Cultural Anthropology Exam Review

Situational Negotiation of Social Identity

People have different identities in different contexts

Identities in the Past VS Identities Today

In the past identities were often constrained by physical attributes, but today identities are more flexible due to modern communication technology that allows people to selectively reveal their desired identity

Ethnicities

Identification with, and a sense of belonging to, an ethnic group, leading to exclusion from other groups.

What do ethnic groups often share?

Share cultural distinctions such as language, religion, geography, history, ancestry, and race.

What is ethnic identity based on?

Shared beliefs, values, customs, and norms, which define members of an ethnic group.

True or False: People constantly negotiate their social identities and present themselves in different ways depending on the context.

True

Status

social positions individuals occupy

Ascribed

assigned at birth, such as race, age, gender

Achieved

earned through actions, like occupation or talents

Status Shifting

People adjust their status in response to different social contexts, which is part of the situational negotiation of social identity.

What can ethnic identity depend on?

perceptions from others as well as an individual’s own assertions of their status.

True or False: Race is a social construct

True

What defines ethnic groups, including races?

social perceptions and distinctions, not by scientific classifications based on genetics.

True or False: Terms like Hispanic or Latino often refer to ethnicity (based on language) but are frequently used incorrectly as racial categories in everyday conversation.

True

True or False: Human populations are not clearly demarcated biological groups; there is greater genetic variation within racial groups than between them.

True

What are racially constructed social differences based on?

on historical ideas and ideologies that rank groups, often with discriminatory purposes.

True or False: Racial categories are cultural and social, not biological.

True

Hypodescent

Children of racially mixed unions are automatically classified in the minority group.

True or False: The U.S. Census has collected race data since 1790, but debates over how to categorize race have increased, including the proposal of a "multiracial" category.

True

True or False: In countries like Japan, despite a substantial minority population, the dominant racial ideology assumes racial and ethnic homogeneity.

True

What are racial differences based on in Japan?

perceived biological distinctions, even when there is no physical difference. Minority groups like the Burakumin, despite being genetically similar to the majority, are considered a different race and face significant discrimination.

Race in Brazil

fluid and flexible understanding of race, with more than 500 distinct racial labels. Race in Brazil is less rigid than in the United States and Japan, and individuals may be categorized differently depending on their achieved status and other factors.

Nation State

an independent, centrally organized political entity. Ethnic groups may not have formal political organization but can still be politically significant.

Nationalities

are groups that seek political autonomy, often through the formation of "imagined communities," where members identify as part of a group, even without direct interaction. This is shaped by mass media, migration, and colonial histories.

Assimilation

the process by which a minority group adopts the cultural patterns of the dominant group. This process may be voluntary or forced, and its degree varies.

Plural Society

A society where ethnic groups maintain distinct identities while living in interdependent relationships, often structured by ecological specialization (e.g., utilizing different resources).

Multiculturalism

the recognition and celebration of cultural diversity, opposing assimilationist ideals. It promotes the acceptance of different ethnic and cultural practices, encouraging cultural relativism.

Prejudice

devaluing a group based on assumptions about its members' behavior or attributes.

Stereotypes

fixed ideas about what members of a group are like, often unfavorable.

Discrimination

actions or policies that harm a group.

De jure descrininationl

legally sanctioned, like apartheid

De facto discrimination

like racial profiling

True or False: Historical ethnic tensions, such as those in Los Angeles after the Rodney King incident, are rooted in differential access to political and economic opportunities.

True

Cultural Oppression

Practices like genocide, forced assimilation, and ethnocide fuel ethnic conflicts.

Genocide

The systematic destruction of a group, such as the Holocaust or ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.

Forced Assimilation

The suppression of cultural identities, as seen in the repression of the Basques under Franco’s rule in Spain.

Colonialism

The domination of a territory and its people by a foreign power, shaping racial and ethnic identities and relations for centuries.

Gender Roles

Tasks and activities assigned by culture to individuals based on gender.

Gender Stereotypes

Oversimplified, often rigid, views about males and females.

Sex

Biological differences (e.g., reproductive organs, physical traits).

Gender

Socially constructed roles, behaviors, and attributes that society attributes to individuals based on their perceived sex.

Sexual Dimorphism

The differences in male and female biology (e.g., average height, strength, longevity).

Margaret Mead’s Study

Found variations in gender roles across cultures

Arapesh (Mead)

Both men and women were gentle.

Mundugumor (Mead)

Both men and women were aggressive.

Tchambuli

Men were seen as “catty”; women had leadership roles.

Gender Stratification

Unequal distribution of social rewards (power, resources, prestige) based on gender.

Where is gender stratification?

often higher in societies with a strong distinction between the public and private spheres.

Domestic-Public Dichotomy

The division between domestic (private) and public (work/social) spheres, with men typically associated with public roles and women with domestic roles. Public roles are often seen as more prestigious, reinforcing gender stratification.

Matrilineal Descent

Lineage traced through the mother's side.

Matrilocal Residence

Couples live with the wife’s family after marriage.

Patriarchy

A system where men hold the power and women have inferior social and political status.

Matriarchy

A system where women play a central role in social, economic, and ceremonial life (not necessarily having more power than men).

Do societies with patrilineal descent and patrilocal residence have greater gender stratification?

Yes

True or False: Patriarchal systems are often linked to higher rates of violence against women, including domestic abuse and practices like dowry murder and female infanticide.

True

The Feminization of Poverty

Refers to the rising number of women (and their children) among the poorest populations, often due to the increase in female-headed households.

The rise of industrialism and the post-WWII workforce

saw an increase in women’s labor-force participation, leading to shifts in gender roles.

True or False: Occupational segregation persists in some fields, with women being underrepresented in higher-paying industries like engineering and computer science.

True

True or False: Women are increasingly the primary or sole breadwinners in households, while men are taking on more caregiving roles.

True

True or False: Stereotypes about men being incompetent homemakers persist

True

True or False: Countries with higher female labor-force participation tend to have higher levels of happiness and well-being. Economic security may contribute to this increased well-being.

True