Why Study Anthropology?
The study of anthropology is crucial because it enables the public to gain a better understanding of diverse cultures, norms and values. This insight will hopefully, lead to a greater appreciation and respect for an individual’s choices and cultures which differ from one’s own. For instance, instead of westerners viewing hijabs as a restrictive clothing item that women in the Middle East are forced to wear, ethnographic research could help the public realize that women can wear hijabs by choice (Sanghani). Anthropology can be valuable, but it can also be inherently “othering,” as the anthropologist is entering an unfamiliar civilization, and the customs and rituals can appear quite alien and different from their own …show more content…
In addition, an anthropologist’s work is often done alone, giving them the ability to decide which observations should be documented and how these findings are reported. Despite these noted flaws, I still think the study of Anthropology, when done accurately, can produce results that are extremely beneficial, rather than detrimental.
For those participating in anthropological studies, it is important to remember that each culture has its own values, beliefs and rituals, which are incomparable to another society’s customs. A prime example of two cultures conflicting over beliefs, concerns women wearing hijabs. This simple headscarf has caused outrage, and even resulted in laws forbidding its use in some Western nations (CITE). Generally speaking, women …show more content…
Most anthropologists try to assimilate into the culture they are studying by participating its rituals, speaking the native language and adapting to new daily routines. Regardless of these efforts, Abu-Lughod believes anthropology is essentially a practice of “othering,” based on the “the historically constructed divide between the West and the non-West” (Abu-Lughod, 154). Consequently, anthropologist are basically outsiders and fundamentally partial to their own cultural norms, which creates a less than legitimate basis for their observations of other societies. However, in an attempt to counter the process of “othering,” Abu-Lughod prescribes to a method entitled, “ethnographies of the particular” (Abu-Lughod, 159). This approach proclaims that anthropology should not be generalized and static, but rather, focus on individuals and their ongoing, interrelated relationships (Abu-Lughod, 159). To accomplish this feat, Abu-Lughod first addresses a culture’s methods of languages and practices (Abu-Lughod, 159). She thinks by learning the languages and lifestyles of the citizens the anthropologist will gain a better understanding of the culture. Secondly, Abu-Lughod uses humans as resources to connect
The study of anthropology is crucial because it enables the public to gain a better understanding of diverse cultures, norms and values. This insight will hopefully, lead to a greater appreciation and respect for an individual’s choices and cultures which differ from one’s own. For instance, instead of westerners viewing hijabs as a restrictive clothing item that women in the Middle East are forced to wear, ethnographic research could help the public realize that women can wear hijabs by choice (Sanghani). Anthropology can be valuable, but it can also be inherently “othering,” as the anthropologist is entering an unfamiliar civilization, and the customs and rituals can appear quite alien and different from their own …show more content…
In addition, an anthropologist’s work is often done alone, giving them the ability to decide which observations should be documented and how these findings are reported. Despite these noted flaws, I still think the study of Anthropology, when done accurately, can produce results that are extremely beneficial, rather than detrimental.
For those participating in anthropological studies, it is important to remember that each culture has its own values, beliefs and rituals, which are incomparable to another society’s customs. A prime example of two cultures conflicting over beliefs, concerns women wearing hijabs. This simple headscarf has caused outrage, and even resulted in laws forbidding its use in some Western nations (CITE). Generally speaking, women …show more content…
Most anthropologists try to assimilate into the culture they are studying by participating its rituals, speaking the native language and adapting to new daily routines. Regardless of these efforts, Abu-Lughod believes anthropology is essentially a practice of “othering,” based on the “the historically constructed divide between the West and the non-West” (Abu-Lughod, 154). Consequently, anthropologist are basically outsiders and fundamentally partial to their own cultural norms, which creates a less than legitimate basis for their observations of other societies. However, in an attempt to counter the process of “othering,” Abu-Lughod prescribes to a method entitled, “ethnographies of the particular” (Abu-Lughod, 159). This approach proclaims that anthropology should not be generalized and static, but rather, focus on individuals and their ongoing, interrelated relationships (Abu-Lughod, 159). To accomplish this feat, Abu-Lughod first addresses a culture’s methods of languages and practices (Abu-Lughod, 159). She thinks by learning the languages and lifestyles of the citizens the anthropologist will gain a better understanding of the culture. Secondly, Abu-Lughod uses humans as resources to connect