From this week’s module resources, watch the TEDx video featuring Neha Reddy giving a talk on female circumcision titled Culture and Human Rights: Narratives of Ethiopian Identity. As you are watching the video, think about the complicated ethical nature of the debates surrounding this issue.
Next, write a response to each question below. The following questions are open-ended and do not have “correct” answers, per se. Students’ responses should be thoughtful and considered, as the questions are designed to promote exploration of the nuance of these complicated issues. The questions promote reflection upon ethical issues in both cultural practices and environmental issues:
Preconceived attitudes and cultural biases
Attitudinal changes
Self-awareness and cultural relativism
Be sure to use proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, and writing technique throughout your responses. You can type your responses directly in this worksheet, resave, and submit.
What to Submit
Your paper must be submitted as a 2- to 3-page Microsoft Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and at least three sources cited in APA format. For details on how this will be graded, please refer to the Cross-Cultural Worksheet Rubric.
Question: What are Neha Reddy’s preconceived biases regarding the issue of female circumcision as a practice before she goes to Ethiopia? Why do you think that is the case?
Answer:
Question: What does Reddy encounter while in the field that changes her mind? How does this event impact her thinking about the issue moving forward?
Answer:
Question: What can we take away from this example about the nature of ethics and culture in a cross-cultural setting? How do your own experiences, identity, or values shape your perception of that relationship?