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Week 5 – Written Assignment

Cultural Perspectives Draft

The goal of this assignment is to integrate cultural nuances, expectations, and perspectives into a draft of your final paper. You will present a current diversity-related situation or dilemma; compare and contrast the cultures involved in the situation; and provide a historical perspective and analyze the contributing factors to the current state of the situation. You will then interpret the effects of the situation on the cultures involved, provide evidence in favor of and opposed to each side of the situation. Finally, you will assess your beliefs and perspectives regarding the situation or dilemma and identify strategies for building inclusion by synthesizing the varying perspectives.

Instructions:

This assignment will build upon your accumulated learning from the course and your written assignments from Weeks 3 and 4. Based on your identified situation or cultural dilemma (from your Week 4 written assignment), determine a personal position regarding the topic. Then write a 2800-3500 word paper that:

· Identifies and presents your own attitudes, beliefs, cultural norms, stereotypes, or biases that you may have, or had in the past, regarding the topic.

· Presents at least one argument supporting the perspective of each cultural group involved with the topic.

· Considers how the situation or dilemma may be addressed moving forward with a mutually beneficial outcome.

This written assignment will include: 

· An identified diversity situation or cultural dilemma prevalent in today’s society that involves more than one cultural group. (Week 3 written assignment)

· A comparison of the different cultural groups involved. (Week 4 written assignment)

· Personal position regarding the topic. (Week 5 written assignment)

This written assignment should be double-spaced, and include a title page and references page. Additionally, utilize 5 to 7 resources, including resources provided throughout the course, to support your arguments. Make sure to gather evidence and present persuasive, well-reasoned arguments regarding your topic, and consider all perspectives and opinions.

This Week 5 paper should include all the requirements of the Weeks 3 and 4 papers and also:

· Identify and present your own attitudes, beliefs, cultural norms, stereotypes, or biases that you may have, or had in the past, regarding the topic.

· Present at least one argument supporting the perspective of each cultural group involved with the topic.

· Consider how the situation or dilemma may be addressed moving forward with a mutually beneficial outcome.

Running Head: ETHNOCENTRISM AND CULTURAL RELATIVISM 1

ETHNOCENTRISM AND CULTURAL RELATIVISM 7

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

Student Name: Oluwakemi Aina

Instructor’s Name: Dr. La Tonya Scott

01/16/2020

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

Ethnocentrism is considered as the propensity to look at the world through the lens of one’s individual culture. This means that people will judge the beliefs, behaviors, customs, and attitudes based on their own cultural patterns. Culture includes ideas, customs, and social behavior of a given group of people or society. It is the characteristics of a given group of people that is defined by social habits, language, beliefs, customs, laws, religion, etc. The aspect of ethnocentrism is considered to take place mostly because people have the highest information and understanding of their own culture, which incorrectly makes them imagine that values, standards, and norms of their own culture are adopted collectively. The concept of ethnocentrism is a common incident that happens for several people across many societies and cultures. According to Brewer (2005), an individual can simultaneously hold positive attitudes towards their own group or outgroups even when they may tend to differ on certain behaviors, attitudes or values. As a result, ethnocentrism is not essentially associated with racism or ethnic prejudice; instead, it is considered as the propensity of using one’s own culture or group as a reference in judging others, with the judgment coming from the indifferent, positive, or negative evaluation (Schopmeyer & Fisher, 1993).

Cultural relativism is the capacity to understand a culture based on its own terms and not make a judgment using the standards of an individual’s own culture. Cultural relativism aims to enhance the comprehension of cultural practices that are not characteristically part of one’s own culture. The concept of cultural relativism leads to the perception that no culture is superior to another when it is compared to a system of politics, law, morality, etc. (Brewer, 2005). People from different cultures may forge relationships that respects, acknowledges, or starts to understand one another’s different lives. People coming from various backgrounds can help one another see options that no one was thinking about because of cultural prohibitions or limitations modeled by their own traditions. Traditional habits in particular cultures can constrain opportunities because they are considered “wrong” from one’s specific culture (Johnson, 2007).

My Cultural Group

I belong to the African Ethnic Group (Yoruba Group). The Yoruba are one of the biggest ethnic groups in West Africa, especially in Nigeria. The Yoruba culture has developed and matured for several years, making it rich in history. Even though a large proportion of the Yoruba people have moved to town and cities, the old traditions are not lost. Surprisingly, the Yoruba people have the highest rate of twins across the globe. It is believed that the high number of twins is associated with a chemical within the cassava plant which makes a large percentage of the Yoruba traditional diet (Ológundúdú, 2008). As the people of Yoruba, we believe in the traditional marriage culture. The Yoruba culture that courts the bridge are expected to prove that he is capable of making a payment to the family through a bride price (Ológundúdú, 2008). The intricate wedding ceremony comprises of nine days where the bride must spend time at her parent’s house and new husband.

Most of the people of Yoruba do not most often wear their traditional dresses. Even though the traditional dresses are full of color and beautiful, they are not worn so much. A large number of Yoruba people have adopted a modern style of dressing that is used in several cities. But in rural areas, there are still some people who wear traditional clothing. In most cases, traditional clothing is worn for special events such as a wedding ceremony or a celebration. The traditions of Yoruba have a strong foundation on philosophy and folktales. It is mostly based on mythology and cosmology of creatures living in both the visible as well as invisible worlds. Several folktales are told in the Yoruba culture to help people wisely navigate through life (Ológundúdú, 2008).

