Cultures in Contact From Ethnocentrism to Racism

To Ponder Where do the boundaries between one culture begin and another end? What makes a culture?

To Examine Examining these questions will lead to an appreciation of the level of complexity found in every culture.

To Appreciate You will gain an appreciation of how the experiences of individuals and communities are central to truly understanding culture at a deeper level.

To Ponder What is culture? What is your culture?

What is (Your) Culture? A culture is a people's whole way of life.

What is (Your) Culture? When we think about culture, the aspects that tend to come to mind first are those that are on the surface and easy to recognize as unique such as clothing, food, language, songs, or dances.

Culture: Deeper than the Surface However, the majority of what constitutes culture goes a lot deeper than the surface.

The Deeper Aspects of Culture The deeper aspects of culture include the stories that we tell ourselves and others, which help define our values, beliefs, social organization, the symbols and forms of creative expression that we use, and our methods of education.

To Ponder What are the deeper aspects of culture?

The Deeper Aspects of Culture Culture also includes matters as profound as spirituality and world view.

Culture Defined Culture includes all the activities and beliefs and values practiced by a specific group of people that are systematically taught to subsequent generations (passed down from generation to generation).

Cultures Have BELIEFS 1. an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists = "her belief in the value of hard work"

Cultures Have BELIEFS 2. trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something = "a belief in democratic politics"

Cultures Have VALUES 1. the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something = "your support is of great value"

Cultures Have VALUES 2. a person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life = "they internalize their parents’/guardians’ rules and values"

To Ponder Can cultures change over time? How?

Culture: Transform + Change The transformation of cultures or cultural change is when some elements of a culture adapt and change over time while others remain the same.

Culture: Adaption + Changes For example, traditional coastal First Nations people in BC sent their dead out to the ocean in a canoe while interior First Nations people placed their dead in tree-top graves.

Culture: Adaption + Changes Contemporary BC First Nations peoples either bury or cremate the deceased, and Christian practices may be combined with traditional First Nations funeral practices.

Culture: Remains the Same However, First Nations people’s traditional world view regarding the passage of the dead from the world of the living remains very much the same as in the past.

Culture: Remains the Same In death, ceremonies may be conducted to facilitate the passage of souls to another realm—though with Athapaskan cultures, death and reincarnation were not viewed as positive phenomena and therefore traditional practices did not exist to facilitate the process.

Culture: Remains the Same First Nations people identify themselves as the descendants of other animal life forms that also possess souls.

Culture: Remains the Same In many First Nations cultures, it is believed reincarnation occurs when a soul inhabits either an animal or human form in another life.

Culture: Change + Remain Cultures can change and adapt but can also retain their ways.

Culture: Discrimination Unfortunately, various aspects of cultures or the culture in its entirety and its members often are met with discriminatory attitudes due to misunderstandings, power issues and ethnocentrism/racism.

To Ponder What happens when a culture and its members (its people) are not understood or accepted?

4 Aspects of Discrimination BELIEFS + ATTITUDES BEHAVIOUR + ACTION Stereotyping = “set image” Prejudice = “pre- judging” Discrimination = racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, etc. Systemic Discrimination = policies + practices

Circle of Attitudes + Behaviours Stereotype PrejudiceDiscrimination Systemic Discrimination

Ethnocentrism: I Am the Centre of the Universe People may at times make wrong assumptions about others based on their own cultural beliefs and values.

Ethnocentrism: I Am the Centre of the Universe These can cause misunderstandings and led to stereotypes + prejudice.

Ethnocentrism: There Is More Than Just You If we do not take into account other people's viewpoints and world views, we end up acting in a biased or prejudiced ways which leads to discrimination.

Ethnocentrism Defined Problems occur when people hold the mistaken belief that their cultural values embody the only correct view, or that their view is better than others = this is called ethnocentrism.

Ethnocentrism Defined In other words, the attitude and belief that one’s own racial group or identity, nation, culture is superior to all others – We are/I am the best.

Cultural Relativism Ethnocentrism is closely tied to cultural relativism.

Cultural Relativism Defined Cultural relativism is the principle that an individual human's beliefs and activities should be understood by others in terms of that individual's own culture.

Bias Defined Ethnocentrism is also closely linked to bias. A bias is a particular tendency, trend, inclination, feeling, or opinion, especially one that is preconceived or unreasoned.

Bias: Unreasonably Hostile Often a bias includes unreasonably hostile feelings or opinions about a social group; prejudice; accusations of racial bias (favoring your own racialized group/identity).

Activity on Ethnocentrism + Cultural Relativism See the additional activity handout Individual + Small Group Work Take notes/answer questions Be prepared to share with the class

To Ponder What is the difference between opinions and facts?

An Opinion: Definition #1 1) A view or judgment formed about something/someone, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.

An Opinion: Definition #2 2) The beliefs or views of a large number or majority of people about a particular thing.

