Culture
By Aditya
Published on
Cultural Myopia
Cultural myopia means seeing the world only through the narrow lens of your own culture. It's when people assume that the way they think, act, or live is the right way for everyone else too. This kind of thinking makes it hard to truly see and appreciate the variety and richness of other cultures. Cultural myopia usually comes from not having enough exposure to different people, backgrounds, or ways of life.
When someone has cultural myopia, their view of the world becomes blurry and limited. They can't see situations clearly because they're judging everything by their own standards. This often leads to stereotypes and false assumptions, like thinking everyone from a certain country acts or believes the same way.
Cultural myopia can also cause misunderstandings. For example, a Portuguese woman might laugh at a Scottish man wearing a kilt because, in her culture, it looks like a woman's dress. Another example comes from British archaeologists excavating Egyptian ruins. Some of the statues depicted nudity, and when these were brought to Victorian England, many were chipped or broken to hide the nude figures.
Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism means judging another culture by the standards of your own instead of trying to understand it on its own terms. It's when people see their way of life as the “normal” or “correct” one and view others as strange, inferior, or wrong. This mindset often grows from pride in one's own culture and leads to assumptions of superiority.
Ethnocentrism may be described as seeing one's own group as the center of everything and judging all others in comparison. This attitude often brings a sense of unity and loyalty within a group but also breeds contempt or hostility towards outsiders.
Ethnocentrism can show up in different ways. On a group level, it can fuel conflicts between communities or nations. On an individual level, it can appear as strong in-group loyalty and prejudice against those who seem different.
Ethnocentrism isn't innate; it's learned through social values and beliefs. Its most destructive effects have appeared in history through genocide, slavery, apartheid, and many violent conflicts. The Holocaust is a popular example.
Some global efforts, like the creation of the United Nations or the Olympic Games, have sought to counteract ethnocentrism by promoting cooperation and understanding across cultures.
In today's world, where about two-thirds of people use the internet and social media, technology can either help or harm. Studies show that when people engage with diverse viewpoints online, it can build tolerance and bridge cultural gaps. But when online spaces are closed off to certain groups, they can reinforce narrow, ethnocentric thinking.