Cultural Anthropology: Gender and Society

Anthropology Perspective in Cultural Anthropology

• Definition:

  • Cultural anthropology examines cultural variations among humans and focuses on social norms, values, and practices that shape societies.

• Key Features:

  • Emphasizes understanding the historical context and theoretical approaches to culture.
  • Analyzes how cultural beliefs and practices affect individuals and societies.

Theoretical Approaches

• Colonialism and Neo-colonialism: Effects of colonization on cultures.
• Divine Will Replaced by Science: Shift from reliance on divine explanations to scientific reasoning.
• Social Darwinism: The belief that stronger societies will naturally eclipse weaker ones.
• Social Evolutionism: Views societies as evolving from simple to complex.
• Historical Particularism/Cultural Relativism: Each culture must be understood on its own terms.
• Functionalism/Structuralism: Analyzes social structures and their functions within society.
• Cultural Materialism: Suggests material conditions of life (economic and environmental) influence cultural practices.

Classical Topics in Anthropology

• Human Ecology: Studies the relationship between human societies and their environments.
• Gender: Investigates cultural constructions of gender roles and identities.
• Race and Social Class: Analyzes how these identities affect social interactions and cultural norms.
• Globalization: Examines the effects of global interactions on local cultures.

Anthropology of Gender

• Study of Gender and Sex Differences:

  • The impact of cultural context on perceptions of gender.
  • Influence of media, advertising, and language on gender roles.

• Definitions:

  • Gender: Cultural understanding related to biological sex that varies across societies.
  • Sex: Biological attributes defining male and female.

Gender, Sex, and Sexuality

• Gender as Stratification:

  • Gender is the primary determinant of power and privilege in society.

• Gender Gaps:

  • Gender equality measured across four dimensions: Economic Participation, Educational Attainment, Health, and Political Empowerment.

Historical Context in Gender Studies

• Margaret Mead's Contributions:

  • Examined gender roles in diverse cultures through her work in "Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies" (1935).
  • Infers that gender roles are socially constructed and not biologically predetermined.

• Cultural Variations in Gender Roles:

  • Arapesh: Gentle and responsive behavior in both genders.
  • Mundugumor: Aggressive and power-seeking behavior in both genders.
  • Tchambuli: Gender roles reversed from Western norms, with men being more concerned with appearance.

Evolution of Gender Theories

• Feminist Anthropology in the 1970s:

  • Challenged male dominance assumptions within anthropology.
  • Investigated how gender stratification is perceived across cultures.

• Biological Determinism:

  • Claims that gender roles are biologically predetermined at birth.
  • Critique: Differences in gender roles are not uniform and heavily influenced by culture.

Evidence Against Biological Determinism

• Cultural Influences:
  • Examples of cultures where gender roles differ significantly.
  • Variability in activities typically assigned to men or women based on societal norms rather than biology.

Gender Norms Across Cultures

• Traditional Practices in Hunter-Gatherer Societies:

  • Gender roles not as rigid as modern interpretations suggest.
  • Collaborative roles in gathering and hunting, suggesting more equality.

• Netsilik Eskimo and Ifaluk Gender Norms:

  • Netsilik: Men and women share authority within their spheres despite strong division of labor.
  • Ifaluk: Separate but equal status with gendered duties in fishing and agriculture.

Influence of Media on Gender Norms

• Mass Media's Role:
  • Media portrays and often reinforces gender roles and stereotypes.
  • The importance of critical analysis of how media shapes perceptions of gender.