Ethnocentrism

So, here we are again, right back where we started.

What is ethnocentrism again? It's the view that promotes judgment of other cultures based upon one's own cultural values, usually as a means of promoting one's superiority. Is it a bad thing? Honestly, I think so. Is it curable? ...Well, do you guys think it is?

Over this semester, I've done lots of research and used my own knowledge to try and spread cross-cultural awareness with this blog. I hope my posts have been informative and interesting and that they've helped you get a better understanding of where other people might be coming from. It's easy to get frustrated with people who just don't seem to understand you; taking time to learn about them relieves that frustration immeasurably. :) Or maybe that's just me and my touchy-feely, happy Psychology mindset.

Personally, I learned a lot from this experience. I'm more aware of Caucasian-American dating rules/traditions, the vast differences in culture among Caucasian-American people, Indian food, and school systems across the globe. As much as I've looked into the field of cross-cultural studies, there's always so much more to learn. I regret that I didn't have time to do more cross-cultural research and share my findings with you all, but I assure you that this information can easily be found through KSU's affiliated academic search engines - GALILEO, EBSCOhost, PsycARTICLES, etc.

Also, if you've taken an intro to Psych class, you can take the Ethnic Minority Psychology and/or the Cross-Cultural Psychology class(es). Ethnic Minority Psych is an AMAZING class that focuses on African-American, Native American-Indian, Asian-American, and Hispanic-American cultures. It's informative and mostly discussion-based. Cross-Cultural Psychology has unfortunately become a requirement for many other majors, so the class size has increased substantially; as a result, the lectures aren't quite as compelling or personal. Still, the material is fascinating...if you're into ethnic studies, anyway. :) If you enjoy ethnic literature, you'll enjoy these classes.

Anyway, there's a point in me making this post. I know I've been emphasizing the differences between cultures throughought this blog. It's true that America is rich with different cultures that should be understood, appreciated, and not judged. I stand by it. However, we're also united by a lot of similarities!

I'm about to get kinda cheesy, so here's the obligatory picture:















I'm gonna admit something here: I am REALLY afraid of American cockroaches. Like...shiver, cower in fear, and maybe run away kinda scared. I'm not scared of Mexican cockroaches because, while they're larger than American ones, they don't fly. I attribute this to the Tequila-Induced Hypothesis of Disorientation (not a real hypothesis).

You know what, though? I've met plenty of other girls - Caucasian-American, African-American, Asian-American, etc. - that are equally as petrified of cockroaches as I am. We come from completely different backgrounds and upbringing, but we're still people, and it's really easy to find commonalities like this by just talking to them. It sounds like a no-brainer, but I've unfortunately seen people brush off others (and experience it myself) because they're racially not what they associate themselves with on a normal basis.

I'm not going to go on a tirade about racism and yap yap yap; suffice to say that I'm sure we're all on the same page. You know, love and peace. ;)

Anyway, it's been fun reading your blogs, and I hope I have offered you guys that same entertainment. Happy holidays...and be sure to rub your ethnic awareness in your friends' and family's faces! It's okay to be smug. :D