What is CULTURAL RELATIVISM? | UCLA Anthropology Student Explains & Defines Cultural Relativism

Alivia Brown

21 Nov 202105:23

Summary

TLDRIn this educational video, Olivia Brown, a fourth-year anthropology student at UCLA, explores the concept of cultural relativism. She defines it as understanding a person's beliefs and practices within the context of their own culture. Olivia contrasts cultural relativism with ethnocentrism, which involves judging other cultures by one's own standards. She uses the example of Peruvians eating guinea pigs to illustrate how cultural practices should be understood relative to their own cultural norms rather than being dismissed based on unfamiliarity. The video encourages viewers to embrace and respect cultural diversity.

Takeaways

🎓 Olivia Brown is a fourth-year undergraduate student at UCLA, studying anthropology.
🌐 The video discusses cultural relativism, which is the idea that beliefs and practices should be understood based on one's own culture.
📚 Culture encompasses the traditions, arts, norms, and religious beliefs of a particular group of people.
🔍 Relativism involves understanding an idea as it relates to different groups or contexts, like how 'cold' weather is relative to one's location.
🚫 Ethnocentrism is the problematic practice of evaluating another culture based on the standards of one's own culture.
🙅‍♀️ An example of ethnocentrism is judging Peruvians for eating guinea pigs, which is a cultural norm in Peru but not in America.
🌟 Cultural relativism counters ethnocentrism by advocating for understanding other cultures on their own terms.
🤔 It encourages asking why certain cultural practices exist, such as the Peruvian guinea pig consumption, rather than immediately judging them.
🌍 The video emphasizes that there's no one 'right' way to do things, and different practices should be normalized and respected.
❓ The video ends with a call for discussion on the limits of cultural relativism and invites viewers to share their thoughts and examples in the comments.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in Olivia Brown's video?
-The main topic discussed in Olivia Brown's video is cultural relativism, which is an approach to understanding a culture based on its own norms and values rather than evaluating it based on one's own cultural standards.
How does Olivia define cultural relativism?
-Olivia defines cultural relativism as the idea that a person's beliefs and practices should be understood based on that person's own culture, emphasizing the importance of understanding cultural practices within their own context.
What is the role of culture in the concept of cultural relativism?
-In cultural relativism, culture refers to the traditions, arts, norms, and religious beliefs of a particular group of people, which are the basis for understanding the practices and ideologies of that group.
Can you provide an example of relativism from the script?
-An example of relativism given in the script is the perception of cold weather. What is considered cold in California (50 degrees) might be considered warm in Antarctica, demonstrating that the concept of 'cold' is relative to one's location and experiences.
What is ethnocentrism, and how does it contrast with cultural relativism?
-Ethnocentrism is the practice of evaluating another culture based on the standards of one's own culture, which can be problematic. It contrasts with cultural relativism by promoting judgment of other cultures rather than understanding them within their own cultural context.
Why is it important to distinguish between cultural relativism and ethnocentrism?
-Distinguishing between cultural relativism and ethnocentrism is important because it helps to avoid judgment and promote understanding and respect for different cultures, which is essential for fostering global harmony and reducing cultural misunderstandings.
How does Olivia suggest we should approach understanding cultural practices like the Peruvians eating guinea pigs?
-Olivia suggests that instead of immediately judging practices like the Peruvians eating guinea pigs as disgusting, we should ask questions to understand the cultural, religious, or geographic reasons behind such practices.
What does Olivia believe is the best way to understand different cultures?
-Olivia believes that the best way to understand different cultures is to adopt a cultural relativist perspective, which involves recognizing that everything is relative and there's no one 'right' way to do things across cultures.
What question does Olivia pose to her viewers regarding the limits of cultural relativism?
-Olivia poses the question of how far the idea of cultural relativism extends, acknowledging that while it's important to understand and respect cultural differences, there may be practices that are universally considered not good.
How does Olivia engage with her audience at the end of the video?
-At the end of the video, Olivia encourages her viewers to share their thoughts on cultural relativism in the comments section, asks for suggestions for future video topics, and wishes her viewers happy holidays, demonstrating her engagement and appreciation for her audience.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Understanding Cultural Relativism

In this segment, Olivia Brown introduces the concept of cultural relativism, emphasizing its importance in anthropology. She defines it as the approach to understanding a culture based on its own values and practices. Olivia explains that culture encompasses traditions, arts, norms, and religious beliefs of a group, while relativism is about viewing ideas in the context of different groups. She uses the example of weather to illustrate relativism, where what is considered cold varies by location. Cultural relativism, therefore, involves understanding an individual's culture in relation to its own norms. Olivia contrasts this with ethnocentrism, which is judging another culture by one's own standards. She uses the example of Peruvians eating guinea pigs, which might be seen as strange by Americans but is a cultural norm in Peru. Cultural relativism encourages us to ask why certain practices exist rather than immediately judging them. Olivia concludes by advocating for the normalization of diverse cultural practices as a way to understand and respect people worldwide.

