Cultural Anthropology: Gender and Society

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on Cultural Anthropology, focusing on gender roles, biological determinism, feminist anthropology, and cultural norms.

Cultural Anthropology

A branch of anthropology that studies cultural variation among humans, including the social norms and values of different societies.

Gender

A cultural understanding of someone's biology, distinct from biological sex, often associated with societal roles and expectations.

Biological Determinism

The theory that behavior is largely determined by inherited genetic factors, suggesting that differences in gender roles are natural and biological.

Social Darwinism

A theory that applies the concept of natural selection to social, political, and economic issues, often used to justify inequality.

Feminist Anthropology

A subdiscipline of anthropology that examines gender inequality and focuses on male dominance and the role of women across cultures.

Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies

A 1935 ethnographic study by Margaret Mead that analyzed gender roles in different cultures and argued that these roles are culturally constructed.

Gender Equality Index

A measure that ranks countries based on gender equality across key dimensions such as economic participation, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.

Gender Norms

Expectations regarding how individuals should behave based on their gender, which can vary widely across different cultures.

Cultural Relativism

The principle of understanding other cultures in their own context and without bias, particularly in relation to their beliefs and practices.

Hunter-Gatherer Societies

Societies in which people rely on hunting, fishing, and gathering wild foods for subsistence, often characterized by less hierarchical structures compared to agricultural societies.