Question

Those living in wealthy countries nearly universally condemn businesses that employ impoverished children under the age of 14 in poor countries. Contrarily, families living in poor countries are grateful that businesses come to their countries and offer work to their children.

Explain why this division of opinion is a classic example of cultural relativism?

Answer 1

• Cultural relativism maintains that man's opinion within a given culture defines what is right and wrong. Cultural relativism is the mistaken idea that there are no objective standards by which our society can be judged because each culture is entitled to its own beliefs and accepted practices.
• This definition explains the difference in opinions.Living in developing,third world countries,where povert is prevalant,a good standard of living is missing and many mouths to feed exists,child labour is considered fine as compared to wealthy countries,wherein opportunities right from education to employment are ample for people.
• People living in poor countries are brought up in a culture,where as long as money is coming to survive,a child working below the age of 14 years is considered a necessity as compared to children in wealthy countries who get all the facilities right when they are born and brought up in a culture,where the focus is on good education first and then developing a career and not becoming a labour.
• Which is why the belief of child labour is considered right in poor countries,where survival is a struggle as compared to wealthy countries who consider it wrong to snatch away childhood of small children and the focus is on their growth an development.