An Opinion = A Judgment An opinion is a view or judgment formed about something, which may be based on fact or knowledge.

An Opinion = ONLY I If a statement uses words such as always, never, should, all, none, most, least, greatest, best, and worst – then it most likely is an opinion because it represents someone’s personal feelings (Only I think that).

A Fact: Definitions #1 + #2 1) A thing that is indisputably the case. 2)Information used as evidence or as part of a report or news article.

A Fact: Checked + Proven A fact can be checked and proven to be true – it is for real a fact. No matter who says it, it’s true!

Activity On Opinions Vs Facts See the additional activity handout Small Group Work Keep track of responses Be prepared to share with the class

To Ponder What is a stereotype?

Stereotypes: Superficial + Simplistic Ethnocentrism and bias often lead to cultural stereotyping, which occurs when we look at people from other cultures in superficial and simplistic ways.

Stereotypes: Negative Attitudes This can often develop into negative attitudes about people from other cultures.

Stereotypes: Defined The idea that ‘all’ members of a group are the same, rather than individuals with differing abilities, personalities and values.

Stereotypes: Defined In other words, stereotypes are overgeneralizations about the appearance, behaviour, or other characteristics of all members of a group.

Stereotypes: Historically Throughout history, ethnocentrism and cultural stereotyping have been at the root of many conflicts between individuals and groups.

Stereotypes: Awareness By becoming aware of our own world view and understanding the cultural context of people within other world views, we can learn to value and accept the richness of cultural diversity.

To Ponder What is meant by the term prejudice?

Prejudice Prejudice comes from the words “Pre” and “Judge” = to pre-judge.

Prejudice In other words, to have an opinion or image based on previously held ideas rather than knowledge or experience.

Prejudice Defined It is an irrational, negative attitude about people based on such characteristics as racialization, gender, age, ability, religion, and/or sexual orientation.

Prejudice Prejudice is when you agree with the stereotypes.

To Ponder What is discrimination?

Discrimination Defined Discrimination (to discriminate) = To treat a particular group, or member of a particular group differently or unfairly. It is based on prejudices and stereotypes.

Discrimination: Forms There are many forms of discrimination: Racism, colourism, anti-Semitism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, ableism, ageism, classism, etc.

Discrimination: An Example There is a prejudice that Aboriginal people do not have good work habits.

Discrimination: An Example There are stereotypes that Aboriginal people are not smart, that they are always late, that they are alcoholics.

Discrimination: An Example Discrimination occurs when a person is not given a job because they are Aboriginal.

To Ponder What is racism?

Racism: Categorization Over time, a variety of attempts have been made to categorize humans into clearly delineated groups by different means including: skin colour or other physical attributes; ethnicity; and affiliation to a particular culture, religion, or nation.

Racism: Assumptions = Discrimination In many cases, assumptions about people categorized this way have led to racism/racial discrimination — unfair treatment on the basis of these qualities.

Racism: Historically Historically, the British, Spanish, and explorers from other European nations held the view that they were superior to the racial identities with which they came into contact during their numerous expeditions. This is racism.

Racism Defined Racism is the mistreatment of people on the basis of race, place of origin, or ancestry; the belief that one group of people is inferior or superior to another.

Racism Defined Racism is any action based on stereotypes that view all members of a racial, ethnic, or cultural group as being the same, rather than individuals.

Racism is Exclusion Exclusions that involve racialization. Exclusions that are organized (i.e. made by people). Exclusions that have significant negative consequences for the excluded.

Racism Draws Attention to Inclusions Understanding racism as an exclusion draws attention to processes of creating inclusions (to be included, accepted, valued).

Racism is about Impacts It also means that racism is NOT about intentions (what was intended). Rather racism is about effects/impacts.

Intent vs. Impact Reading Activity Read “Intent vs. Impact: Why our intentions don’t really matter” by Jamie Utt See additional handout + answer the THREE questions at the end of the reading.

Racism: Social Location People experience racism differently because of how it locates them socially (placement in society).

Racism Socially Constructed Racism originates from thoughts, beliefs, values = it is in the head = it is socially constructed (knowledge made by humans to benefit certain humans). Regardless, racism is a reality in our world.

4 Aspects of Discrimination BELIEFS + ATTITUDES BEHAVIOUR + ACTION Stereotyping = “set image” Prejudice = “pre- judging” Discrimination = racism, sexism, homophobia, classism etc. Systemic Discrimination = policies + practices

Circle of Attitudes + Behaviours Stereotype PrejudiceDiscrimination Systemic Discrimination

Racism Reading Activity Read “Going to Town School,” excerpted from Jeannette C. Armstrong’s Slash + “Indian Woman” & Marie Annharte Bakers’ “I Want to Dance Wild Indian Black Face” See additional handout/instructions.

Racism Reading Activity Individual work Note down your responses Be prepared to hand in

Up Next: Cultural Exchange vs. Appropriation