Assignment Content
Throughout this course, I will be challenging you to open your mind and think critically about humanity using the anthropological perspective. Two major terms I want you to remember from Chapter 1 & 2 are ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. Anthropologists have identified cultural universals that can be found in every society, and morality is one of them. This is the human nature’s ability to distinguish between right and wrong. These concepts are not entirely reliant on religious ideologies, but rather, some are learned behaviors that we are taught from a young age. For instance, in this generation, we are told that being prejudice is wrong. That hasn’t always been the case. Having preconceived notions or opinions about a person or group of people without reason can cause detriment to those who are on the receiving end. Yet, we still face obstacles involved in changing the mindset of those who have been taught from a young age to perceive others in an unfavorable light based on rudimentary circumstances. We know that humans are not born prejudice. However, this is also where ethnocentrism is a factor. Prejudice comes in several forms- it can be based on race, ethnicity, religion, wealth, sexual orientation, gender, or intelligence.
In our Western society, we are fortunate enough to face fewer instances of injustice than many other individuals around the world. But often, we overlook how truly fortunate we are to live in a society that values an idealistic moral code where there is little to no tolerance of practices that are detrimental to the well-being of an individual.
For your weekly assignment, I would like you to research one practice that Westerners would consider a grave injustice in the world today. A few to pick from, but are not limited to, would be:
infanticide
human sacrifice
cannibalism
FGM (female genital mutilation)
honor killings
In your research, I want you to list four factors:
Historically, when did such a practice begin?
In what societies is this practice most prevalent in, and do they still practice it today?
Why would a society decide to practice such acts if it goes against the cultural universal of morality? If Western societies find a practice immoral, why would others not feel the same way?
How do cultural anthropologists use cultural relativism to look past these practices, without judging these societies, when conducting fieldwork?
I understand that these are not light-hearted topics; however, they undeniably have or still occur throughout the world, and as a relativist, it is important to understand the meaning of these practices, those we consider human rights violations, to the people who carry them out.
**You are required to list all citations you use including textbooks, articles, or websites. See the document in your Content folder titled, “Guide to Correct Quotation and Citation Usage.”
