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Surname 1 STUDENT 1
Are some cultural practices wrong?
Regardless of your cultural beliefs, when we look at other cultures and their practices, it’s not
uncommon to feel that someone else’s practices are wrong. Socialization as stated in the text is
the process by which people acquire the behaviors and beliefs of the culture they live in. All the
songs, rituals, or maybe sacred objects are the norm for that particular culture. Once exposed to
certain cultural practices that you weren’t before, such as first or second generations in a new
country, we may then take on new cultural practices. At that point is that group wrong? I would
say not. It’s not uncommon for the concept of broad socialization and narrow socialization to
intertwine.
By what measure do we tell if a cultural practice is wrong?
I looked at some of the practices you have listed here and one that sticks out to me is Female
Genital mutilation. From my culture my morals, my beliefs I would take the stance that it is
wrong. Women shouldn’t have to go through that. However, I’m the person coming from a
Broad socialization. I think we can truly measure cultural practice as wrong, once the people
from that culture take that stand. In the case of Female genital mutilation this is present. In the
text it talked about cultures changing do to globalization. I agree that this is a huge part of
change that we have seen in a lot of cultures and their practices.
Should one culture interfere in another culture to change the actions/behaviors that are viewed to
be immoral/wrong?
In the text it talked of first and second generations from Asia coming to the West. Through
research it was stated that most adapt to the Western culture. Yet some still practice things that
are prominent in their culture, which we may not understand. For me it all goes back to that
Broad socialization. Respect the differences and the uniqueness of someone’s culture. In the
Western culture however, we do have laws that go against so many different practices that
happen in cultures all around the world. This reminds me of Kohlberg and conventional morality.
The social norm and how it helps to preserve social order. If something is out our social norm
you want to interfere so that we can maintain social order.
What is cultural relativism and how does it apply to this scenario? What are some things that
American teens do that should be seen in a cultural context (meaning that other cultures might
perceive them as wrong or disturbed).
Cultural relativism is the idea that a person’s beliefs values and practices should be understood
based on that person’s own culture. Things an American teen might do that other cultures may
perceive as wrong could range from dating, education, religious practices, and as stated in the
book differences on how they may choose to hang out with friends instead of family. Surname 2
Reply Quote Email Author STUDENT 2
COLLAPSE
913f9676-2b00-47 false 1. Are some cultural practices wrong?
Cultural practices vary according to
each society. Some societies are more
industrialized and tend to be more
individualistic while others are more
collective such as the Western and
Asian societies, respectively. As such
what one accepts as a right may not be
accepted in the same manner as in the
other. As I recall, I have seen TV Surname 3
news stories in the past concerning
female genital mutilation in African
Nation cultures. To Westerners, it is
absolutely wrong. I have heard that it
is painful with some women bleeding
to death. Perhaps in that particular
culture it is a right of passage into
womanhood.
2. By what measures do we tell if a
cultural practice is wrong? In the
United States, a cultural practice is
wrong if it causes mental or physical
harm to the person. It is also wrong if
a certain act is rejected by a given
society, though the latter is subjective.
Take for example an Asian adolocsent
who is expected to live with his
parents until marriage. This is the
"norm" for him, his family, and
culture. In the American culture, one
is expected to be more independent,
move out of the house, and to support
one's self. To violate these "norms" is
to be culturally wrong.
3. Should one culture interfere in another
culture to change the actions/behaviors
that are viewed to be immoral/wrong?
This involves not only cultural beliefs,
but also political belief systems, too.
The textbook used a scenario of a
dissatisfied group of people who left
their land of origin, bought an island,
and had to decide on the type of
government, laws, and punishments
for law violators. In consideration was
the majority versus the minority such
as smokers versus non-smokers, for
example, and how to deal with whom
the minority may be. So to change a
culture is to try to change that society's
upbringing. In the case of female
genital mutilation, it is mandatory in
certain cultures. As I understand it,
the men dominate the women and the Surname 4
governing rules thereof. Here in the
United States, one would most likely
be in legal troubles for such a thing.
So to change the aforementioned
culture would be right in an
American's viewpoint, but it would be
wrong in the given African culture.
We consider it cruel and unusual. The
latter culture considers it necessary, in
their viewpoint.
4. What is cultural relativism and how
does it apply to this scenario?
Cultural relativism is how one views
the world as a whole. It applies to this
scenario in that an American teen is
individualistic, will possibly disobey a
parent to attend unsupervised activities
with friends versus an Asian teen is
collectivistic and will cancel
activities with a friend due to
familiar needs. The text stated that the
former teen will not understand the
reasons of the latter teen canceling.