Ethnocentrism Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethnocentrism - Article Example The only reason behind such a behavior was ethnocentrism. Of importance is the fact that ethnicity is not related to the biology of a person, therefore being alterable and flexible. This is not true for race, which is considered to be the innate qualities of a person, which therefore is unalterable and fixed. Therefore, we can infer that race is a profound reality based on biological origins while ethnicity is relatively superficial. Ethnocentrism therefore does not gives importance to the physical characteristics of a person as long as that person remains a member of that culture. Contrary to this, racism does not give importance to cultural attachment. Rather it favors those who are biologically similar. Racism therefore fails to accommodate those who have similar ideas and interests but are biologically different. The delivery of health care to growing populations of multiple ethnicities in modern day world is a challenge for modern day health care providers. Lapses in cross-cultural communication and mutual understanding which mainly stems from the ethnocentric behavior of health care professionals result in non-compliance of the patients (Thiederman, 1986). Differences in religions and practices may in turn become the cause of disliking a patient by the health care providers. Superstitious behaviors may lead a health care provider to think that patient has some mental abnormality, while the patient is merely practicing what he believes in. Such matters require careful consideration by the health care providers to avoid causing loss to patients. Similarly, patients may suffer from poor standard of care due to the fact that a particular health care provider dislikes a particular ethnicity. Vienna Declaraction states that â€Å"the universal nature† of all human rights and fundamental freedom is â€Å"beyond question† (Ayton-Shenker,