Eurocentricity: meaning, definitions and examples

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Eurocentricity

 

[ jʊərəʊˈsɛntrɪsɪti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

cultural dominance

Eurocentricity refers to the belief that Europe and Europeans are superior to other cultures and peoples. It is a form of cultural bias where European values, history, and perspective are considered the norm or standard by which all other cultures are judged.

Synonyms

Eurocentrism, Western-centricity.

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Word Description / Examples
Eurocentricity

Use this term to describe a focus or emphasis on European culture and history, often at the expense of other cultures. It usually appears in academic or cultural discussions and can have a neutral or critical tone.

  • The curriculum has been criticized for its Eurocentricity, ignoring the rich histories of other continents.
  • Her analysis of art demonstrated a clear Eurocentricity, with little mention of contributions from Asia or Africa.
Eurocentrism

This term is often used in a critical context to highlight biases that prioritize European culture and perspectives over others. It's frequently employed in social sciences, history, and critical theory.

  • Eurocentrism in the media often leads to the underrepresentation of stories from the Global South.
  • The scholars argued that Eurocentrism in academic research limits the understanding of diverse cultural practices.
Western-centricity

Similar to 'Eurocentricity', but broader, encompassing Western cultures including North America. It is used in discussions about culture, academia, and media to illustrate an unbalanced focus on Western ideals and narratives.

  • The film industry’s Western-centricity often means that movies from Asia and Africa receive less attention.
  • Her lecture on globalization criticized the Western-centricity of most economic theories.

Examples of usage

  • Eurocentricity can lead to the marginalization of non-European cultures in education and media.
  • Some argue that Eurocentricity has influenced global power structures and perpetuated inequalities.
  • Overcoming Eurocentricity requires recognizing and valuing the diversity of cultures and histories around the world.

Translations

Translations of the word "Eurocentricity" in other languages:

🇵🇹 eurocentrismo

🇮🇳 यूरोकेंद्रीयता

🇩🇪 Eurozentrismus

🇮🇩 Eurocentrisme

🇺🇦 євроцентризм

🇵🇱 eurocentryzm

🇯🇵 ヨーロッパ中心主義

🇫🇷 eurocentrisme

🇪🇸 eurocentrismo

🇹🇷 Avrupamerkezcilik

🇰🇷 유럽 중심주의

🇸🇦 المركزية الأوروبية

🇨🇿 eurocentrismus

🇸🇰 eurocentrizmus

🇨🇳 欧洲中心主义

🇸🇮 evrocentričnost

🇮🇸 evrópsk miðlægni

🇰🇿 еуроцентризм

🇬🇪 ევროცენტრიზმი

🇦🇿 avrosentrizm

🇲🇽 eurocentrismo

Etymology

Eurocentricity emerged during the age of European colonialism when European powers sought to assert their dominance over other regions of the world. The idea of European superiority was often used to justify colonial exploitation and oppression. Despite the decline of formal colonial empires, Eurocentricity continues to influence global perceptions and power dynamics.

See also: Eurocentric.