Anthro - CH1 Vocab

Anthropology

Anthropology

The study of the full scope of human diversity throughout time. An inquiry into humanity with the overarching goal of developing a deeper understanding towards each other despite differing backgrounds

Ethnocentrism

The notion for one to view their individual culture and way of living as what is natural or normal. The utilization of one’s culture to judge and evaluate another person’s values and practices. → Feelings of superiority can lead to a disability in full understanding

Structures of Power

The institutions humans have created to manage life and organize society, as well as the systems used to maintain the structure and to make meaning of their organizations.

Holism

Anthropology’s commitment to look at the whole picture of human life (culture, biology, history, language) across space and time. Helps cultivate a deeper understanding as to what makes us all human, and what makes us each individual (differences v similarities)

• The whole is greater than its parts. Humanity cannot be understood without reference to itself as a whole

Globalization

Intensification of interaction around the world regarding the movement of money, people, goods, and ideas

• Despite the benefits of economic expansion and cultural communication, the disparities and inequalities are made even more prevalent when it comes to those left out of the movement

• Defined by time-space compression, flexible accumulation, increasing migration, and uneven development (changes human relationship with the natural world)

• Brings about changes defined by the borders regarding ethnicity, gender, age, language, legal status, kinship, and class

Time-Space Compression

Rapid innovation regarding communication and transportation technologies. Transforms the way we view space (distances) and time + our expectations regarding communication in our relationships

Flexible Accumulation

The flexible strategies that corporations use to increase and accumulate profits, enabled by innovative communication + transportation technology (time-space compression)

• Ex. Offshoring: corporations in core countries move production to developing/peripheral countries to take advantage of lower costs

• Outsourcing: Business practice of shifting part of their work processes to employees on a global scale, also a means of cost-cutting

Increasing Migration

Movement of people within and between countries. Push and pull factors, differences in opportunity, etc.

• Builds connections between distant parts of the world, with less emphasis on the local environment

• People more imaginative/knowledgeable on other cultures and lifestyles (even if they aren’t necessarily the ones moving, they encounter immigrants within their day-to-day life)

Uneven Development

Uneven distribution of the benefits of globalization.

• The idea that rapid globalization depends on the presence of uneven development - one group must extort resources from others to be successful

Anthropocene

How human behavior is reshaping the planet in permanent ways

• Ancestors used to be controlled by the natural world, having to face natural disasters onset by external forces

• Now we must face the changes set in motion by ourselves (climate change, overpopulation, extreme poverty, detrimental weaponry, etc.)