Culture Realtivism

Culture can be explained as the customs, traditions, and beliefs that are embraced in one’s environment. However, culture is everything that is not natural. Therefore, what may be familiar to one culture may be strange and unfamiliar to another. The views and beliefs of a culture will shape what that culture views to be “right” and what is considered to be “wrong”, for this reason, what may be seen as “right” or “wrong” in one culture may be the opposite in another culture. Since “right” and “wrong” is subjective based on the culture, cultural relativism is an important concept to keep in mind when learning about a new culture.

In the early thirties, the study of culture started in the field of anthropology with Franz Boas who established the idea of cultural relativity. The term “cultural relativism” was coined by one of Boas’ students and mentees, Ruth Benedict. Cultural relativism explains the idea that the culture of one individual should not be judged based on the culture of a different individual. This means that when viewing a different culture, one must have an open mind and should accept or try to understand the principles and traditions of another culture.

When studying culture, it is important to remain culturally relative. When one studies culture with an open mind, they are able to truly learn about that culture. If an individual does not utilize the concept of cultural relativism when studying culture, they will find it difficult to truly understand the customs of another culture. However, since “right” and “wrong” is subjective based on culture, it may be difficult to always remain culturally relative. For example, when something is perceived as “wrong” is one culture but acceptable in another, it may be challenging to achieve cultural relativism. Topics such as domestic abuse may test one’s ability to achieve cultural relativism. For example, although it is illegal and highly frowned upon with among the U.S culture, domestic abuse...