Experiencing New Cultures . . . Some Thoughts on
Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism is a term people come across in a Cultural Anthropology 101 class. It is usually sandwiched between ethnicity and ethnography on the vocabulary list that you are supposed to memorize
for the first quiz. However, this concept is not simply an academic concern, but rather, one you will
face in your travels and will quite likely shape your experience.
Eth•no•cen•trism (ěth’nō-sěn’trĭz’əm) n.
The tendency to evaluate other groups according to the values and standards of one’s own ethnic
group, especially with the conviction that one’s own ethnic group is superior to the other groups.
We all travel with the best of intentions. We want to experience other cultures, sample the sights,
sounds and tastes of foreign places with an open mind. Unfortunately it is nearly impossible to shake
what our own culture has ingrained in our mind of how things should be when confronted by
different mores of foreign places. Judgments are not necessarily made on the blunt belief that one’s
own culture is inherently superior, simply that we often believe our own experiences and understanding of life fit within another group’s circumstances.
Ethnocentrism is why we often misunderstand other cultures. We see their way of life through the
tinted glasses of our own . When traveling it is important to acknowledge this unavoidable truth and
recognize our inherent biases before generating judgments. In this spirit, keep a few things in mind
while traveling…
1. Observe your reactions. Negative reactions such as “this doesn’t make sense,” and “this seems
wrong” tell you that you are assuming something or that your assumptions are not working.
2. Once you recognize your assumptions are not necessarily applicable in the context of your
new surroundings, you’re in a better position to control biases and to seek a more balanced understanding.
3. Take the approach of a learner—having questions and not the answers.
4. By evaluating others based on our own experiences we often miss perspective changing
lessons – which is probably one of the reasons you are traveling.1
Go forth as a cultural anthropogist-- with respect for cultural differences and a desire to absorb as
much as possible!
1
http://www.iupui.edu/~anthkb/ethnocen.htm
w w w. g l o b a l s o j o u r n s . c o m