cultural relativism.
Because such a system promotes the individual’s definition instead of a group definition, a society can
evolve because there is a natural level of respect built into the process. Each person is naturally given
the right to pursue life through their own specific perspective and then learn from their experiences in a
way that works best for them.
• It preserves human cultures.
Humanity is a very diverse set of thoughts, traditions, ideas, and practices. Many times, the traditions of
humanity are set aside so that a group set of standards can be appeased.
• Cultural relativism creates a society without judgment.
Under the theory of cultural relativism, judgment goes away. The only person that judges you is
yourself. People who might disagree with you are able to set their own codes and standards for their
own individualistic bubble. Instead of worrying about others, you only worry about yourself.
• Moral relativism can be excluded from cultural relativist.
Each culture can be treated as an individual under the theory of cultural relativism. This means the
moral codes of a culture can be defined and an expectation implemented that people follow it.
• We can create personal moral codes based on societal standards with ease.
To determine if a decision would be “right” or “wrong,” cultural relativism allows individuals to consult
with the standards of their society or culture. It is a simple test to determine the course that a person
should take in such a circumstance.
• It stops cultural conditioning.
People tend to adapt their attitudes, thoughts, and beliefs to the people they are with on a regular basis.
This is cultural conditioning and it prevents people from having an individualistic perspective.

What Are the Disadvantages of Cultural Relativism?

• It creates a system that is fueled by personal bias.
Every society has a certain natural bias to it because of how humanity operates. People tend to prefer to
be with others who have similar thoughts and feelings, so they segregate themselves into
neighborhoods, communities, and social groups that share specific perspectives.
• It would create chaos.
People who can follow their own moral code because there is no “wrong” or “right” would be allowed to
pursue any life they preferred under the theory of cultural relativism.
• It is an idea that is based on the perfection of humanity.
Many people strive to do good every day. Most want to see everyone have the chance to pursue
happiness in some way. That is why the idea of cultural relativism often seems to be inviting.
• It could promote a lack of diversity.
Cultural relativism promotes an individualistic point of view, so although it seems to promote diversity,
it actually removes it from a society.
• It could limit moral progress.
In cultural relativism, everyone would be able to use their bathroom of choice OR a culture could state
that everyone must use a specific bathroom without exception and there would be complete agreement
in either choice. Within the society, either choice would be seen as moral progress, but in reality, it
could hold people back.
• It could limit humanity’s progress.
We often think of the concept of cultural relativism as progression, but it isn’t necessarily that way.
When you remove the ability to judge one standard from another, then the comparative process of
placing a current society or culture against a past one is removed as well. No definition of success can be
implemented because each is successful in its own way.

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 Case study: Female Genital Mutilation in the Philippines
Story and Photo by Atom Araullo

Embong Ballaho, as she is fondly called by

neighbors, identifies as a member of the Yakan tribe, an
indigenous Muslim group from this southern island of the
Philippines. She is sometimes called a kah dayang or
“teacher” as well. At 57, her eyes still have a youthful
spark in them. She laughs easily, especially when she
cannot understand what is being said, being slightly hard
of hearing.
As a panday, Nanay Embong has formed an
intimate relationship with the women of her community
over the three decades that she’s been doing this. She
looks after pregnant women, assists in childbirth, gives post-natal consultations, and even leads the
washing of the dead. Fittingly, Nanay Embong’s house is also her clinic. Her visitors for the day are two
girls, 4 and 7 years of age, accompanied by their mother. Female circumcision is a source of bitter
international controversy. It is officially known as Female Genital Mutilation or FGM, and is defined by
the World Health Organization (WHO) as the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or
other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. While the practice is found mostly in
western, eastern, and northeastern Africa, there are also documented cases in Asia and immigrant
communities in Europe, North America, and Australia.
FGM is a public health concern in many countries because of its harmful effects on women. The
United Nations General Assembly included the practice in its Declaration on the Elimination of Violence
Against Women. There have been many international efforts to persuade practitioners to abandon FGM
or to outlaw it altogether. In the Philippines, few academic studies have been done on the subject of
FGM. The terminology itself might be a source of debate given the way it is practiced here. Experts note
that female circumcision occurs in at least several communities in Zamboanga, Basilan, and Sulu. Locals
call the practice pag-islam or tuli which directly translates to “circumcision.” However, it differs
significantly from documented FGM practices in other parts of the world.
The tools for the job are quite simple. Nanay Embong prepares a bottle of alcohol, cotton swabs,
a candle, and a small, ornate knife. The blade, while newly polished, shows years of abuse, with a patina
of rust and scratches crisscrossing the surface. The point of the blade has noticeably broken off and was
reattached with a spot weld. Inspecting it by hand, it is not particularly sharp, but could still injure. As
the ritual begins, one of the girls is led outside the house to be bathed, a process called pagpandih.
Crouching on the ground, shirtless, water is poured over her head while the panday recites a prayer
or tawal.
The belief that this rite of passage has basis in religion has justified its continued practice among
the Yakan and other indigenous peoples in the region. In her study, Amilasan notes that some religious
leaders view female circumcision as part of the legal body of Islam, and is mentioned in the Qur-an or
hadith (a collection of the sayings and acts of prophet Mohammad), making it obligatory.
Al-Azhar Supreme Council of Islamic Research, the highest religious authority in Egypt, issued a
statement in 2007 saying FGM has “no basis in core Islamic law or any of its partial provisions” and that
it should not be done. Indeed, some studies note that FGM’s origins in northeastern Africa, where it is
prevalent, are pre-Islamic. American anthropologist Ellen Gruenbaum has argued that practitioners may
not be able to distinguish between religion, tradition, and chastity, all of which become interwoven as a
community maintains its way of life.

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 LEARNING ACTIVITY

Concern and opposition has been raised over the practice of FGM for decades. Women’s rights
advocates in particular think that the tradition is rooted in gender inequality and attempts to control a
woman’s sexuality. Answer the following questions based on your perception on the issue.

1. Since Female Genital Mutilation is part of a cultural tradition, can it still be condemned?
2. Does anyone have the right to interfere in age-old cultural traditions such as FGM?
3. Which international and regional instruments can be referenced for the elimination of FGM?
4. How does FGM violate the human rights of children and women?

TASK

Each society in the world has its own cultural traditions, beliefs and practices that identify their heritage
and makes them uniquely different. Research on some of the unique practices of at least 20 countries
around the world and create a collage based on your findings.

REFERENCES

Gruenbaum E. The female circumcision controversy: an anthropological perspective. Philadelphia:

University of Pennsylvania Press; 2001
Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting. UNICEF DATA. Retrieved from
https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/female-genitalmutilation-and-cutting/. Published
September 2016. Accessed March 26, 2017
New Woman Research Center, "Women's Wit Over Men's: Trade-offs and Strategic accommodations in
Egyptian's Women's lives," in: Negotiating Reproductive Rights, International Reproductive
Rights Research Action Group (eds.), (London and New Jersey: Zed Books, forthcoming in 1997).
Araullo, A. (n.d). Female Circumcision in the Philippines: A Contoversial Rites of Passage.
Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/specials/content/1/female-circumcision
in-the-philippines-a-controversial-rite-of-passage/

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