Surrogacy and the Concept of Cultural Relativism, Ethnocentrism, and Gift-Giving

Surrogacy
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Surrogacy
Surrogacy is one of the ways through which people can have a child. It is a legal arrangement in which a woman carries and delivers a child for another person or couple. The concept of surrogacy involves various aspects of life that need to be explained better. It is one of the most complicated and confusing concepts that exists in society due to people's perceptions and economic implications. In India, surrogacy is legal but regulated by the government. The film focuses on an Indian woman acting as a surrogate for another couple. It relates to class reading, especially the concept of cultural relativism, ethnocentrism, and the various approaches to economy and gift-giving. The paper will focus on how effectively the film proves these concepts.
The film effectively proves the concept of cultural relativism because it shows how people from different backgrounds perceive a situation differently. For example, the couple in the film is portrayed as wealthy and living in America. They want a baby but cannot do so because of medical problems. In this case, they would need help bearing a child and have settled for a surrogate mother. The idea of a surrogate mother from India indicates the concept of cultural relativism because the couple doesn't consider the possibility of inequality between them and the surrogate mother. Cultural relativism focuses on the idea that all cultures are equal in different aspects of life, such as morality, politics, and law. In this case, cultural relativism reveals itself through the morality of doing the right thing and the laws involved in surrogacy.
Cultural relativism is also revealed through the film's setting. It is set in India, a country where surrogacy is legal. The legal aspect of surrogacy in India applies to the couple, whereby it is also legal for them to hire a surrogate mother. Their relationship unifies culture through the law. The film focuses on the life of an Indian woman who agrees with another couple to carry their child for them. It shows her struggles and challenges, which are significantly different from those faced by the American couple. The differences between the two couples show how culture plays a vital role in shaping people's perceptions about something considered normal elsewhere. For instance, the issue of cultural relativism forces her to hide the concept of surrogacy from those close to her. Some people consider the act shameful and sinful. In this case, they would judge her for the decision to become a surrogate. While cultural relativism advocates for equality in all aspects of life, people have different cultural beliefs, which undermines its implementation in society.
Ethnocentrism is one of the major challenges in overcoming cultural barriers. It is important to understand that some practices are considered normal in one culture, while they may be frowned upon or even illegal in another. While there is nothing wrong with having different values and beliefs, it becomes problematic when people from different cultures impose their ideas on each other (Teman & Berend, 2021). In this case, the woman overcame Ethnocentrism by hiding that she wa...