Eurocentricity: meaning, definitions and examples

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Eurocentricity

[jʊərəʊˈsɛntrɪsɪti ]

Definition

^{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.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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.

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.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The term combines 'Euro', referring to Europe, and 'centric', meaning centered or focusing around.
The concept became prominent in the 19th century during European colonial expansion, when Western powers dominated global narratives.
Academic debates around the term emerged in the late 20th century as more scholars began questioning Western perspectives.

History

During the Age of Enlightenment, European thinkers often dismissed non-European cultures as inferior, reinforcing Eurocentric views.
Many historic maps from this period placed Europe at the center, greatly influencing how global geography was perceived.
The impact of Eurocentricity can be seen in literature and education, often prioritizing Western authors and philosophies.

Pop Culture

Movies and media often depict global stories through a Western lens, which can misrepresent or overlook other cultures.
Popular music often originates from Euro-American styles, shaping global trends while marginalizing traditional sounds from other regions.
Fashion industries tend to favor European aesthetics, sometimes sidelining traditional attire from other cultures.

Education

History textbooks frequently emphasize Western events while providing limited coverage on the histories of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Many educational systems prioritize European literature and philosophy over diverse global viewpoints, affecting students' learning.
Eurocentricity shapes curricula, often leading to a misunderstanding of global interconnections and cultural contributions.

Psychology

Research indicates that individuals exposed to diverse cultural viewpoints exhibit more empathy and understanding of global issues.
Sociologists explore how Eurocentric attitudes can lead to biases and stereotypes, affecting interpersonal relationships.
Children raised in Eurocentric environments may develop a limited worldview, impacting their social interactions and perspectives.

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