Culture and Ethnocentrism

Paper Summary:

The paper shows how generalizations about the features of culture will always have traces of ethnocentrism or prejudice. The paper discusses how culture is ultimately subjective and inter-subjective. The paper explains that culture and definitions of culture are ultimately created by individuals that will have some form of prejudice influencing their arguments.

From the Paper:

"Culture is one of the most commonly used terms in anthropology and sociology. However, there is a great deal of disagreement about the nature of culture. Researchers even have difficulty in defining culture effectively. For example, in "Theories of Culture" Roger M Keesing argues, that the concept of culture currently has no meaning because definitions used to describe it are either too narrow or too broad (Keesing 1974: 73)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Anonymous(1999), "Subjective" in Webster's New Explorer Dictionary, Merriam-Webster: 515.
• Baeker, Greg(2002), "Sharpening the lens: recent research on cultural policy, cultural diversity, and social cohesion" in Canadian Journal of Communication, Toronto, Vol.27, Iss. 2/3: 179-197.
• Gay, Hannah(1993), "Saving the phenomena and saving conventions: a contribution to the debate over feminist epistemology" inCanadian Woman Studies, Downsview, Vol.13, Iss. 2, Winter: 37-44.
• Keesing, Roger M(1974), "Theories of Culture" in Annual Review of Anthropology: 73-97.
• Lavenda, Robert H. and Schultz, Emily A(1995), Cultural Anthropology, Mayfield Publishing, Toronto.

More papers on Culture and Ethnocentrism:

• Analytical Essay # 132313 : "Culture and Ethnocentrism - Is Prejudice a Given?"
• Analytical Essay # 57688 : "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" and Ethnocentrism"
• Analytical Essay # 132524 : "Arguing for Prejudice and Ethnocentricity"

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