Cultural Relativism and Ethnocentrism - Essay Example

Me: what do you think about Indians not eating beef because of their religion?Him: that is wrong for them not to eat beef or cow meat, beef is sweet and there should be no reason other to why they should not.

The next day, we resumed the discussion about other cultures in other countries and realized that somewhat our culture was superior in its way. This was so because of the things that we do in our cultures we perceive to be the best and highest in society. However, the reading we did in class that previous week dispelled our notion and opinion which stipulated that we were ethnocentric. The term ethnocentrism in the simplest and most basic sense refers to the instance and situation whereby an individual elevates his or her own culture over and above the cultures of other people (Perne 23).

For instance, when a person believes that the things that happen in his or her life are the best and others are inferior constitutes ethnocentrism. In rhetoric form, Me: What do you think about shaving off hair which is done by other cultures? Him: I can never shave off his hair on the head since it is awkward.