how can anthropology be defined
- Anthropology can be broadly defined as the study of people, past and present, and can involve investigations into anything from the social organization of primates, to changing economies as a result of globalization or to barriers to health care
what are the four fields
- Four field approach to address the broad range of investigations into what it means to be human: biological anth, linguistic anth, cultural anth, and archaeology
what does the holistic perspective encompass
- Encompasses biological aspects, history, rituals, religions, and other cultural practices of a given group or society
what does the holistic perspective allow for
Allows for a cross cultural (comparative) perspective in how a society views its world, as well as an evolutionary perspective on how not only biology but also practices and ideas may change over time
define holistic approach
- Multifaceted approach to the study of humans
○ History of the area where people live, the physical environment, general features of language, groups settlement patterns, polotical and economic systems, religion and styles of art + dress
how is food holistic?
- Cant think of it as only nourishment - full range of interactions and meanings assigned to food
Physical environment can dictate what is available to eat but what we consider edible _ how we prepare + how we eat + when and amount to eat is dictated by other societal aspects
how does anth view gender and age?
- Anth views gender and age as culturally constructed ideas
○ Different societies assign different meanings and expectations to them - can change over time
Gender identity and age vary across time and space
how does anth define sex vs gender
- Anthropology distinguishes between sex and gender
- Sex is the biologically determined status of male or female based and genitalia and determined by genetics + hormones
Gender is the culturally constructed social role of being a man or woman (or other gender) as well as expectations of masculinity and femininity
- Sex is the biologically determined status of male or female based and genitalia and determined by genetics + hormones
what can we see by applying a holistic perspective to gender and age
○ see what may influence a given society’s understanding of age and gender
○ how these ideas are intrinsically tied to other aspects of a society, such as local history, politics, economics, social organization, language, and religion.
how does culture impact gender
local cultural values produce unique gender ideologies that shape the lives of each gender at different points across the lifespan
* These ideologies can determine gender role or limit ones movement in public spaces
ex of gender roles
the historical exclusion of women in the militaries of various countries, for example, has been heavily influenced by traditional ideas about “female nature” and patriarchal gender ideologies rather than the ability to do the job.
bedouin ex
○ Ex 2. Bedouin gender spaces. The Bedouin are traditionally nomadic pastoralist peoples who have different views on what is expected of males and females in their society.
§ Female sexuality is carefully monitored, including covering the hair (and at times, the face), and females are kept sexually segregated from non-related males.
This limits their presence in public spaces to maintain family honour, and often results in their traditional tents being divided into the men’s area (public) and the women’s area (private)
how are gender ideologies dynamic
- Changes from outside (colonization) and within (political movements)
○ Can shift understandings and expectations of genders
§ Ex. The status of women in other parts of the world vs canada
the current status of women in Canada was not always the case. The suffragist movement, also known as first-wave feminism, fought for, among other things, women’s right to vote and to be declared people under the law. And women in Canada (as well as non-binary gender identities) are still fighting for equality.
