Question 1

What does ethnography represent?

Accepted Answer

Ethnography represents the description and analysis of anthropological fieldwork, typically involving long-term immersion in a particular cultural group or community to understand their beliefs, practices, and social structures.

Question 2

Why is ethnocentrism academically challenging for socio-cultural anthropologists?

Accepted Answer

Ethnocentrism, the belief in the superiority of one's own culture or ethnic group, impedes intercultural understanding and can lead to a biased view of other cultures. This is academically challenging for socio-cultural anthropologists because they strive for unbiased representation and understanding of different cultures. Ethnocentrism can also create uneven social hierarchies, further complicating the study of cultures and their interactions with one another.

Question 3

While doing fieldwork in Turkey,you heard numerous informants talk about the importance of virginity testing,where the hymeneal blood stain is displayed for people to see the morning after a wedding.What metaphor combo do they use to explain their cultural reasoning of this ritual practice?

Accepted Answer

The metaphor combo used to explain the cultural reasoning behind the virginity testing ritual is seed and soil. This refers to the idea that a woman's hymen is like the soil, and the man's seed must be planted in it during intercourse. If the hymen is not intact, it means that another man has already planted his seed, which undermines the paternity of any potential children from the marriage. Therefore, virginity testing is seen as a necessary means of ensuring the purity of the bride and the legitimacy of the marriage.

Question 4

Members of the same society share a culture;what effect does this have?

Accepted Answer

Sharing a culture means that members of the same society have a common set of beliefs, values, customs, and norms that shape their perceptions and worldview. As a result, they are likely to view the world in a similar way, at least to some extent. This does not necessarily mean that they will agree on everything, but they will have some common ground in terms of how they see things.

Question 5

What ability should an anthropologist strive to hone by using the ethnographic method,participant observation,and cross-cultural comparison?

Accepted Answer

The ethnographic method, participant observation, and cross-cultural comparison are all tools used by anthropologists to gain a deeper understanding of cultures other than their own. Through these methods, anthropologists strive to engage in empathy, understanding, and cultural relativism. Therefore, the most important ability for an anthropologist to hone is the ability to question their own view of the world, as they must be able to suspend their own biases and beliefs to accurately understand and convey the beliefs and practices of other cultures.

Question 6

What research method is being used when an anthropologist lives among the people of the culture being studied and engages in the practices of their everyday life?

Accepted Answer

This method is called participant observation, where the anthropolgist becomes a part of the culture being studied to gain a deep understanding of their beliefs, practices, and social dynamics.

Question 7

Which of the following options best describes why people from different societies understand and interpret similar life events in different ways?

Accepted Answer

People from different societies have different cultural values and beliefs, which influence how they understand and interpret similar life events. These cultural values and beliefs are often ingrained in individuals from a young age and shape their perceptions of the world around them. Therefore, the cultural differences in assigning meaning to experiences can vary greatly from society to society. Biological factors, geographic regions, and individualism can play a role in shaping cultural values, but A is the most accurate and encompassing answer.

Question 8

While initially seeking to experience and interpret the lives of those they are researching and participating with,what else do most anthropologists experience?

Accepted Answer

Most anthropologists experience questioning of their own beliefs as they come into contact with different cultural beliefs and practices, which often challenges their own assumptions and biases. This is an important aspect of cultural relativism, a core principle in anthropology that requires suspension of judgment or evaluation on one's own cultural values and practices.

Question 9

Unlike in anthropology,where the researchers are concerned about the issue of representation,in the mass media there is still a tendency to represent particular cultural groups as homogeneous.What is the term for this kind of uncritical stereotyping?

Accepted Answer

The term for this kind of uncritical stereotyping is essentialism. Essentialism presumes that cultural and social groups have inherent, essential characteristics that define them and set them apart from one another, as opposed to recognizing the diversity and complexity within cultural groups.

Question 10

Which fallacy is it when people hold the notion that their own culture's beliefs are right,and the beliefs of other cultures are wrong?

Accepted Answer

Ethnocentrism is the belief in the superiority of one's own cultural group and the tendency to view other cultures through the lens of one's own. It is a fallacy because it assumes that one's own culture is objectively superior to others, without taking into account the subjective nature of cultural beliefs and practices.

Question 11

What word do the Balinese use to refer to the fighting cock and to a metaphorical hero,warrior,champion,political candidate,or tough guy?

