What is ETHNOCENTRISM?? | Anthropology Student Explains | Cultural Anthropology | Definitions

Alivia Brown

5 Jan 202103:12

Summary

TLDRThis educational video delves into the concept of ethnocentrism, defining it as the evaluation of other cultures based on one's own cultural standards. The presenter illustrates the negative impact of ethnocentrism through a small-scale example of differing eating utensils between Asian and American cultures, and a large-scale example of the persecution of Jews by Hitler during WWII. The video emphasizes the importance of recognizing and challenging ethnocentric views to promote cultural understanding and respect.

Takeaways

📚 The video provides a beginner's guide to understanding ethnocentrism.
🔍 Ethnocentrism is defined as evaluating other cultures based on one's own cultural standards and customs.
🌐 It implies a belief that one's own culture is superior to others.
🥢 A small-scale example given is the use of chopsticks in Asian cultures versus forks in the United States, illustrating how ethnocentrism can manifest in everyday practices.
❌ Ethnocentrism is criticized for being a harmful perspective that can lead to the devaluation of other cultures.
🌍 A large-scale, historical example is the persecution of Jews by Hitler during World War II, showing the extreme consequences of ethnocentrism.
🙅‍♂️ The speaker emphasizes that ethnocentrism is widely accepted as wrong and should never be repeated.
🚫 Ethnocentrism can lead to harmful actions such as mass executions, land seizures, or other forms of oppression based on cultural superiority.
🤔 The video encourages viewers to reflect on their own cultural biases and to challenge ethnocentric views.
📖 The speaker invites viewers to share their examples, books, or recommendations to further educate themselves and others on the topic.
🙌 The video concludes with a message of education, safety during the pandemic, and well-wishes for the new year.

Q & A

What is the basic definition of ethnocentrism as mentioned in the script?
-Ethnocentrism is the evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one's own culture, essentially viewing one's culture as the more correct way of life.
Why is ethnocentrism considered a negative concept?
-Ethnocentrism is considered negative because it involves judging other cultures as inferior based on one's own cultural standards, which can lead to discrimination, prejudice, and even violence against those who are perceived as different.
What is an example of ethnocentrism on a smaller scale mentioned in the script?
-A smaller scale example of ethnocentrism mentioned is the preference for using forks in the United States over chopsticks, which are commonly used in Asian cultures, and the belief that one's utensil is more proper or natural.
How does the script relate the use of eating utensils to ethnocentrism?
-The script uses the example of eating utensils to illustrate ethnocentrism by showing how people might judge others for using different tools based on their cultural norms, without recognizing that both methods are equally valid.
What is the larger scale example of ethnocentrism discussed in the script?
-The larger scale example of ethnocentrism discussed is the persecution of Jews by Hitler during World War II, where he believed his race was superior and justified mass executions based on this belief.
Why is the example of Hitler's actions during World War II significant in the context of ethnocentrism?
-Hitler's actions are significant because they demonstrate the extreme consequences of ethnocentrism, where the belief in one's cultural superiority led to mass atrocities and genocide.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Ethnocentrism

The video script begins with a reference to a previous video on cultural anthropology, suggesting viewers watch it for more context. The main focus of this script is to explain the concept of ethnocentrism. The speaker provides a basic definition of ethnocentrism as the evaluation of other cultures based on one's own cultural standards and customs, essentially viewing one's culture as superior. The speaker then promises to delve deeper into the concept with examples that illustrate both small-scale and large-scale manifestations of ethnocentrism.

🥢 Small-Scale Ethnocentrism: Chopsticks vs. Cutlery

In this section, the speaker presents a small-scale example of ethnocentrism by comparing the use of chopsticks in Asian cultures with the use of forks, knives, and spoons in the United States. The speaker points out that while the difference in eating utensils is not significant in itself, ethnocentrism arises when one culture deems its method of eating as more proper or natural than the other, thus implying superiority.

⚔️ Large-Scale Ethnocentrism: The Holocaust

The speaker then discusses a large-scale and historically significant example of ethnocentrism: the persecution of Jews by Hitler during World War II. This example is used to highlight the extreme consequences of ethnocentrism when it leads to actions based on the belief in the superiority of one's own race or culture. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing ethnocentrism as not only a harmful mindset but also as a catalyst for grave injustices.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cultural Anthropology

Cultural Anthropology is the study of human societies and cultures and their development. It is the discipline that seeks to understand the social and cultural patterns of people across the world. In the video, the speaker mentions a previous video on a beginner's guide to cultural anthropology, indicating the broader context of the discussion on ethnocentrism.

💡Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism refers to the belief that one's own culture is superior to others, often leading to the evaluation of different cultures based on one's own cultural norms. The video's main theme revolves around defining ethnocentrism and illustrating its negative implications through examples, making it a central concept.

💡Preconceptions

Preconceptions are pre-existing notions or biases that influence one's judgment before considering new information. In the context of the video, preconceptions are linked to ethnocentrism as they originate from the standards and customs of one's own culture and affect the evaluation of other cultures.

💡Chopsticks

Chopsticks are a traditional Asian eating utensil, typically made of wood, bamboo, or plastic, used for picking up small pieces of food. The video uses chopsticks as an example of cultural difference, contrasting their use with Western utensils like forks, to illustrate ethnocentric attitudes that may arise from such differences.

💡Forks

A fork is a piece of cutlery with prongs, commonly used in Western cultures for eating. The video script contrasts the use of forks with chopsticks to demonstrate how ethnocentrism can manifest in seemingly trivial cultural practices, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and respecting cultural diversity.

💡World War II

World War II was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945, involving many of the world's nations, including a major conflict between the Axis and the Allies. The video cites the persecution of Jews by Hitler during World War II as a significant historical example of ethnocentrism, highlighting the extreme consequences of such attitudes.

💡Nazis

Nazis were the far-right political party in Germany that formed the government led by Adolf Hitler from 1933 to 1945. The term is used in the video to refer to Hitler's regime, which held ethnocentric views that led to the persecution of millions.

Highlights

Introduction to a beginner's guide to cultural anthropology with a link provided for further interest.

Exploration of ethnocentrism with a basic definition and a plan to break it down with examples.

Definition of ethnocentrism as the evaluation of other cultures based on one's own cultural standards and customs.

Clarification that ethnocentrism involves viewing one's culture as superior to others.

Small-scale example of ethnocentrism involving the use of chopsticks versus forks and knives.

Discussion on the inappropriateness of ethnocentrism when it leads to the belief in the superiority of one eating utensil over another.

Introduction of a larger-scale example of ethnocentrism related to World War II and the persecution of Jews by Hitler.

Explanation of how Hitler's actions were a manifestation of ethnocentrism, viewing his race as superior and justifying mass executions.

Emphasis on the importance of recognizing ethnocentrism as not only a belief but also as actions that can lead to severe consequences.

Highlighting the dangers of ethnocentrism when it results in harmful actions against other cultures or people.

Encouragement for viewers to share their own examples or recommendations for further learning about ethnocentrism.

Expression of gratitude for watching and an emphasis on the importance of education in understanding cultural differences.

A reminder to stay safe during the pandemic and well-wishes for the new year.

Closing with a sign-off and music, indicating the end of the video.