...Perspectives • Holistic Approach (broadest view) o To view things in the broadest possible contest o To cover the whole scope of humanity o To provide a total or composite view o Human culture as a system, functional whole, all parts relate o Biocultural Perspective Studies both the PHYSICAL and SOCIAL EX: kuru disease (neurological disease)- disease caused by culture, transmitted by mortuary practices • Cultural Relativism o To view the beliefs and customs of other peoples within the context of their culture not one’s own o Practice of not judging other cultures based on the standards of one’s own culture o ENDOCENTRISM Group centeredness Tendency to see ones own culture as the center of everything The measure or standard against which all other lifeways are evaluated Tendency to consider ones own culture as superior or better than all others o Anthropologists must be unbiased, objective o Involves an effort to remain unbiased in ones observations o Acknowledges that cultures are DIFFERENT, but NOT RANKED o No right or wrong cultures, cultures are simply different o A problem-solving Process Evaluated by efficiency of meeting problems o Anthropologist injects themselves into the cultural system being studied o Interpretations are based on that system o Recognizes plural interest groups o Understands power relationships o Human rights • Comparative Approach o o o o o Compares society with society;...
Words: 4747 - Pages: 19
...‘Race is a historically and culturally specific notion, embedded in a constellation of economic, political, and cultural discourses and uniquely linked to specific relations of power and authority’ (Hirschfield, 1998, p.34). It has been argued that race was an Enlightenment project that resulted from the desire to classify (Cohen, 1974, p.207). Racial thinking certainly existed before this period, but the modern concept of race is a more recent one that has developed from the encounter of more Europeans with other peoples (MacDonald, 1973, p.241). There is some disagreement as to when the construction of race took its current form. First, it has been suggested that the descriptions of race in ancient literature demonstrate that it originates in xenophobic beliefs (Hirschfield, 1998, p.34). The system of natural classification that developed in the Eighteenth Century is also seen as an important contribution (Hannaford, 1996, p.188). However, almost all studies agree that a distinctive development of racial thinking began to take place in the Nineteenth Century (Hirschfield, 1998, p.35). The Nineteenth Century saw the search for the historical and biological origins of race (Hannaford, 1996, p.235). It went beyond the simply classification of race and towards a more significant delineation of race into one that embodies characteristics, personalities and even mental abilities. Several key developments were relevant to this progression. These will be examined as follows: first...
Words: 2989 - Pages: 12
...regarding the social issues of race as a whole. It is common to scroll through Facebook and find a plethora of different opinions on this subject. In addition to one’s opinions, it is common to see arguments regarding this important social issue. However, in my opinion this public disagreement leads to an abundance of additional issues within our society. It is common to disagree, but all too often these arguments are not supported by facts but instead are solely opinion based. I believe that this could be due to a lack of education regarding the social construct of race. Although the youth is taught that Biologically skin color varies due to pigmentation in our skin, they are...
Words: 709 - Pages: 3
...Race and Race relation. Question: Describe two examples of racial classification systems discussed in Chapter 9. What do these examples tell us about the socially constructed nature of race? Racial classification systems do recognize and attempt to describe the physical variations that exist between the populations of human kind today. This has not always been the case. In ancient times, the idea of race did not exist as we know it today (a biological package of traits carried in the bloodlines of distinct groups, each with a separate way of being, acting, thinking and looking) (Conley). Although the ancients may have used skin color to tell one person from the next, they did not discriminate in the sense of making judgments on people based...
Words: 411 - Pages: 2
...have been categorized into what we commonly call races. The definition of race according to the Dictionary of Human Geography is a “means of social classification and differentiation that attempts to essentialize political and cultural differences by linking physical traits (i.e. skin, blood, genes) and social practices (i.e. religion, violence, passion) to innate, immutable characteristics.” this definition of race is widely used, and has been used for an array of time. In historical epics such as Gilgamesh and The Ramayana and many historical ages, people were categorized by their physical appearance and spiritual views. At the top is Gods, then royalty, followed by nobility, towards the middle...
