Ethnocentrism: Reflections on Medical Anthropology

Anthropologists have a complex relationship with ethnocentrism. They consider it to be intellectually nave, morally despicable and politically dangerous. Many see criticizing and fighting ethnocentrism as one of anthropology’s missions. At the same time, anthropologists acknowledge that no culture could survive without at least some degree of ethnocentrism. Anthropology, itself the child of a history of ethnocentrism, is unable to rid itself of this heritage in its own work. Moreover, and ironically, ethnocentrism is an epistemological necessity. This book includes the reflections of six medical anthropologists who reflect on the ethnocentric implications of their fieldwork and writings on health, illness and medicine in various parts of the world.

Sjaak van der Geest is professor of Medical Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam. Ria Reis received her PhD at the same university and is currently Director of the Amsterdam Masters in Medical Anthropology (AMMA).