Individual Project – Unit 2

Sociology: SSCI210 - 1304B - 03

Individual Project – Unit 2

November 25, 2013

Instructor – Alma Rodriguez

Abstract:

In society there are many forms of ethnocentrism that can cause social problems, such as racism and ethnic cleansing. While many people recognize the problems, little are aware how many nations still have a large population who believe they are superior ethnic group. My paper will look at the creative work of Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire. Indian film show how ethnocentrism can ruin lives and distort personal beliefs.

Conflict in the world is often caused by people’s differences.  Some people think that they are superior and others think that they are inferior.  These assumptions often bring much harm to society, and it has led some people to create artistic portrayals of ethnocentrism in society, to increase awareness and to perhaps even extinguish it.  The Indian film by Slumdog Millionaire shows how ethnocentrism can ruin lives and why many of our personal beliefs and biases are wrong.

The call center that Jamal worked is bias.  They are not allowed to speak in other languages.  English is the only language allowed because the call center is outsourced for Western countries.  The customers in those countries are of course, ethnocentric too; so if they hear the operators speaking in another language, they might think of them as incompetent.  And even when speak in English, customers can notices a foreign accent, which leads to them becoming further frustrated.  This was shown in the movie when a call center rep had to excuse himself from his cubicle; he asked Jamal to substitute for him and answer some calls even if Jamal were not trained for it while the rep went out.  Jamal eventually received a call from an English woman, but she became suspicious and irate.  She asked where he was located, and he gave a fake location in England to cover up his real outfit.

References: