Think critically about humanity using the anthropological perspective. Two major terms I want you to remember from Chapter 1 & 2 are
ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. Anthropologists have identified cultural universals that can be found in
every society, and morality is one of them. This is the human nature’s ability to distinguish between right and
wrong. These concepts are not entirely reliant on religious ideologies, but rather, some are learned behaviors
that we are taught from a young age. For instance, in this generation, we are told that being prejudice is wrong.
That hasn’t always been the case. Having preconceived notions or opinions about a person or group of people
without reason can cause detriment to those who are on the receiving end. Yet, we still face obstacles involved
in changing the mindset of those who have been taught from a young age to perceive others in an unfavorable
light based on rudimentary circumstances. We know that humans are not born prejudice. However, this is also
where ethnocentrism is a factor. Prejudice comes in several forms- it can be based on race, ethnicity, religion,
wealth, sexual orientation, gender, or intelligence.
In our Western society, we are fortunate enough to face fewer instances of injustice than many other
individuals around the world. But often, we overlook how truly fortunate we are to live in a society that values
an idealistic moral code where there is little to no tolerance of practices that are detrimental to the well-being of
an individual.
For your weekly assignment, I would like you to research one practice that Westerners would consider a grave
injustice in the world today. A few to pick from, but are not limited to, would be:
infanticide
human sacrifice
cannibalism
FGM (female genital mutilation)
honor killings
In your research, I want you to list four factors:
Historically, when did such a practice begin?
In what societies is this practice most prevalent in, and do they still practice it today?
Why would a society decide to practice such acts if it goes against the cultural universal of morality? If Western
societies find a practice immoral, why would others not feel the same way?
How do cultural anthropologists use cultural relativism to look past these practices, without judging these
societies, when conducting fieldwork?