Abstract
The writer of this paper defines the term ethnocentrism as a means to make assumptions or judgments about other cultures from one's own point of view. This paper details the various problems that an ethnocentric view presents when dealing with different cultures. The writer describes one particular example relating to the Hopi Indians. The ethnocentric view was prevalent that the language of the Hopi Indians was inferior to English as it did not have any words for time. This led to the assumption that the Hopi Indians were primitive and less advanced as a civilization, which resulted in the treatment of the Indians on the basis of an assumed inferiority. This paper also examines more serious examples of ethnocentrism, which can be seen in Africa, in which ethnic assumptions of inferiority or superiority led to the horrific genocide in Rwanda. The writer of this paper discusses the ethnocentric views that were prevalent in Nazi Germany. This paper also examines cultural relativity, which is a theoretical stance in direct opposition to that of ethnocentrism. This view emphasizes that cultures are a product of different historical experiences and that these differences should be respected.

From the Paper
"Examples of the problems and misunderstandings that ethnocentric attitudes can engender are numerous in recent history. For example, the view was prevalent that the language of the Hopi Indians was inferior to English as it did not have any tenses or words for time. This led to the assumption that the Hopi Indians were somewhat primitive and less advanced as a civilization. Subsequently, this led to the treatment of the Indians on the basis of an assumed inferiority. Later the cultural assumption that the Hopi did not have words for time was proven to be incorrect. Another example refers to the differences in perception, which are seen from an ethnocentric point of view as a sign of inferiority. An example is the different perceptions of color by the Intuit Indians."

Tags:culture, conflict, war, nazi, rwanda, africa, perception, theory

Abstract
?We aimed for no more than to have dominion over every creature that moved upon the earth.? These words, spoken by Orleanna Price, wife of missionary Nathan Price, serves as a precise outlook on the ?unmissionary? view of ethnocentrism in Barbara Kingsolver?s "The Poisonwood Bible". The paper shows that, throughout the novel, Kingsolver emphasizes the rampant ethnocentrism that occurred from 1959 through the early 1960s in the Congo. Ethnocentrism reflects the belief that one?s culture is superior to all other cultures and that their culture is the only culture to live by. The paper shows how the character of Nathan Price, Methuselah, the Parrot, and Nathan?s demonstration garden are all symbolic and supportive of the novel?s central theme of ethnocentrism.

From the Paper
"Methuselah, the Parrot, is symbolic of the doomed Republic of Congo, as the vulnerable nation is predated by the U.S. in its ethnocentric efforts to "right the wrongs" of the elected government of the Congo. Methuselah is denied freedom for most of his life, and while he is kept in a cage and fed by humans, he loses the ability to fend for himself. Even after Nathan sets him free, Methuselah continues to stay close to the house he has been accustomed to, dependent on humans for food, also sleeping in their latrine at night, for fear of predators. Inevitably, Methuselah is caught by a cat and killed."

Tags:Kilanga, Congolese, Adah

Abstract
The paper examines the impact of historically entrenched ethnocentrism in Australia by addressing the exclusion of native populations from the civic growth, economic development and cultural formulation of present day Australia. The paper finds from the research that while Australia is experiencing the establishment of greater economic pluralism, Aboriginals suffer an exclusion from occupational opportunities, educational institutions and health facilities that contradicts Australia's claim to true cultural plurality. The paper highlights how there has been a longstanding failure of the federal government to recognize the needs of the indigenous populations throughout Australia. The paper reaches the conclusion that ethnocentrism is a reality which is somewhat dominant for the present day Australian.

From the Paper
"Indeed, for its connection to the strains of colonialism--which have always been inherently racialist in their iniquities--Australia serves us a great window into the impact of historically entrenched ethnocentrism. With respect to the Aboriginal populations of the continent, evidence abounds that a colonial background founded on British and European dominance has produce such a trend well into present day. The exclusion of native populations from the civic growth, economic development and cultural formulation of present day Australia delivers a fairly precise definition of that which is meant by ethnocentrism. This is a force which uses presumptions of a singular cultural perspective to define such complex systems as moral imperative, religious predilection, political representation and economic philosophy to the outcome that those not conforming to presumed ideals in these categories is inherently and problematically excluded. This is a definition given support "by now classic account of the origins of ethnocentrism has been given by Adorno et al. (1950). These authors identify ethnocentrism as part of a larger 'sickness' (sic) which they call authoritarianism and identify it as a phenomenon of the ideological Right." (Ray, 89) It is thus that the research here will take the decidedly biased position that cultural pluralism is a positive trend which ethnocentrism is a negative trend, qualified as such based on rational views of governmental orientation and the preservation of human rights."

Tags:international, trade, liberalization, plurality, marginalization, Aboriginals

Abstract
This paper focuses on the question of whether prejudce, ethnocentrism, and even nationalism, are inevitable. The paper functioned as an assignment is for a first year anthropology or sociology course. THe question/topic was whether it was possible to make generalizations about the nature of culture free of ethnocentrism and prejudice. The argument that is made in the assignment is that it is not possible to make generalizations about the nature of culture that are free of ethnocentism and prejudice.

