- 期刊
Spanish Ethnocentrism in 17th Century Philippines: Tangible and Intangible Effects
摘要
Ethnocentrism is an inherent quality of the human person. It urges individuals to think that their stature is worthier than those of others, and thus develop the bigoted habit of gauging another people's culture based on what they have and believe in. During the 17th century, the Spaniards observed that the natives of the Philippine Islands led lifestyles that were different from theirs. They ridiculed anything that did not subscribe to their tastes and standards. What they did was clearly ethnocentrism. It was directed against the culture of the natives, particularly their religions. Using primary and secondary sources, this paper examines the tangible and intangible effects of that ethnocentrism. The tangible effects are the Roman Catholic Church and its practices, while the intangible effects are the loss of self-esteem, the lack of self-confidence, and the tendency to self-disparage, which have become part of the Filipino psyche.