Cultural Relativism Vs Universal Children’s Rights

Even though most moral codes are linked to cultural & society, does not mean we have to accept cultural relativism when it comes to child abuse in any form.

We cannot deny that cultural differences are real and are important in analyzing and judging cases, but cultural relativism taken to the negative extreme can be hurtful, cruel and violating to the universal laws of children’s rights.

I. Cultural relativism says that good and bad are related to culture. What is "good" is what is "socially approved" in a culture and society. What is “normal” is what is shown to us in society, be it good or bad to others of another society. For example an Indian man may think that the color white is a sign of death and a widow would have to wear that after her husband is deceased, while in other cultures, white is the color of a brides dress.

Cultural relativists see other cultures, not as "wrong," but as "different." I believe that cultural relativists believe in “live and let live“, but yet human nature is to judge and compare. Therefore it is important to have a universal law that defines right from wrong. In some countries, we cannot control the social behaviors. In cer

Corporal punishment can also cause serious physical damage Shaking the child vigorously can cause a concussion, whiplash, blindness, serious brain damage, or even death. Spanking can injure: muscles, pelvis, genitals or the spine. Hitting a child's hands can injure bones, blood vessels and joints. A child who is hit can accidentally fall and seriously injure themselves.

Bibliography DONE!! Now show me the papersAdd A Link To Us     Text lCorporal punishment in the harshest for have proven to be disastrous in short or long run. It is ineffective. Punishment for a child will only be in the child’s mind for a short period of time before they start to misbehave again. Children get used to the fact and start to build up a rebellious attitude, resistance to the punishment, a sense of revenge and resentment towards parents. It teaches the child that it is O.K. to hit your sibling, or another younger individual. Thus teaching the child to use violence. This can lead to serious violence as they start getting older and may get them in legal trouble. Due to the fear of getting punished, the child creates a sense of fear in life, they loose their self confidence. This is just the mental torture that the child could go thru. ?

Cultural relativism has some values that should be accepted and understood by law, allowing the Sikh’s to carry daggers around for example, or to wear a turban in the work place. Alison Renteln states that “ lack of cultural sensitivity can prove to be expensive” what she means to say is that law officials are at times ignorant about cultures, and that if they would dig deep enough to find the motive, they would realize that religion was a factor. I agree with here theory but I believe that the unacceptable extremes should not be ignored by the law or any one on that matter. I am from a culture background, yet born in the modern day, find it hard to accept certain things about other cultures, yet I do know the flaws of my own culture and would not stand for it in my culture or any other culture.

A former church member Rita Swan, had created an organization called CHILD (Children's Health Care is a Legal Duty) to protect children from abusive religions and cultural practices. FYI - in all of the cases that arised - none of the cases held the Church liable, since it does not direct what actions should be taken by individuals in their own lives.

As a peek in to the rest of the paper - Child Genital Mutilation is used throughout as an extreme example of how the cultural relativist and Universalist ideas clash violently. To conclude we will look at ways that we may be able to agree upon a norm in the United States and help other countries realize those norms. We argue for an alternative base for action, one that can be followed.

About 4 mutilation cases are seen each year at clinics. All this has done is indanger these little girls and not brought on good education to the parents to convince them of not conducting such acts.

Some topics in this essay:
Surprised Bibliography, Association NAMBLA, Alison Renteln, Children’s Rights, Amanda Bates, Afghanistan Africa, Corporal Punishment, FGM Canada, John Ken, Science Church, corporal punishment, child abuse, cultural relativism, catholic church, genital mutilation, medical treatment, church officials, religious freedom, christian scientist faith, roman catholic, love association, female genital mutilation, third world countries, loose self confidence, priest john geoghan,