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Culture and Classification: Ethical Issues of Adopting Global Classification
Standards to Local Environments
Wan-Chen Lee, Information School, University of Washington
[email protected]
Abstract:
This paper looks at ethical issues that arise from adopting standardized
classifications. Research affirms cultural influences in classifications. However, there are
various conceptions of culture in knowledge organization and anthropology. In this paper,
we propose a definition of culture based on comparing and aggregating discussions from
the two bodies of literature. This definition points to areas of further research concerning
cultural ethics and knowledge organization.
Thinkers in knowledge organization have shown how cultural context affects
classification. For example, López-Huertas (2008, 2013) observes cultural affects in
terminology, concept identification and naming, categorization, focus of themes, and
citation order in the same subject domain. Beghtol (1986) sees classifications as cultural
artifacts mirroring societal trends in her discussion about cultural warrant in classification
theory. Classificationists working in different cultures make different decisions about
what is included and excluded. This results in ethical challenges concerning
representation and prioritization.
Olson (1999) considers classifications efficient in representing and reinforcing
dominant cultures by representing the perspective conforming to its embedded culture.
Standardized controlled vocabularies like LCSH are widely adopted. With adoption, the
mainstream perspectives are also adopted (Olson, 2000). However, the mainstream
perspective may not represent the whole of lived experience of the population. The
exclusion of non-mainstream perspectives is an ethical challenge.
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Mai (2013) criticizes the general assumptions made about classification’s neutrality
and the universality of knowledge. This complements Furner’s (2007) critical race theory
analysis of the DDC. Mai advocates for the development of ethical classification which
values culture and context. Through developing culturally sensitive classification models,
librarians can provide more equitable and ethical access to information.
Before diving deeper into discussions on designing a culturally sensitive
classification model, it is critical to clarify how culture is defined in the literature in both
knowledge organization and anthropology, the discipline that takes culture as its object of
study. The review is organized into different families of definitions. Culture has been
defined as:
(1) Nationality or geographic region (López-Huertas, 2008, 2013; Steinwachs, 1999)
(2) Context in which concepts are interpreted (Taheri, Shahrestani, & Nezhad, 2014), and
in which symbols can be thickly described (Geertz, 1973).
(3) Collective phenomenon which can be seen as “software of the mind” (Hofstede,
1994) or psychological structures (Goodenough, 1971), including accepted patterns of
thinking, feeling, believing, and potential behavior (Hofstede, 1994; Kluckhohn, 1944;
Menou, 1982). People acquire the collective phenomenon from the society in order to
adjust to environment, and be accepted by other members (Kluckhohn, 1944;
Steinwachs, 1999; Tylor, 1958).
(4) Man-made part of human environment: which can be divided into: objective/material
culture, and subjective/non-material culture. The former includes artifacts and
observable patterns of human activity. The latter consists of code of signs and
meanings which shape people’s perception of the world, such as values, stereotypes,
and attitudes (Menou, 1982).
(5) System of ranked values: different cultures are likely to share some values (e.g.
weight control), but rank them differently (Everett, 2012).
We propose a definition of culture based on the definitions above. For our purposes,
culture is a cognitive framework constructed by a community. The framework influences
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how people within the community perceive the world. Some characteristics of culture
include: (1) Generational: Younger generation internalizes culture via learning and
conforming to social norms (Kluckhohn, 1944; Steinwachs, 1999; Tylor, 1958). (2)
Dynamic: The interpretation, manifestation, and popularity of a culture evolves over
time. (3) Co-existing: Different cultures co-exist not only in the world (Olson, 2000), but
often within one person.
We then present, in the paper, a discussion about ethics and culture in knowledge
organization. Culture influences the way we make sense of the world. It also affects how
we classify, including how we prioritize, structure, arrange, and represent concepts.
Designers of classifications, we assume, have to adopt at least one culture, likely the
dominant one or set, as the basis of a series of decisions required for classification.
Integrating cultural elements into a classification may make it more intuitive to users
conforming to the culture(s) from which the classification originates. However, users who
do not share the culture(s) embedded in the classification could face a sense-making gap.
In addition, the trend of adopting classification standards, copy cataloging, and
cooperation across cultures complicate the issue. Tension between standardization and
localization of classifications is not only about cost and policy, but because of culture, is
also an ethical issue.
References:
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systems. Library Resources and Technical Services, 30(2), 109-125.
Everett, D. (2012). Language: the cultural tool. London: Profile.
Furner, J. (2007). Dewey deracialized: A critical race-theoretic perspective. Knowledge
Organization, 34(3), 144-168.
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Geertz, C. (1973). The Interpretation of Cultures: Selected Essays. New York: Basic
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Goodenough, W. H. (1971). Culture, Language, and Society. McCaleb Module in
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Steinwachs, K. (1999). Information and culture – the impact of national culture on
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