Words: 1592 - Pages: 7
...up and explanation, ok na ba ito?) tnx ^_^ (kung my ilalagay ka po penge na lng ako nung copy.) :) Social interpretations of race regard the common categorizations of people into different races. Race as a social construct and populationism. * anthropologists and social scientists sometimes describe human races as a social construct, preferring instead the term population. Race and Ethnicity The term race refers to groups of people who have differences and similarities in biological traits deemed by society to be socially significant. Ethnicity refers to shared cultural practices, perspectives, and distinctions that set apart one group of people from another. Social interpretations of race regard the common categorizations of people into different races, * Categorizations of people into different races - is a classification system used to categorize humans into large and distinct populations or groups by anatomical, cultural,ethnic, genetic, geographical, historical, linguistic, religious, or social affiliation. Race as a social construct and populationism race often describes populations better defined as ethnic groups, often leading to discrepancies between scientific views on race and popular usage of the term. For instance in many parts of the United States, categories such as Hispanic or Latino are viewed to constitute a race, though others see Hispanic as a linguistic and cultural grouping with European, African, and Amerindian ancestries. Historically...
Words: 548 - Pages: 3
...With change in meaning has brought change in its usage : from racial classification to international public health and anthropometric history. The studies of stature affecting the recruitment in army, navy and slaves during World war era to head and body breadth and length dimensions for racial affinities and use in public health in the 19th and early 20th century .Then measures of weight, stature, circumference and skinfold thickness was used in identifying environmental influences in child growth and nutritional status in the 2nd half of 20th and into the 21st century. In the 19th century, anthropometry was used in creation and validation of racial typologies. Changing understandings of human diversity and its production led to ideas of typology and its classification. By the mid 20th century, biological anthropometry was introduced which used idea of anthropometry as a measure of physiological and developmental plasticity in relation to environmental quality. The reframing of anthropometry for use in adaptability research reflected these newer understandings, placing the human adaption as determined by physical human growth patterns in evolutionary...
Words: 1330 - Pages: 6
...seemed stronger with scientific support, even if the scientific support was weak enough that it was eventually proven to be untrue. Considering this, why were these “scientific” conclusions seen as objective when, with the benefit of hindsight, it is clear that they were not? Additionally, why did the supporters of these ideologies want to use science as support? If science were seen as merely a collection of useless knowledge, it would not have been relied upon in the way that it was, so it is clear that the scientific method was trusted to add some additional level of truth to the given conclusions. The interactions between these systems of classifying groups of people, their scientific support, and society in general tell us many things about science and about people. Physiognomy and Phrenology The earliest versions of biological classification are found in the related disciplines of physiognomy and phrenology. Physiognomy, the science of reading a person’s character based on facial characteristics, was popularized by Johann Caspar...
Words: 4512 - Pages: 19
...DEFINATION OF RACE Name of Student Institution affiliation DEFINATION OF RACE Social constructionism relates to the socially create nature of social life. Social constructionism is therefore created by a group within a society by happens due to the fact that the society encourages and supports it. Social constructionism can therefore be considered as a social norm and it continues to be relevant as long as people put timeinto practising it and talk about it.A race can best be described as a group of people who are perceived to some physical characteristics which are quite distinctive; which mainly include skin colour and facial structure. These two distinctive racial characteristics are perceived to be inherited biologically.This paper, therefore, aims to highlight on the view of race as a social construction. The human race is not only dependent on the distinct physical attributes and skin colour but alsoreligion, language and nationality play a significant role in distinguishing race in human beings. In most cases race is used as an ethnic intensifier where it often try to justify or exploit one one group over the other.In the American society, the idea of race seems to be so fixed that it seems impossible for the society to take up an open-minded approach when challenging this idea.In the American society, race is perceived as a discrete scheme of classification. Therefore, it is mostly considered as a social construction. On the other hand in these society race is also...
Words: 1174 - Pages: 5
...Psy 270 Rhettman Mullis, Jr. November 25, 2012 What other information would you like to learn during the interview with the family? What questions would you ask? I would ask Mr. and Mrs. Lawson if they knew what kind of home life Clara had before she was adopted. I would ask them how old Clara was at the time of the adoption. I would want to know if they knew Clara’s biological family’s medical history. Was there any known of mental illness in the biological family? Did the Lawson’s know if Clara had been abused before she came to live with them? What was the environment in the Lawson home and Clara’s preschool like? Had Clara recently had an accident or been traumatized in any way that they were aware of? Had they heard of any incidents at Clara’s school that may have made her start misbehaving? Was there anything in specific they noticed that triggered Clara’s tantrums? When did the change occur in her eating and sleeping habits? Was Clara their only child? Did they have other biological or adopted children living at home. Was Clara of a different race than Mr. and Mrs. Lawson? Does Clara know that she adopted, and if she does have they just recently told her this? Has Clara mentioned being picked on, teased or bullied at school? Have they had a conference with her teacher to see how her behavior is at school? In addition to the clinical interview, what other clinical assessment tools should you consider? Why? I think...