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). Many researchers have tried to create definitions of culture that can take into consideration the diversity and complexity of human societies. For example, Keesing states, ..."

Tags:nationalism, prejudice, racism, bigotry

Abstract
This paper looks at effects of ethnocentrism in American society. It discusses the ways in which symbolic interactionism served to bind and bond Americans in steps that helped the country move beyond the social and economic pitfalls that have, for instance, seen socialism and communism fall in other governments around the world. The paper specifically discusses how Americans celebrate and turn to symbolic interactionism in crisis and how symbolic interactionism has put America at the forefront of world philanthropy, change and in building a global community.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Cultural Relativism
Stereotypical America
Culture Shock

From the Paper
"The cultural shock with which Americans met Kennedy's participation in Vietnam, the recent near demise of the Catholic Church in America, and, with the events of 9/11 the resentment towards Americans from countries around the world; has served to bring about change in the way Americans perceive themselves. As is typical of American symbolic interactionism, they are coming together to bring about change on their home front and for the first time in American history, a black man and a woman have a very good chance of becoming the next American president."

Tags:culture, philanthropy, crisis

Abstract
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)."

Tags:anthropolgy, sociology, individuals, feminist, epistemology

Abstract
The paper discusses the recent suggestion by a black university professor in Toronto that a special school for just for black students is necessary to combat inherent racism is the inevitable result of well-intentioned but ineptly managed multicultural policy. The paper contends that the idea that racism could be lessened by a segregated educational system is perhaps the ultimate example of what is wrong with the current culture. The paper maintains that Canada has become more a Babel of ethnocentric, solipsistic and racist enclaves, pampered by a guilty white liberal elite, than a truly multicultural or liberal community.

Tags:ethnocentrism, multiculturalism, canada

Abstract
For many years, moral philosophy has been dominated by universalist and particularist ideas, both of which offer some important insights into social relationships of all kinds. Universalism is best summarized by the image of the American "melting pot," which suggests that over time, individuals in a multicultural society tend to share more values, beliefs, and behaviors than not. Ethnocentrism, in contrast, is understood as a particularist view in which differences rather than similarities are valued. This research report argues that, in some cultures, there is a link between universalistic perspectives on moral issues and ethnocentrism. This is because what becomes a universal belief or value in a culture tends to represent the views of the majority group within that culture. Majority groups are shown to be essentially ethnocentric and likely to impose their views on all subgroups within society.

From the Paper
"Immanuel Wallerstein believes that there are multiple universalisms which do not necessarily have equal weight and place. The existence of multiple universalisms is seen by Wallerstein as creating a world in which multiple identities and group affiliations is inescapable. Religion is one of the unifying forces within and across societies, but it is hardly alone in exerting a major influence on in and out group. Nationality and culture, a noted above, are equally influential, but Wallerstein suggests that the history of the past two decades has taught us never to underestimate the normative and political influence exerted by religion itself."

Tags:essentialism, Wallerstein

Abstract
This paper discusses the role of ethnocentrism in the book. "Ethnocentrism" is the belief that your culture is "better" or "superior" to other cultures and that cultural standards are universal. It is often the wedge that keeps people from many cultures from blending into a cohesive unit, and in "The Spirit Catches You," it is quite common to see how the Hmong, with their culture of beliefs and superstitions, and American doctors, with their medicines and science, would clash and never see eye to eye.

From the Paper
""The Spirit Catches You" is the story of a Hmong family, the Lees, and their young daughter Lia. Lia is diagnosed with epilepsy, which the Hmong call "the spirit catches you and you fall down" disease. The story graphically illustrates two cultures that meet head on - with each one having absolutely no understanding of the other. The Hmong's entire culture is built on a series of beliefs and superstitions that they use nearly everyday to combat illness and appearance. For example, the author notes early in the book, "Although the Hmong believe that illness can be caused by a variety of sources - [...] by far the most common cause of illness is soul loss" (Fadiman 10). Thus, the Hmong use spiritual and holistic approaches to their daughter's health problems because it is all they know. The American doctors, on the other hand, want the Hmong to use American medicines and treatments, and the Hmong have no idea what these treatments are, or how they will benefit their daughter. What happens as the two cultures collide is a comedy of errors and misunderstanding, except that it is not funny, and Lia pays the price in the end."

Tags:lia, hmong, medicine

Abstract
The paper explains that to reify is to make real something that is not real; in short, reification is the process by which we give something a reality in our thinking that it really does not have. Over the next pages, this writer listens to what family members and friends have to say about various topics - with an eye towards ascertaining whether or not their utterances reflect reifications predicated upon ethnic perspectives; this phenomenon, for what it is worth, is called ethnocentric reification.

From the Paper
"To reify is to make real something that is not real; in short, reification is the process by which we give something a reality in our thinking that it really does not have. Over the next several pages, this writer will listen to what family members and friends have to say about various topics - with an eye towards ascertaining whether or not their utterances reflect reifications predicated upon ethnic perspectives; this phenomenon, for what it is worth, is called ethnocentric reification. Having examined the words of these men and women, the next step will to be look at each example of ethnocentric reification and identify the specifics of the..."

Tags:ethnocentric, reification, sociology