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

Summary

In 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.