Accepted Answer

The Balinese use the word "Sabung" to refer to both fighting cocks and metaphorical heroes, warriors, champions, political candidates, or tough guys.

Question 12

What does Clifford Geertz mean when he states that "human beings are incomplete or unfinished animals who complete themselves through culture - not just culture in general,but specific forms of it: Balinese,Italian,Ilongot,Chinese,Kwakiutl,American,and so on"?

Accepted Answer

Geertz is arguing that culture helps individuals make sense of their experiences and create order in their lives. He emphasizes that it is not just any culture, but specific cultural forms that allow individuals to complete themselves. Therefore, option D is the best choice as it aligns with Geertz's views.

Question 13

The Peruvian practice of raising guinea pigs for food is not seen as appropriate in North America,where guinea pigs are raised as pets.What does that indicate about food acquisition and consumption patterns?

Accepted Answer

The fact that guinea pigs are seen as appropriate for consumption in Peru but not in North America shows that the edibility of an item is culturally determined. This means that what is considered edible or appropriate to eat can vary widely across different cultures and regions.

Question 14

What did the Wari′ say they were doing by performing the ritual of funerary cannibalism?

Accepted Answer

The Wari' performed funerary cannibalism as a way to obliterate painful memories associated with the deceased, helping the community to cope with grief and loss.

Question 15

What is the main social function of funeral customs in Italy?

Accepted Answer

The main social function of funeral customs in Italy is to discourage the dead from returning, which is why many traditions involve the closure and sealing of the deceased's body or coffin. This belief is rooted in the superstition that the dead may come back to haunt or cause harm to the living if not properly laid to rest.

Question 16

What perspective does participant observation allow an anthropologist to attain?

Accepted Answer

Participant observation allows an anthropologist to gain an emic perspective, as they are immersed in the culture or community they are studying and can understand the beliefs, values, and behaviors from the insider's point of view. This can provide deeper insights into the culture and avoid imposing outsider perspectives or biases. Qualitative data can also be gathered through participant observation, but it is not exclusive to this method. Etic perspectives rely more on outsider observation and analysis. Quantitative data also may not be prioritized in participant observation as it focuses on rich descriptions and understanding of the culture.

Question 17

When working as an anthropologist,what would be the best way to interpret cultural similarities and differences in order to avoid both the ethnocentric and the relativistic fallacies?

Accepted Answer

By treating cultural similarities and differences as puzzles that can help us understand ourselves and others, anthropologists can avoid both the ethnocentric and relativistic fallacies. They can explore similarities and differences without assuming that their own culture is superior or inferior, and without assuming that all cultures are fundamentally the same or fundamentally different. Instead, anthropologists can approach cultural differences with curiosity and humility, seeking to understand the logic and meaning behind them, and recognizing that all cultures are complex and multifaceted. By seeing cultural differences as puzzles to be solved, rather than obstacles to be overcome or ignored, anthropologists can gain valuable insights into the diversity of human experience.

Question 18

When anthropologists do participant observation,the act of setting aside their own cultural views and immersing themselves in a new culture,often causes them to take on a certain demeanour and status.What demeanour and status do anthropologists in this situation acquire?

Accepted Answer

Anthropologists often take on the demeanor and status of a child when doing participant observation. This is because, like children, they are learning about the culture, norms, and language from the ground up, often asking questions and observing in order to understand the new environment they are immersed in.

Question 19

What does a socio-cultural anthropologist hope to reveal about a culture by looking beyond the everyday experience and doing cross-cultural analysis?

Accepted Answer

Socio-cultural anthropologists aim to reveal the meanings people give to everyday experiences by looking beyond the surface-level observations and doing cross-cultural analysis. They study the way people think, behave, and interact in different cultural contexts to understand variations in beliefs, values, and social norms. By doing so, they can gain insights into the complex social dynamics that underpin a culture and help provide a more nuanced understanding of the cultural practices and traditions of a community.

Question 20

While anthropology has traditionally striven to be an objective and relativistic discipline,what has Nancy Scheper-Hughes suggested as a new approach for anthropologists?

Accepted Answer

Nancy Scheper-Hughes has suggested that anthropologists adopt a morally engaged and ethically grounded approach, meaning that they should not only observe and document culture, but also actively work to address social injustices and inequalities. This approach involves a certain level of subjective involvement and advocacy, which goes against the traditional objective and relativistic stance of anthropology.

Quiz 1: Culture and Meaning