Why is the term "Western culture/civilization" still used in academia?

When referring to European or European-derived cultures like the US or Australia? I understand that in history, Europeans were very centric and looked at the world from their geographical perspective. If i were in China, then North America would be "The East". We should know better in the 21st century. Polarizing "Western" vs. "Non-Western" still seems to be very prevalent in today's world. I understand that Western culture has common themes: Latin-based languages, Democracy (which is Greek), Judeo-Christianity (West Asian); But it is NOT collective! I doubt a Frenchman would be pleased to hear he belongs to the the same culture as an Englishman or a German. Why would ALL Europeans take credit for what the Greeks & Romans essentially invented? And religion-wise, Middle Eastern invented? Is it the expansion of European colonialism in the "New World" what prompted to naming it a "civilization"? I don't see the Chinese and Japanese collectively inventing things and making it "geneously theirs" and calling it "Eastern". Excuse me for making this long, but i am curious! Please only serious answers! Thank you very much!