Can one culture be "right" and another culture "wrong"? explain your answer?

Answer 1

Of course a culture can be wrong & when it is, it dies because it can't adapt to changing conditions & competition. I suspect that, in spite of the oil, many Mid Eastern cultures find themselves in this position due to the propensity to throw away half the available brain power (women) in this ever more competitive World.
Edit:
Call this social darwinism... if a culture puts its people at a competitive disadvantage, it will die out. I won't judge a culture, but if it puts the people that subscribe to these cultural mores at a disadvantage in the World, then it will die... either slowly or quickly.

Answer 2

No culture can be right or wrong--it is the perspective that dictates how a culture is viewed. For instance, in the US we view western democracy as being the "best and right choice" yet many other nations do not view western democracy that way. It does not make them wrong and the us right. Each culture has their own standards, meanings, and way of life. When we cannot remove ourselves and view a culture through their eyes then we become biased. In happens in everyday society (when you walk down the street) and in the greater global society. There are some cultures that still live a nomadic life, are they wrong because they don't build high skyscrapers? The simple answer is that no one is ever right when they say that one culture can ever be right or wrong--it just shows their ignorance.

Answer 3

China practised "foot binding" for nearly 1000 years. It was banned in 1912. The women were found more attractive, and it was meant to make women less mobile.
As a result, women could not walk well and would suffer from infections and hip-fractures. Mostly it was culture, but in some times it was also required by law. Women said: 'if this is what it takes to marry, than so be it'. Nowadays, Chinese people strongly feel that it was wrong. They feel that their society has made some progress.
Anthropologists could ask themselves the question: is this a matter of perspective ('What's right for us, is not always right for them'), or are there human rights involved?
Because exactly the same is happening today in East-Africa with tradition of genital mutilation. Women are not speaking out, they feel that that's what it takes to be a woman. You could be expelled from the group, and mutilation involves pride.

My idea is: even if all the people in a group practise it and agree on it.., it can still be very wrong.
Islam is not necessarily a good example (it doesn't prescribe any of this), but some tribal traditions that are meant to oppress women unfortunately remain existing in islamic countries, since islamic law gives women less rights than men.

Answer 4

There is no universal answer to your question.

The culture you are brought up in determines what you consider right and wrong. For example a lot of Muslim women are perfectly happy with their status in society even if that status seems grossly unfair to our western society where women have more freedom, so they themselves would not consider their culture wrong. They might even consider it wrong that our culture "forces" women to work during their best child bearing years. Its all in the perspective, as is any question about right or wrong.

Your question is like asking a die hard football fan and a die hard icehockey fan on which sport they consider the most entertaining.

Answer 5

Look into "cultural relativism" vs "universalism". That either we accept that we understand (and judge things) relative to our culture, and therefore must accept that people from other cultures have another understanding of: medicine, gender roles, God, the creation of the universe, relationship to the environment, etc etc. Or universalism which deems there is only one truth, a good example being Western medicine is considered by some as the only valid path to understanding and healing the body, or science is the true way of understanding nature.

Answer 6

Yep I agree with Otavainen, Right and wrong are cultural constructs and cultures will value different concepts/ideologies in different contexts based on the cultures specific values, challenges and environment. So if a culture does not value your ideas in a specific time and way you may think they are wrong.

Answer 7

I think if you come to the US You have to may be be more American correct and culturally aware meaning respect ones belief like you want to be respected i think if you know a young ladie is a Christan and under age why plot for your own selfish reasons what her parents have groomed her daughter the American way as a young women and you want to brainwash a American white black Asian Christan girl is wrong. Why should a women be subject to the fact of sharing her love with other women I think it is for the male benefit. so I don't agree with it but when you start tipping in my family or friends with no re guards to others customs yes I have a problem with it. especially if Americans is trying to embrace your culture and understand then you want to personalized your belief on some one else we are a melting pot but please let it be the young ladies choice not brain wash and manipulating .i feel the same way of gay or lesbians christains should not gay bash because I think God is the judge not man and women .

Answer 8

Do you mean in terms of personal feelings, or in anthropological terms?

Anthropologists make every attempt they can to remain objective about cultural practices, although some practices are difficult to remain objective about. They may have personal feelings about certain practices but it's probably unethical to allow them to interfere with their work.

In terms of personal feelings, the first two posters made it quite clear that it is possible for people to judge one culture right and another wrong.

I'd also like to point out that not ALL Muslims treat women badly. Yes, there are many places in this world where there are injustice. Let's not make blanket statements for people who do not deserve it though.

EDIT: jonmcn49, the self-termed evolutionary biologist, will now be fielding your questions regarding evolution. lol.

Answer 9

That is why, as evolutionary biologists, we use the universal evolved human nature to make such judgments. Culture is superficial and does not take into account what all people on earth need and want.

Answer 10

No not really. everyone acts according to the culture that they were raised in the purpose of culture is to enable us to understand the world that we have been born into.