FREE ESSAY ON CROSS CULTURAL STUDIES

CROSS CULTURAL STUDIES

Question: What is the value of making cross-cultural comparisons? (Miller, Pg#11: 1999) 
Cultural anthropology encompasses all aspects of human beliefs, behaviors and ideas. What
would the world be like without any knowledge of other cultures? Anthropologists study
different cultures to be more understanding and accepting, more appreciative and to
enrich our own culture.
What is the real problem with the Ku Klux Klan? Perhaps, if they took the time to
understand the African-American and Jewish cultures, for example, they would be more
accepting of the diversity. Hundreds of years of cultural imperialism has evolved into a
legion of hate. Emic studies put the researcher in the middle of the culture, free to
interact and discover a new life style. After a few months or even a year in a different
culture, one has a better understanding of the lifestyle, and understanding leads to
acceptance. Once people, especially powerful political leaders, learn cultural relativism
war will be a practice of the past and only discussed in history classes.
Another reason for cross-cultural comparison is to make us more appreciative of our own
culture and environment. For example, members of the Peace Corp volunteer months to years
of their lives to live and help in third world countries. They may not be there with the
purpose of studying culture, however, living among the people and having to adapt to
their way of life gives them a first-hand experience of a third world life. Seeing the
way life is without any luxuries make us realize how convenient our lives are. Plentiful
amounts of food, clean water, stable shelter and adequate clothing are just a few of the
many luxuries that our culture sees as essentials. Many volunteers return from the Peace
Corp and adopt a new way of life; much less extravagant than the one they led before. 
Finally, we study other cultures to enrich our own. Where would Canadian culture be
without the influence of the French, Italian, Chinese, and all the other cultures that
form the cultural mosaic that defines Canada? Without the mixture of cultures in our
country, we would still be eating meat and potatoes for every meal. The cultural blend
that has come together to make up Canada, but yet retain their own individualities, work
together to make a hybrid culture created from the best of all that are combined.
In conclusion, we see that without cross-cultural comparisons life would be boring and
monotonous. Learning about other cultures makes us more understanding, accepting, and
appreciative of the diversity. No more war, no more racism and no more ethnic cleansing
once ethnocentrism and cultural imperialism are abolished. Cultural diversity is the
spice of life.