David Aldwinkle: Ethnocentrism And Cultural Relativism

After living in Japan for seventeen years, David Aldwinkle decided to become a Japanese citizen (Weiner & Aldwinkle, 2003). He has immersed himself in the culture, changing his name to Arudou Debito. He has written a book in Japanese about racial discrimination in Japan entitled Japanese Only, teaches at a local university and he even has relinquished his American citizenship. Throughout that time, he has experienced examples of both ethnocentrism and cultural relativism.

Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's ethnic group or culture is superior (Leeder, 2004). In order to gain citizenship David Aldwinkle was subject to investigation by inspectors to prove he was culturally Japanese. These investigations included interviewing his neighbors,

checking his kitchen, searching his refrigerator, checking the interior of his household and checking his children's toys. When Aldwinkle asked what they were looking for, the inspectors responded, "Just to see how Japanese you are". This can all be described as ethnocentric behavior on the part of the Japanese investigators. While Aldwinkle was promoting his book, the journalist who interviewed him displayed ethnocentric behavior by asking "Why is it that you, as a foreigner, have to do this?". Aldwinkle's parents also displayed ethnocentrism after Aldwinkle renounced his American citizenship. Another example is the traditional bath house that barred foreigners from entering who Aldwinkle successfully won a lawsuit against. It could also be said that incredulous reaction of the official at the US consulate when Aldwinkle handed in his blue passport and renounced his American citizenship is another example of ethnocentric behavior.

Cultural relativism is the idea that no one culture is superior than another. Aldwinkle is able to witness this as well. He says that most Japanese accept him as one of their own. He also says that his friends are accepting of his new Japanese citizenship. Aldwinkle teaches at a local university where he asks his students "What does it mean to be Japanese?". The class first displays ethnocentric behavior, yet with more discussion on the subject he helps guide them to a way of seeing things more approaching cultural relativism. One could also say that the eventual acceptance of Aldwinkle as a Japanese citizen could also be considered a form of cultural relativism.