It is probably impossible not to be ethno-centric. We all feel that the things we are used to and the way we were taught are the best. Now it is true that some switch cultures and generally that is such a significant event that the converts become more ethno-centric about their new culture than those who were raised in it.
Now, some customs from other cultures may seem barbaric or cruel to outsiders. For example, in cultures where circumcision is the norm, those who don’t practice it find it barbaric. Now, by the same token, some who quite willingly deform themselves with piercings or surgical enhancements to their own body decry practices they find barbaric.
It may seem to us that a particular culture oppresses a part of its society. For example, in India the caste system certainly seems punitive to the lowest castes and I believe the influence of western culture has alleviated many aspects of it. It originally provided a predefined role for people based on the inherited caste and eliminated certain levels of conflict.
When we look at certain cultures, we may feel that certain people are oppressed and by our standards they are. It is impossible to discuss all the ramifications of various cultures around the world, but it is also clearly not logical to assume that our culture is the only one that should count. In many societies women for example occupy a traditional role that in the view of many is oppressive. However, is it really our right to dictate how these societies behave?
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