Assume you′re a social scientist who′s been tasked with researching the culture of consanguineous marriages, which is the practice of marrying relatives. You may object to the practice, but you must also emphasize non-bias in your ANSWER. DO NOT CRITICIZE THE PRACTICE BUT RATHER EMBRACE A CULTURE THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN YOUR OWN EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH IT. For this exercise, you will look beyond your own beliefs to present non-biased explanations for why this practice is appropriate in this culture. Cultural relativism, for example, is defined as not judging a culture according to our own beliefs of what is right or wrong, weird or normal. Instead, we should endeavor to comprehend other people′s cultural practices in their own cultural context. For example, instead of thinking, “Fried worms are disgusting! we must learn not to criticize it. Cultural norms, cultural relativism, culture shock, and ethnocentrism must all be addressed in your responses. Additional information: Contrary to widely held beliefs and longstanding taboos in America, first cousins can have children together without a great risk of birth defects or genetic disease, scientists are reporting today. They say there is no biological reason to discourage cousins from marrying. However, first cousin marriage is far more common, and far less dangerous, than many of us have been led to believe. Children born to unrelated spouses have a 2-3 percent chance of having congenital impairments, while children born to first cousins have a 4-6 percent chance. This is not a significant increase in risk, Many cultures, however, support cousin marriages for a variety of reasons one including improving 1) inter-familial bonds, and 2) maintaining their multi-generational wealth.
