Ethnocentrism

Anthropologists have a complex relationship with "ethnocentrism." They consider it to be intellectually naive, morally despicable and politically dangerous. Many see criticizing and fighting ethnocentrism as one of anthropology's missions. At the same time, anthropologists acknowledge that no culture could survive without at least some degree of ethnocentrism. Anthropology, itself the child of a history of ethnocentrism, is unable to rid itself of this heritage in its own work. Moreover, and ironically, ethnocentrism is an epistemological necessity. This book includes the reflections of six medical anthropologists who reflect on the ethnocentric implications of their fieldwork and writings on health, illness and medicine in various parts of the world.