UNIT 2

LESSON 4: ETHNOCENTRISM AND RELATIVISM

LEARNING OUTCOMES: The learners are expected to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the uniqueness of each society and culture;

2. Value cultural heritage and express pride of place without being ethnocentric;

3. Become aware of why and how cultural relativism mitigates ethnocentrism; and

4. Identify forms of tangible and intangible heritage and the threats to these.

LEARNING CONTENT:

All cultures in the world project similarities. Sociologists enumerate an extensive list of these
similarities such as speech, language, art, cooking, eating, courting, and a host of others.

THE PRIMARY CAUSES OF CULTURAL SIMILARITIES:

a. BIOLOGICAL SIMILARITIES. This means that all people in the world have the same
biological needs, namely food, clothing, shelter, and health care.

b. NECESSARY PREREQUISITES FOR SOCIAL BEING. Society must fulfil some

requirements in order to function, such as replacing members, teaching new members to
participate, and the need to have participation in production and distribution.

c. PSYCHIC UNITY OF MANKIND. All human beings are alike in having similar ranges of
emotion – the need for love, security, and language.

d. GEOGRAPHICAL ENVIRONMENT. The geographical environment is characterized by

certain limitations such as limited food, limited source of energy, and other delimiting factors of
the people’s environment.

Every society in the world is unique from one another. Everyone has his own cultural practices,
values and interests. Each culture has its distinct features and characteristics. This is socially
called cultural diversity. These differences in culture can be attributed to the following factors:

a. Though men all over the world have the same biological needs, they differ in ways in
meeting them. Each culture adapts to its environment.

b. Differences in geographical characteristics like climate, topography, or soil condition.

c. The absence or presence of natural resources.

ORIENTATIONS IN VIEWING OTHER CULTURES

One particular manner of viewing other culture is Ethnocentrism, a feeling of superiority

towards one’s own group over other groups. This one-sided vision often results in failing to
adequately understand cultures that are different from one’s own, and in value judgments of
preference and thought of superiority of one’s in-group. Thus, ethnocentrism, the extreme
preferential feeling which the individual has for his own group; that one’s group is more
important than any other. Ultimately, ethnocentrism is an expression of group solidarity with
antagonism towards outside groups. In fact, ethnocentrism is linked to multiple forms of
dogmatism and prejudice, including regionalism, nationalism, racism, and even sexism and
religious discrimination.

A relatively neutral cultural perspective is Cultural relativism. This is the principle of

regarding the beliefs, values, and practices of a culture from the viewpoint of that culture itself.
In sociology, the principle is sometimes practiced to avoid cultural bias, as well as to avoid
looking with arrogance another culture by the standards of one's own culture. For this reason,
cultural relativism has been considered an attempt to avoid ethnocentrism. Cultural relativism is
related to but often distinguished from moral relativism, the view that morality is relative to a
standard, especially a cultural standard.

IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING OUR FILIPINO CULTURE

Why is it important to preserve our culture as a Filipino? It is important to preserve our culture
so that the true Filipino identity and culture will last. In spite of the impact of technology and
the pervasive influences of foreign cultures, we Filipinos must forever cherish and be proud to
say that we are Filipinos. We Filipinos have something that other nations do not have and that
is our unique culture. Our cultural values, traditions and heritage could not be contained in
books nor learned through studies alone. We need to practice them ourselves every hour of our
lives. The Filipino values, traits and virtues should be written in every Filipino`s heart.

In fact, our sterling Filipino culture of hospitality and being polite and warm to strangers is one
of the reasons why foreigners keep coming to our country. This is a testament and tangible
proof for which truly we can say that it is indeed More Fun in The Philippines. We also need to
preserve our natural resources: the beautiful islands, beaches, the clean and sparkling rivers,
lakes and seas, the fresh and green flora and forests, all gifts to us by God and Mother Nature.
We should preserve and protect them because these are natural magnets that attract tourists
from both local and foreign lands to visit our beloved country which strengthen our economic
and diplomatic status. They are potential sources of income for the country and at the same
time bind us a community of nations.

The Filipino cultural arts also need to be preserved and practiced so as not to be replaced or
supplanted by too many international influences that hook most of our teenagers nowadays
who we fear may soon lose their taste and appreciation of our very own Filipino artistic
heritage. An example is the Korean K-Pop. Many teenagers today are influenced by this Korean
performing arts group. They are attached to the way Koreans dress; the way they act.
Unknowingly, they are being transformed the Korean way. This is alarming because by
adapting the culture of others they tend to forget the true Filipino cultural traditions.

We need to avoid the adapting of other countries culture because by adapting their culture we
tend to forget our own culture and that will lead to the loss of our culture. Time will come when
this culture of ours will no longer be remembered nor practiced by other Filipinos. We need to
preserve our culture because this defines us as a true Filipino. We are known to be hospitable,
genuine and many more. If this culture is lost, we will no longer be remembered as what we
are today. That’s why it is important for us to practice our culture in our everyday life and
continue the legacy of a true Filipino with sterling talents and honorable virtues.

If we want to be remembered as a nation with a noble origin and solid cultural values, we need
to value our cultural heritage; traits and values that were used to describe us as Filipinos. As
the years elapsed, we will still be known by other countries to be this way. Observably, the
culture that we have been practicing throughout these years is slowly vanishing and possibly is
forgotten because of the influences of other countries. By adapting their culture to ourselves,
by idolizing their culture it is not farfetched that we will ultimately lose our own Filipino culture.

There is no harm in appreciating and practicing other country’s culture once in a while. What is
harmful and detrimental to our culture is when we cast our own culture and totally embrace
another. Conversely, any feeling of superiority of our own culture and disgust of other’s culture
would not promote a healthy and a vibrant international community.