What is Cultural Relativism and Why Do Anthropologists Value It?

Cultural relativism refers to the anthropological challenge of making sense of what is ‘second nature’ in the particular culture being studied. This principle was established in anthropological research by Franz Boas in the early 20th century. The term infers that no culture is superior to another as all cultures are equal. It suggests that each culture must be valued in its own terms. Sumner argues that “moral problems are interpreted differently by different societies” and that “questions of right and wrong are relative to the particular culture in which the behaviour occurs”. In essence, what we in the West may view as immoral or wrong may be a very significant way of life for other societies.

Spiro (1986:259) suggests that there are three types of cultural relativism. Firstly, there is descriptive relativism, which is “a judgement concerning the fact of cultural variability”. Secondly, Spiro suggests that there is normative relativism. This builds on descriptive relativism and consists of two judgements. Initially it’s “regarding culture itself, the other regarding putative social and psychological products”. Finally, there is epistemological relativism, which refers to the theory that “everything that is eventually found on that blank slate is inscribed by culture” (Spiro, 1986:260). Essentially, this means that culture does not dictate simply what we think but how we feel and live our lives.

An example of where anthropologists would argue cultural relativism is needed is when studying the marriage conventions of the Nimba people in Nepal. Their behaviour was studied by the BBC in 1993 when they created the documentary ‘The Dragon Bride’. This film followed the Nimba people’s tradition of teenage girls marrying numerous brothers at the same time, i.e. polyandry. It showed how sixteen year old Tsering was extremely unhappy about her arranged marriage to four brothers. She implied that she wished she had been born male, so that she wouldn’t be forced to leave her home and could continue with her studies. In the West, such practices would never occur, as monogamous marriages are seen as the best system and arranged marriages are very rare. Cultural relativism would suggest that the Nimba people’s traditions should be viewed from a neutral perspective and not from a Western one and therefore should not be seen as ‘wrong’.  They describe their use of polyandry as “a means of survival” and would struggle to understand the West’s views on marriage.