Question

Meegan is taking a course at a university in New Delhi, India as a part of a student exchange program. She is having difficulty accepting many of the local customs including the status of bovines and the apparent lack of respect women receive. Meegan is making a sincere effort, however, to understand the Indian customs and to place this behavior within a broader social context. In view of this, Meegan is engaging ________. Question 9 options:

Answer 1

Meegan is engaging in cultural relativism, a process of understanding local customs and norms within the specific cultural context of India, and distinguishing them from her own culture's norms.

Step-by-step explanation:

Meegan is engaging in cultural relativism, a sociological concept whereby she is trying to understand and evaluate the local customs and social norms of India within the context of that culture rather than through the lens of her own. Cultural relativism allows individuals to recognize the reasons behind certain behaviors in different societies by setting aside their own cultural perspectives and biases. The concept acknowledges that behavior that may seem odd or unacceptable in one culture can be perfectly normal in another, and that individuals must adapt and understand these differences, especially when encountering them firsthand as Meegan is during her exchange program. In India, bovines are held in high status due to religious beliefs, which is a form of cultural difference that Meegan is learning to respect. Additionally, the perception of women and gender roles are another area where cultural relativism comes into play, as societal norms around gender can vary dramatically from one culture to another.

Answer 2

A. the sociological perspective

Step-by-step explanation:

Analyzing the information in the question, it is correct to say that Meegan is involving the sociological perspective in her view.

This means that she is looking to analyze the customs and behavior of the Indian people from a perspective different from her own perspective, that is, she is trying to understand the influence of the social environment in this culture.

According to the sociological perspective, the social origins of a people will affect their standards of behavior, values, attitudes and lifestyle of a people, so when looking at the customs of Indian society from this perspective it is easier for Meegan to understand that in the world there is a cultural diversity that differs according to the social context and therefore must be respected.