Anthropology Exam 2 Flashcards
Sex vs. Gender
Sex is the biological differences between men and women. Gender is the codified and institutionalized social and cultural practices or behaviors.
Gendered division of labor
men’s work and women’s work are different everywhere. In some societies men care for the family. Men usually have more prestigious jobs.
Examples of non-binary gender / Third Gender
Xanith of Oman, Hijras of India, Two-spirit person of some native American groups, Kathoey of Thailand, transgender.
Kanguru of Tanzania
Moral education and physical alterations for both genders. Boys led away from village, circumcised and taught riddles, etc. Remain In a camp in the bush before returning. Given new names and seen as men.
Ethnomedicine
The study of cross-cultural health systems.
Disease vs. Illness
Disease: a biological health problem that is objective and universal (bacterial or viral infection, broken bone)
Illness: culturally specific perceptions and experiences of a health problem.
Paul Farmer: Culture, Poverty, and HIV in rural Haiti
He is a physician and anthropologist. Studied transmission of HIV. Poverty and inequality led to the spread of HIV.
Caste System
Symbolic system in india, associated with Hinduism. Divides all Hindu society into endogamous groups with hereditary membership.
Jati
Very small endogamous group practicing a traditional occupation.
Karl Marx and Social Class
Believed classes were defined in relation to property.
Max Weber and Social Class
Not necessarily a link between property and class stratification. Several partly independent criteria which, together, give a person specific rank. Political power and intellectual prestige could be just as important as property in a given society.
Pierre Bourdieu and Cultural Classes
Studied taste in French society. Taste is not inborn or static. Someone who wants to increase rank in modern society may try to appropriate as many symbols as possible that indicate good taste.
ethnic group
Composed of members who share beliefs, values, and norms because of their common background. May distinguish based on language, religion, history, geographic location, or “race”
race in brazil
More flexible racial categories than we have in the united states. Dozens of categories exist. Built on attention to phenotype (skin color, hair form, facial features, and eye color).
Anthropological view of ‘The Gift’.
Enters one into a morally committing relationship. No fixed price, return gift should be given at once, creates webs of vague obligations on the part of large numbers of people. Can give you too much power. Mutual obligations are not necessarily beneficial to everyone involved.
