The ethnocentrism means the feeling of superiority of one national group above another, based on the cultural background. It is about judging the representatives of other cultures because of their unique language, clothing, manners and behavior. It is mostly based on the ego concepts, what is completely unjustified. The fact that someone relates to another cultural group doesn’t give you the right to decide what is better, and what is not. It is mentioned that the cultural visions cannot be measured by the concepts of right and wrong (“All About Philosophy: Ethnocentrism” par. 2). But unfortunately, it often appears the reason of huge ruptures between the nationalities. Such an issue certainly is a huge possibility of interference, when it comes to the experience of cultural exchange among the nations. Therefore, while beginning on the personal level, it could affect the community in general. The Vocabulary states that “If you refused to bow when greeting a Japanese friend, insisting on shaking hands instead, you’d be displaying your ethnocentrism, or your belief that your own culture is superior to others” (“Vocabulary: Ethnocentrism” par. 1). Considering the above-mentioned case, we could assume that there should be some international standards of communication, following which nobody would be insulted or discriminated.
Problem Solving
One of the most practical ways of overcoming the ethnocentrism is communication. The UK Essays suggests that an individual needs to have an opened mind to be able to hear the distinctive culture through feelings and empathy (“UK Essays: Overcoming Ethnocentrism Through Communication Cultural Studies Essay” par. 2). Of course, it is extremely problematic for any individual to be aware of all the details and traditions of the foreign culture that he meets. However, there has to be the sign of respect, meaning that, in the first place, a person has to be attentive and polite, without exceptions. He should express the respect and honor in all possible ways, however, it doesn’t have to turn into hypocrisy, meaning that it must not be just an external act. The individual should make all the efforts to build a cultural bridge between the sides, which would mean their mutual interest in each other’s culture and a desire to cognize. To be able to do that, the person needs to be wise, attentive and caring. It is important not to judge people because of their behavioral differences, and not to let yourself think that it is wrong or invalid (“How to Overcome Ethnocentrism and Stereotyping” par. 5). An individual has to be free from various dogmas and convictions, and he also should be passionate about learning the world. The borders are present only within the human consciousness. Those boundaries are the measure of how he perceives the world. And if a human works on himself to expand them, he begins to see the aspects that previously were hidden. There are always opportunities for transformation and growth, but are we ready to change ourselves? It is required to mention that there is always a need for the person to be ready to share his idea, as well as to accept the ideas of others (“Penn State: Ethnocentrism” par. 3). First of all, we all are the citizens of the Earth, despite our origin. That is what we always should remember.
Conclusion
Without any doubt, the significance of ethnocentrism cannot be underestimated. Unfortunately, it is an integral part of our life experience, which possibly cannot be removed completely. As it was said, despite all the claims, every one of us appears to be ethnocentric, no matter what we do, we still cannot fully avoid the ethnocentrism (“Indiana University: Ethnocentrism” par. 1). However, it means that we still need to work on ourselves to prevent the excessive cases of ethnocentrism. Therefore, we don’t have to be indifferent towards things. We should be passionate about the world and never let ourselves be disrespectful, remembering that we all are the parts of the existence.
Works Cited
All About Philosophy: Ethnocentrism 2016. Web.
How to Overcome Ethnocentrism and Stereotyping 2013. Web.
Indiana University: Ethnocentrism 2014. Web.
Penn State: Ethnocentrism 2013. Web.
UK Essays: Overcoming Ethnocentrism Through Communication Cultural Studies Essay 2016. Web.
Vocabulary: Ethnocentrism 2016. Web.