Why is it ethnocentric to say that Native Americans are called Indians?

Answer 1

Well, I would not term it ethnocentric, I would call it incorrect. The Europeans who first found this continent incorrectly concluded that they had landed in India. Only ethnocentric inthat it continued to be misused as an identifying term by the majority European culture for so long.

Answer 2

ethnocentric is just a five-dollar word for calling it an uneducated remark. there is only one india in the world, and that india surprisingly contains what the world, as we know it, calls "indians." the entire cultural misconception began with columbus' miscalculation and his accidental arrival to america, instead of india. he had hoped to explore south asia and get some trading done, but instead he stumbled on this new land. very little was known about the world back in the 1500s, so it is believable as to how he could have made that mistake.

it offends some people because of the negligence and stupidity. we should try to correct this simple mistake and call americans americans and indians indians. makes sense to me :]

Answer 3

If we can't call them Indians then we certainly can't call them Native Americans. Native Americans are all from Asia. but since they were the first to inhabit the American continent we call them native americans to be correct. Whether its ethnocentrism i don't think it is.

Answer 4

Ethnocentricity is one's belief that their race or culture is superior to another. I am a member of an Indian tribe located in the United States and recognized by the United States Government as such. I do not, nor does my tribe, believe that we are superior to any other tribe.

Answer 5

Because Indians are the term for people from India. Columbus started that because he thought he was in India. The Native Americans that originate here are not Indians there for you arent suppose to call them that because that is the wrong origin.

Answer 6

Because calling them Indians is an element of our culture. Most prefer the name Native Americans thus making that name an element of their culture (but calling them Native Americans is less relativistim and more political correctness)

Answer 7

It's confusing, better to say American Indians.

As for insult purposes - part of that is how those affected (Amerinds) might feel about it, the other part of course is context and intent of how you use the term.

Answer 8

Because they don't like it ! :)