Ethnocentrism, as an anthropological and social science concept, refers to the use of one’s ethnicity or culture as a basis for judging other cultures, beliefs, peoples, behaviors, practices, and societies, rather than applying the standards of the specific demographic involved. Ethnocentrism is broad both in terms of definition and practice; this is because it manifests in almost all contexts provided people from different backgrounds are compelled to interact with one another. In regards to social work, ethnocentrism affects delivery and effectiveness of services rendered by encouraging misconceptions about other demographics and, therefore, shaping how clients and assistance are handled.
A few years ago, I volunteered in a social service agency that provided counseling, financial support, and shelter to homeless persons. I had multiple options from which I could choose, but I was inclined towards the idea of enhancing the quality of life of homeless persons. I must admit, however, that my choice was strongly inspired by my background, since I had experience homelessness as a child. My family arrived in the country as asylum seekers after we were driven from our home by intertribal tensions and forced to live as squatters for a period of two years. During this time, we slept out in the cold on numerous occasions because we were considered outsiders in our locality. We also had to beg for food and move around like nomads due to hostility from authorities and locals, who subjected us to harassment and abuse on a regular basis because we belonged to the smallest yet most politically dominant tribe. The experience of going from not knowing what it feels like to go to bed hungry or get exposed to the elements to not knowing where the next meal will come from and shifting bases every other day left me traumatized. I would say that I view and treat homeless and hungry persons with consideration and sympathy because I understand the degree of mental, physical, and social scarring that they have to contend with.
During my stint at the agency, I realized that since I identified with groups and people that were traditionally marginalized, I exhibited greater intercultural willingness to engage, communicate with, and listen to homeless persons. My supervisor informed me that my experience, which left a huge impression in me in terms of knowing what it means to be ostracized, marginalized, and part of an out-group, encouraged me to show more patience and empathy when communicating with persons from other demographics that are similarly marginalized, including those that are coping with homelessness.
Throughout the program, I dedicated more time and effort towards assisting people living in the shelter, including spending part of my free time counseling, sensitizing, and encouraging them. Wanting to dig deeper to understand the theoretical foundation of my behavior, I conducted research and referred to coursework. I discovered that my perspective and actions could be rationalized using the standpoint theory. This concept has been applied by many researchers to different groups, including feminists, with the results showing that people who are from privileged backgrounds have a personal interest in overlooking inequity and oppression that align with and enable their privilege. In contrast, persons belonging to subordinate or underprivileged groups are inclined towards being conscious of their as well as other people’s standing in society; as a result, they are more predisposed to taking note of the oppression and suffering of other maligned groups.
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