Words: 937 - Pages: 4
...The conception of the word “race” has been described as one of the most “misunderstood, misused, and often dangerous concepts of the modern world.” (Mooney 2017). The term race has been used as a way to describe particular nationalities, religion, skin color, and even the complete human species (the human “race”). “Confusion around the term race stems from the fact that it has both biological and social meanings.” (Mooney 2017). The social construction of race means that “the actual meaning of race lies not in people’s physical characteristics, but in the historical treatment of different groups and the significance that society gives to what is believed to differentiate so-called racial groups.” (Mooney 2017). People have learned to recognize...
Words: 357 - Pages: 2
...Race and ethnicity, gender and age, and social class in the United States shape the experience surprisingly. This reality has been generally archived in consider and, to some degree, is commonly understood. New studies interpret race and ethnicity, gender and age, and social class in the United States are interlocking classifications of experience that influence all parts of life; along these lines, they all the while structure the encounters surprisingly in the public eye. At any minute, race, ethnicity, class, age or sex may feel more notable or important in every individual life, yet they are covering and aggregate on their impact on individuals' encounters. Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Age and Class observation invites us to distinguish between...
Words: 791 - Pages: 4
...According to biologists, there is only one race, and that is the human race. However, from the commencement of the American experience, differences in perspective have impacted how persons relate with one another. For instance, being categorized as black in the United States has led to stark disparities in legal protection status and opportunity. Currently, most people are beginning to understand the significance of public dialogue as a fundamental step in making progress on race relations issues. Due to race relations, people have a chance to socialize and get to know each other, discover common ground, explore disagreements, and share different points and views. In other societies, people have developed study circles that assist individuals...
Words: 1205 - Pages: 5
...Holistic (multifaceted): approach to the study of human beings. Refers to an approach that studies many aspects of a multifaceted system. Cross-cultural: discovering general patterns about cultural traits Two broad classification of anthropology Biological (Physical) Seeks the emergence of humans & their later evolution (called human paleontology) and how & why contemporary human populations vary biologically (human variation) Study the fossils of human, prehumans & related animals Human genetics, population biology & epidemiology Cultural How & why cultures vary or are similar in the past & present Archaeology: study of past cultures Anthropological linguistics: study of language Ethnology: study of existing & recent cultures Archaeology Seek to reconstruct the daily life & customs of peoples who lived in the past but also to trace cultural changes & to offer possible explanations for those changes Deal with prehistory (time before written records) Historical archaeology: studies the remains of recent peoples who left written records Must used info from present & recent past in trying to understand the distant past Linguistics Study of languages Had to construct a dictionary & grammar, then could study the structure & history of language Study changes that have taken place over time Historical linguistics: study of how languages change over time & how they may be related Descriptive: focus of linguistics ...
Words: 3923 - Pages: 16
...Michael Hurtado 9/15/11 Critique on Anthropology and Race, Ch. 5 Discarding Race, Dealing with Racism Race and racism has been a very controversial and confusing subject for many decades. Although is seems to have made progress over the last couple of decades, it really has not but subsumed to a more dormant topic in education. After reading the fifth chapter of Anthropology and Race by Eugenia Shanklin, I have realized the complexity of the word race and the many descriptions, meanings, and methods used to define this word. As long as there are different races, racism will continue to be a part of society. I somewhat understand as to why this topic is rarely discussed and not properly taught in education systems. Also how the different approaches anthropologists have tried to explain race and racism as either a cultural or scientific method. In today’s society, race is not discussed in the classrooms of education. As time goes on the importance of explaining, in detail, what race really is, does not seem necessary because the nation’s values state that everyone is equal, which discards the idea of race. Race is the classification of people into group in the world, due to cultural, physical, geographical, and biological aspects; or so we like to believe it. As described in Anthropology and Race, Anthropologists believe that when discussing the topic of race, people automatically divide themselves into groups and then believe and defend these groups. Why is this...
Words: 616 - Pages: 3