05:00

🎉 Wrapping Up and Holiday Wishes

In the final paragraph, Olivia Brown wraps up the discussion on cultural relativism and invites viewers to share their thoughts and examples in the comments section. She poses a question about the limits of cultural relativism, acknowledging that there are practices that might be universally considered harmful. Olivia then asks for suggestions for future video topics and extends holiday wishes to her viewers, promising to continue providing educational content. The segment ends with a light-hearted tone, encouraging viewer engagement and signaling the end of the video with a cheerful sign-off.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cultural Relativism

Cultural relativism is the concept that a person's beliefs, values, and practices should be understood based on that person's own culture. In the video, Olivia Brown explains that it's an approach to understanding different cultures and ideologies without imposing the standards of one's own culture. The video uses the example of weather to illustrate relativism, where what is considered cold in California might be warm in Antarctica, emphasizing that cultural practices are relative to one's own cultural context.

💡Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of human societies, their cultures, and their development. As Olivia Brown is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying anthropology, the video is rooted in this academic discipline, which seeks to understand and respect cultural diversity. The script discusses cultural relativism as a key anthropological concept, showing how anthropologists approach the study of different cultures.

💡Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism is the practice of evaluating other cultures based on the standards of one's own culture, often leading to a biased or prejudiced view. In the video, ethnocentrism is contrasted with cultural relativism. The example given is the Peruvian practice of eating guinea pigs, which might be judged negatively by someone from a culture where this is not a common practice, illustrating how ethnocentrism can lead to misunderstandings and misjudgments of other cultures.

💡Traditions

Traditions refer to the customs, beliefs, and practices that are passed down through generations within a culture. The video mentions traditions as a component of culture, which is essential to understanding cultural relativism. It suggests that to appreciate another culture, one must understand its traditions, which are often deeply rooted in that culture's history and identity.

💡Norms

Norms are the rules or standards that are accepted as conventional or typical within a culture. In the context of the video, norms are part of what makes up a culture and are crucial for understanding cultural practices. Olivia Brown explains that cultural relativism involves understanding a culture's norms to avoid ethnocentric judgments.

💡Relativism

Relativism is the idea that concepts like truth, morality, or beauty are not absolute but are relative to one's own culture or perspective. The video uses the term to explain how cultural relativism views practices and beliefs as relative to the culture they belong to, rather than applying universal standards.

💡Guinea Pigs

In the video, guinea pigs are used as an example of a cultural practice that is common in Peru but not in the United States. This example is used to illustrate the concept of ethnocentrism, where a practice from one culture is judged based on the standards of another. It highlights the importance of cultural relativism in understanding and respecting such differences.

💡Respect

Respect, in the context of the video, refers to the appreciation and acceptance of cultural differences. Olivia Brown emphasizes that cultural relativism promotes respect for other cultures by understanding and appreciating their practices and beliefs without judgment.

💡Understanding

Understanding, as used in the video, is the act of comprehending the beliefs, practices, and values of different cultures. Cultural relativism is presented as a tool for fostering understanding by encouraging individuals to learn about and empathize with the cultural context of others.

💡Practices

Practices refer to the actions, customs, or procedures that are performed regularly within a culture. The video discusses how cultural relativism encourages the examination of cultural practices, such as food habits or marriage traditions, to better understand the reasons behind them and to avoid ethnocentric judgments.

💡Diversity

Diversity is the state of having people of different cultures, races, or backgrounds included. The video advocates for the acceptance and normalization of cultural diversity, suggesting that understanding cultural relativism helps in appreciating the variety of practices and beliefs across different cultures.

Highlights

Introduction to the concept of cultural relativism by Olivia Brown, a fourth-year anthropology student at UCLA.

Definition of cultural relativism as understanding beliefs and practices within the context of one's own culture.

Explanation of culture as the traditions, arts, norms, and religious beliefs of a particular group.

Discussion on relativism, using weather as an example to illustrate the concept of relative perspectives.

Cultural relativism as a method to understand an individual's culture relative to its own norms, contrasting with ethnocentrism.

Ethnocentrism defined as evaluating another culture based on one's own cultural standards.

Example of ethnocentrism: Judging Peruvian culture for eating guinea pigs based on American cultural norms.

Cultural relativism as a counteraction to ethnocentrism, promoting understanding over judgment of other cultures.

The importance of asking why about cultural practices, such as why Peruvians eat guinea pigs, to understand them better.

Cultural relativism encourages normalization of diverse practices and respect for cultural differences.

The idea that there's no one 'right' way to do things, and cultural practices should be understood in their own context.

Invitation for viewers to discuss the limits of cultural relativism and share their thoughts in the comments.

Call for examples of cultural relativism from the community of anthropology students and enthusiasts.

Olivia Brown's commitment to replying to comments and engaging with her audience.

Closing remarks and holiday wishes from the host.