Comprehensive Study Guide: Gender, Kinship, Religion, and Politics in Anthropology

What does the phrase 'throwing like a girl' exemplify?

It exemplifies how gendered language reinforces harmful stereotypes by equating femininity with weakness or incompetence.

How does 'throwing like a girl' relate to U.S. sports culture?

It perpetuates the idea that women are inherently less skilled or competitive than men, reinforcing gender hierarchies.

What is intersectionality?

Intersectionality refers to the interconnected nature of social identities and how these intersections create overlapping systems of discrimination or disadvantage.

How do poor, working-class Black girls in Newhalville navigate socio-economic exclusion?

They improvise games with limited resources and create their own rules, using play as a form of resistance and creativity.

What are the sartorial practices of Black Muslim men?

Wearing traditional attire like the kufi or thobe, which are acts of cultural and religious identity that challenge stereotypes.

Does producing ethnically correct dolls solve the socio-economic exclusion of Newhalville girls? Why or why not?

No, it does not address root causes like poverty and systemic racism; it only provides temporary validation.

What is Bronislaw Malinowski's definition of family?

He defined family as a universal social institution centered around the nuclear unit of mother, father, and children.

How did feminist anthropologists criticize Malinowski's definition of family?

They criticized its androcentric bias and failure to account for diverse family structures across cultures.

How does the kinship organization in Awlad 'Ali society complicate Malinowski's definition of family?

In Awlad 'Ali, kinship is organized around male lineage, but women hold significant influence, challenging the idea of a rigid male-headed nuclear family.

Why does the dominant normative framework of family in the U.S. exclude lesbians and gay men?

It is rooted in a heteronormative model that privileges marriage between a man and a woman and biological parenthood.

What are the social and political consequences of the exclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals from kinship?

Consequences include denial of legal rights, stigma, and systemic discrimination.

How do members of the gay/lesbian community in San Francisco seek to claim families?

They form chosen families—networks of friends, lovers, and allies that provide support and belonging.

What is the significance of chosen families for gay men and lesbians?

They fulfill emotional, social, and material needs and serve as a form of resistance against the dominant normative framework.

What is reproductive control/governance?

Reproductive control/governance refers to the ways in which states, institutions, and communities regulate reproduction through policies, laws, and social norms.

What are examples of reproductive control in different communities?

1. State Policies: Laws restricting abortion access in the U.S. affect low-income women and women of color. 2. Cultural Norms: In parts of Latin America, abortion is stigmatized, leading to social ostracization. 3. Economic Factors: Women from poorer countries migrate to wealthier nations for work, impacting their reproductive choices.

Why do Lynn Morgan and Elizabeth Roberts advocate for reproductive justice?

They argue it centers the intersectional experiences of marginalized women and addresses issues like healthcare access, economic stability, and freedom from violence.

How does Emile Durkheim define religion?

Durkheim defines religion as a social phenomenon that binds communities together through shared beliefs and rituals.

How does Durkheim's definition of religion differ from earlier anthropologists?

Earlier anthropologists like Tylor and Frazer viewed religion as a primitive attempt to explain natural phenomena, while Durkheim saw it as a unifying force that maintains social order.

What is the significance of Durkheim's perspective on seemingly irrational beliefs?

It suggests that beliefs like witchcraft or pregame rituals serve social functions, creating meaning and cohesion rather than being mere superstitions.

How is the Trobriand society's mode of production different from capitalism?

The Trobriand society is based on reciprocity and kinship obligations, while capitalism is driven by profit and market exchange.

What is the focus of the economy in the Trobriand community?

The focus is on social relationships and prestige rather than wealth accumulation.

What drives the capitalist mode of production?

The capitalist mode of production is driven by profit, wage labor, and market exchange.

What are the regimes of value for drug dealers in East Harlem according to Philippe Bourgois?

They prioritize masculinity, respect, and economic success, often unattainable through legitimate means.

How do structural problems relate to drug abuse in East Harlem?

Drug abuse and the crack economy indicate larger issues of poverty and socio-economic exclusion.

What role does the underground economy play for marginalized individuals in East Harlem?

It serves as a means to achieve dignity and financial stability due to the devaluation of their labor in the formal economy.

What is the rationale behind gift-giving practices in the Kula exchange and the Potlatch according to Marcel Mauss?

Gift-giving practices create and maintain social bonds and reinforce social hierarchies.

What is the significance of the Potlatch in Indigenous cultures?

The Potlatch involves competitive gift-giving to assert status and redistribute wealth.

How does Pierre Bourdieu define giving in the context of social relationships?

Giving is a form of symbolic power that creates dependencies and reinforces status.

What does 'the gentle violence of obligation and reciprocity' mean?

It refers to the coercive nature of gift-giving that creates social obligations.

How does Max Weber define 'the state'?

The state is a human community that claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory.

Do the Nuer have a state according to Max Weber's definition?

No, the Nuer do not have a state.

How is the Nuer political society organized according to Evans-Pritchard?

The Nuer are an acephalous society organized through segmentary lineage systems.

What are some major institutions that regulate the political system in Nuer society?

Leopard-skin chiefs, segmentary lineages, and age sets.

What are the three types of legitimate authority identified by Max Weber?

Traditional authority, charismatic authority, and bureaucratic authority.

How does bureaucratic authority differ from traditional or charismatic authority?

Bureaucratic authority is based on rules and procedures, while traditional and charismatic authority rely on customs and personal qualities.

Does a highly ordered national bureaucracy guarantee equal application of the law?

No, bureaucracies can reinforce inequalities through discriminatory practices.

How do plaintiffs in domestic violence cases experience the law according to Sally Engle Merry?

They often face bureaucratic hurdles that delay justice.

How do suspects under police custody experience the law according to Laurence Ralph?

They experience the law as oppressive and violent, often facing extra-legal tactics.

Why is it important to study globalization from the perspective of working-class, immigrant populations according to Roger Rouse?

It reveals the unequal and exploitative nature of global capitalism.

What are the differences between elite and non-elite experiences of globalization?

Elites experience mobility and opportunity, while non-elites face barriers and exclusion.

How do borders function differently for multinational corporations and immigrant workers?

Corporations find borders porous for capital flow, while workers face rigid barriers and systemic discrimination.

What is an example of how globalization reinforces inequalities in the context of maquiladoras?

Corporations benefit from cheap labor while workers risk exploitation and deportation.

What is an example of women migrating for work in global care chains?

Women from poorer countries migrate to wealthier nations as caregivers, facing legal restrictions and stigma.