One definition of the word ethnocentrism from dictionary.com is “a tendency to view alien groups or cultures from the perspective of one’s own.”  I’ve been re-reading David Weber’s Honor Harrington series, and I keep having to revamp my mental picture of some of the characters when I’m reminded (yet again) that some of the characters come from either an Asian or African descent.  My mental picture keeps being skewed by my own experiences.  It’s not anything I’m doing consciously (I’m not making all the enemies of one category, as an example), but my own environment is not diversely rich.

I’m sure I definitely have some “Marie Antoinette” thoughts I’m not even aware of.  I don’t seem to “step outside myself” as well as I thought I might, now that I’m thinking about it.  Actually, now that I AM thinking about it, I’m happy because I know that for me, kids are kids are kids.  I won’t say they are all cute (mostly because of the way their parents are raising them), but show me a guileless kids and my heart melts.

Having pondered this some, I’m sure I have some poor behaviors around expecting people to be smart and polite but it gives me hope that I can appreciate any child.  I may have to change my behavior some to broaden my perceptions some though.  😛