In the film, Babies, different child-rearing practices in both MDCs and LDCs were explored. Due to disparities in economic conditions, as well as cultural factors, children are raised differently throughout the world. Because many practices are different from those in the US, I have responded with an ethnocentric view point. Ethnocentrism is the belief in the superiority of one’s culture. There are several scenes that have caused me to react with ethnocentrism, especially those in Africa and Mongolia.
In Africa, children were left with dogs with little to no supervision. These dogs were large animals and have the potential to injure the children. The animal could easily bite or step on the children causing severe injuries. In America, infants and toddlers are rarely let around large animals that could potentially injure them. Usually, parents in America keep a close eye on their child and don’t allow their children into dangerous situations. Similarly, in Mongolia, children were unsupervised for most of the day and crawled around outside, in the dust. The dirt contains various bacteria and pathogens. This can get the child sick. Furthermore, children in Mongolia exhibit violence. In one scene, a boy hits his younger sibling, an infant, with a scarf. There is no parent in sight to chastise the older brother, or soothe the younger one. In America such behavior is rare. Most young children play in the safety of indoors. If they are taken outside, it is usually in a park with grass and other children. Also, American parents are quick
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Because of the differences in child-rearing practices, I develop the opinion that such practices are strange, only because they’re different than those in America. Scenes from Africa and Mongolia show how prominent my ethnocentric beliefs are. However, different cultures have their own beliefs and child-rearing practices based off economic factors and cultural