It is also important to note that the Yoruba culture has its own traditional cuisines. The cuisines have had a strong influence on the foods of Nigeria, especially in hotels and restaurants in the Southern part of the country. The most popular dishes served among the Yoruba people include amala, Akara, Moin Moin, cassava, jollof rice, plantains, and ekuru (Abimbola, 2006). The Yoruba people put a lot of value to the names given to babies. They have a belief that people live their life out based on the names they are given at birth. As a result, when a child is born, a lot of focus is put on choosing a name they believe would define the destiny of the newborn. They believe that twins should have natural birth names and the first of the two twins is normally names as Taiwo (Abimbola, 2006).

Just like several other cultures across the globe, the Yoruba do not believe that death is the end of life. We believe that the current life and even afterlife are connected. When people die, they will still live though in a different setting. We also believe in the presence of ancestors who can watch over their descendants after they die, however, this tradition is slowly losing its meaning (Ológundúdú, 2008).

Dance and music have always been a key component of the Yoruba culture, especially those who live in Nigeria and the diaspora. Yoruba music and dance are used for various occasions in life including religious festivals, entertainment, and royal occasions. In most cases, the Yoruba traditional music is centered on Yoruba deities. Songs and drums beatings are the major components of Yoruba music. Other instruments like wind instruments and metal bells can sometimes be used. It is critical to note that Yoruba is a tonal language, as a result, their words must be pronounced in the right tone and pitch to understand the correct meaning of the message. The Yoruba music is normally based on tonal models of the pitch, e.g. Juju dance.

Perspectives Rooted in Ethnocentric Belief

From an ethnocentric perspective, I sometimes believe that my culture is the most natural way of living. This has happened in several instances. Certain cultures may be similar or overlap in concepts and ideas but in certain cases, I get so much shocked with extremes when I encounter practices that are very much different. I have seen a group of people view another culture’s way of life as wrong. This is not a new phenomenon in a diverse population. I have always tended to put my own culture as the center of all other groups. Inside, I have a feeling that my own culture is superior to other groups. The ingroup favoritism and denigration of outgroups is a feeling housed by several people (Tilley, 2007). However, I have since learned to understand and appreciate the uniqueness of various cultures and their traditions, beliefs, and norms.

Perspectives Based on Cultural Relativism

I believe that cross-cultural relationship is an important element in the society, particularly when people from different cultures relate in a manner that respects, acknowledges and understands one another’s a unique way of living. When people from different backgrounds live together in harmony, they can see other possibilities that they did not think existed before as a result of cultural limitations. When we brand certain cultures as “wrong” based on our own, we tend to limit our way of thinking and learning. I believe in the importance of understanding a culture on its own terms and not judge other’s culture based on the standards we set on our own. We need to live in a society that promotes an understanding of different cultural practices. No culture should be considered superior to another because they are all unique in a way (Rosado, 2004).

Sometimes back when I first joined high school, I met people of different races and cultural backgrounds. One of the cases of ethnocentrism that I met involved an Asian student in a hotel. According to Asian culture, eating is done using chopsticks for every meal. As a result, one of the Asian students found it unnecessary to see me use my hands and spoons to eat. The Yoruba people can eat using their bare hands, for most of our traditional foods. Since most of the Asian people use chopsticks to eat every meal, they may find it foolish and backward for another culture to use their bare hands or spoons for eating. The Asian student approached me to enquire why I use my hands and not chopstick, I took it as my responsibility to let him know that every culture has different practices and beliefs.

Conclusion

Every culture is unique in a way and none is superior to another. The concept of cultural relativism is an aspect that we should encourage in our society to live and coexist together for a peaceful society. The Yoruba culture, where I come from, has different cultural practices that make it unique from several other cultures I have encountered. Even though sometimes, I have a feeling that my culture is superior to other groups, the reality is that we are all different and unique in ways based on our cultural affiliation. We should create a society where people understand and appreciates our cultural differences and not judge them on the standards of their own culture.

References

Abimbola, K. (2006). Yoruba culture: A philosophical account. iroko academic publishers.

Brewer, M. B. (2005). Ethnocentrism and prejudice: A search for universals. In C. S. Crandall & M. Schaller (Eds.), Social psychology of prejudice: Historical and contemporary issues (pp. 79-93). Lawrence, KS: Lewinian Press.

Johnson, T. H. (2007). Cultural relativism: interpretations of a concept. Anthropological Quarterly, 80(3), 791-802.

Ológundúdú, D. (2008). The cradle of Yoruba culture. Center for Spoken Words.

Rosado, C. (2004). Understanding cultural relativism in a multicultural world. Rachels, J.(1999) The Elements of Moral Philosophy. McGraw-Hill, Boston, MA, 15-29.

Schopmeyer, K. D., & Fisher, B. J. (1993). Insiders and outsiders: Exploring ethnocentrism and cultural relativity in sociology courses. Teaching Sociology, 148-153.

Tilley, J. J. (2007). Cultural relativism. The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology, 1-2.