Orientation in Viewing Culture

By: Guilbert Dee

Orientation in Viewing Culture

Ethnocentrism 

• This means they assess other cultures with regards to their own culture. They see it through their own lens. Their understanding of other cultures is filtered by their own culture. With this, they somewhat think their culture is superior compared to the others. 

• Example: North Korea thinks that they are the most powerful country in the world because of their general idea about themselves.  

Cultural Relativism

• This means they view other cultures based on that culture itself. The idea of this is that different cultures should have the same level of respect. We should take in the uniqueness of each culture and understand it fully. 

• Example: Muslim women have to cover their bodies with burkas or hijabs because of religious obligations.

Multiculturalism 

• This means they accept the differences of each culture. As we all know, each culture is different from one another. The diversity of each culture should be  encouraged to promote individuality between each other.

• Example: Corporations with different kinds of people that work together no matter their nationality, language, & culture (e.g. Hopscotch). 

Importance:  The way a person interacts and moves in a society can be influenced because of how they view culture. The actions and decisions of politics can also be affected by this also. Their ideas are filtered with the knowledge they have on this. 

Insight: Culture is defined as the set of beliefs, ideas, arts, language and etc. of a specific group in the society, in other words, it is their way of living. There are various ways in viewing and understanding the different cultures we have in our world. We all have our different opinions and ideas about them. In my case, I look at it in a multiculturalism way. The uniqueness of each culture shows the different ways life was in that specific area. It shows the history and it differentiates each culture from one another. This should be supported so that the teachings and lessons passed from generation to generation may be preserved and cherished. 

References:

• Enthocentrism. (n.d.). https://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/ethnocentrism-faq.htm

• Cultural Relativism. (n.d.). https://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/cultural-relativism.htm

• Eagan, J. L. (2015, August 31). Multiculturalism. https://www.britannica.com/topic/multiculturalism

• Ethnocentrism North Korea Article. (2012, February 11). https://personalblogjohal22.wordpress.com/2012/02/11/ethnocentrism-north-korea-article/

• Vyver, J. (2017, August 17). Explainer: Why do Muslim women wear a burka, niqab or hijab?. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-23/why-do-muslim-women-wear-a-burka-niqab-or-hijab/5761510

• Debusmann, B. Jr. (2017, February 4). Multicultural companies are great companies, experts say. https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/dubai/multicultural-companies-are-great-companies-experts-say