Chapter 7 – Class Discussion

Ethnocentrism- the tendency to believe that one’s ethnic or cultural group is centrally important, and that all other groups are measured in relation to one’s own.

Example US citizens People who are born into a particular culture

and grow up absorbing the values and behaviors of the culture will develop patterns of thought reflecting the culture as normal

Paradox 7.7. Do geographic maps reflect cultural beliefs?

Most people when drawing a map of the world tend to draw there home country larger than the others.

For example Texas would be drawn on the US map very large.

Cont.

Do you think someone living in another country

would rate the United States as you did? How do you think someone living in another

country would rate his/her country in comparison to others? Why?

On which items did the United States come out the best? The worst? How do you account for this?

Do you think people become more or less ethnocentric as you grow older? Why do you think this way?

Activity Cont.

Therefore, since people are accustomed to their birth culture, it can be difficult for them to see the behaviors of people from a different culture from the viewpoint of that culture rather than from their own.

Overview

45% of global trade is intra-organizational Internet The world is flat. Britain – The ancient insular fortress China – All routes lead through China EU and USA Greenhouses, GM Food

7.8 The “death of distance” nullified the importance of geography!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8nKH-Hgbeg

Religion

The Word of God

Anthropomorphism

7.5 Must religion be anthropomorphic?

7.6 Does a religion necessarily require dogmas and creeds?

Paradoxes

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882◦ Vs. The Mexican border fence

Outsourcing vs. Skilled labor ◦ Paradox 7.10

Immigration derailing globalization?◦ Even more will lead to even stricter laws?

E.g. Switzerland, France Are we better or worse?

◦ Equality-matching vs. Authority ranking cultures.

Immigration

Thank you for your attention!