D espite the fact that cultural relativism promotes the appreciation for cultural differences, it can also be problematic. At its most extreme, cultural relativism leaves no room for criticism of other cultures, even if certain cultural practices are horrific or harmful. Many practices have drawn criticism over the years. In Madagascar, for example, the famahidana funeral tradition includes bringing bodies out from tombs once every seven years, wrapping them in cloth, and dancing with them.
Some people view this practice disrespectful to the body of the deceased person. Today, a debate rages about the ritual cutting of genitals of girls in several Middle Eastern and African cultures. From their point of view, they frame other cultures as weird and exotic. Cultural relativism creates an understanding that there are many cultures in the world and that each culture has its own values, beliefs, and practices that have been developed over time in a particular context, either historically, politically, or socially, and that none of the cultures are necessarily wrong or right.
The modern world has widely embraced the concept of cultural relativism, with words such as tolerance and acceptance taking on a new meaning. In sociology, the concept is practiced to overcome the problem of cultural bias that has plagued research. It has also greatly influenced social sciences such as anthropology. It is linked to but always distinguished from moral relativism, a concept that views morality as relative to a given standard. The concept of cultural relativism covers a wide area of human interactions, beliefs, values, and practices.
For example, it explains why what constitutes breakfast vary from place to place. In most African homes, it is never breakfast without a cup of tea, coffee, or porridge, whereas in the US a typical breakfast consists of cereals, milk, and sandwiches loaded with eggs and bacon. In a holistic understanding of the term cultural relativism, it tries to promote the understanding of cultural practices that are unfamiliar to other cultures such as eating insects, genocides or genital cutting.
There are two different categories of cultural relativism : Absolute : Everything that happens within a culture must and should not be questioned by outsiders. Critical : Creates questions about cultural practices in terms of who is accepting them and why. Critical cultural relativism also recognizes power relationships. Absolute cultural relativism is displayed in many cultures, especially Africa, that practice female genital cutting.
By allowing this procedure to happen, females are considered women and then are able to be married. FGC is practiced mainly because of culture, religion and tradition. Outside cultures such as the United States look down upon FGC, but are unable to stop this practice from happening because it is protected by its culture.
Cultural relativism can be seen with the Chinese culture and their process of feet binding. In a holistic understanding of the term cultural relativism, it tries to promote the understanding of cultural practices that are unfamiliar to other cultures such as eating insects, genocides or genital cutting.
There are two different categories of cultural relativism : Absolute : Everything that happens within a culture must and should not be questioned by outsiders.
Critical : Creates questions about cultural practices in terms of who is accepting them and why. Critical cultural relativism also recognizes power relationships. Absolute cultural relativism is displayed in many cultures, especially Africa, that practice female genital cutting. By allowing this procedure to happen, females are considered women and then are able to be married.
FGC is practiced mainly because of culture, religion and tradition. Outside cultures such as the United States look down upon FGC, but are unable to stop this practice from happening because it is protected by its culture.
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