My ANTHROPOLOGY blog .

CULTURAL RELATIVISM AND UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS

Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban    

“Understanding the diverse cultural contexts where harm or violence may take place is valuable and important, but suspending or withholding judgment because of cultural relativism is intellectually and morally irresponsible. Anthropologists cannot be bystanders when they witness harm being practiced upon any people they study.”(Page5)

In my opinion, the quotation given above, from the article “Cultural Relativism & Universal Human Rights” helps us understand what the writer and article wants us to know because in this quotation the main factors around which the entire article is written is introduced, in the end the writer also comes up with this statement to resolve (in a way) the clash between cultural relativism and human rights.

The basic argument of the article from my point of view is that the writer shows us the clash between the ideals of cultural relativism and human rights. She also writes, “This article is an attempt to lay out some of the basic issues and considerations in this arena, looking at the intersection of cultural relativism and the human rights issues that have gained more public awareness than ever before.” Telling us that anthropologists should keep in mind that any cultural belief that harms the individual due to the practises should be brought up and should not be left by saying that cultural relativism comes under play and we should respect all cultures.

While reading through the article another point I realised was that the writer had spent most of the working days as an anthropologist in Sudan, she has also come across female circumcision in the community and she speaks of it mostly. But from what I recall (anthropology class, discussion about female AND male circumcision) and after doing a small research on the net I realised that she does not at any point bring up male circumcision which is also prevalent. Yes, she does speak about this in the context of "Conventions for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women" (1979) and the "Rights of the Child" (1989).” I generally feel she should have mentioned that as for me, the way in which I interpreted female circumcision wasn’t fitting right. As for any experiential connection, I haven’t have had any.

On the whole, yes for me this article is right and it has given me a new perspective of the clash between the human rights and cultural relativism. That we should keep in mind if that the sentiments are not harmed by its practise. It makes a huge difference for me as the examples and different methods in which the writer has written has opened a new door for me in viewing the culture where these harmful practises take place.

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