Docx

Final Research Paper 1
Final Research Paper
Nichole Jones
ANT 101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Instructor: Angela Fuhrmann
March 22, 2016
This study source was downloaded by 100000831952622 from CourseHero.com on 12-18-2021 02:22:05 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/14675101/ANT-101-Week-5-Final-Research-Paper/
Introduction
The study of the human culture provides us with a look at other cultures from an up close and
distinct perspective to understand their culture from their point of view. It is challenging to look
at another culture without being somewhat biased. This being the case, we must use a different
method, as anthropologists who conduct their research by understanding there are two
approaches for evaluating a culture, Emic and Etic. The main topic of my research paper is
dealing with race. I want to show how, even though some people would deny this fact, race is a
major factor in our lives. I’ve decided to examine my culture communication through African
American Vernacular English (AAVE) within the African American community, in contrast to the
effects of negotiating body image and identity during rapid social change amongst the young
women in Fiji. I will also be examining Gender/Race wage inequality and the discrimination
African-American women are faced with on the daily basis.
Part 1
According to Crapo (2013), an “etic perspective is an outsider’s or observer’s allegedly
‘objective’ account” (p.27). From an etic point of view, looking at the African American culture,
in comparison to the Nacirema culture discussed in Miner’s article, I see many similarities. One
would think that there is no way the two could have anything in common. It's amazing how all
the logically possible combinations of behavior have been found somewhere in the world (Miner,
1956). Though African American’s have no real relationship connection to the Nacirema’s, there
are some aspects closely related in culture. With that being said I will be examining the use of
African American Vernacular English (AAVE) most commonly referred to as Ebonics within the
African American community from an etic perspective. When looking from the etic viewpoint,
every notion can more than likely be understood by all regardless of preconceived notions. By
doing so, one can realize that what may have initially seemed foreign because of a closed minded
perspective may not be so foreign after gaining cultural awareness. AAVE is “the everyday
dialect spoken by some urban African Americans” (Crapo, 2013). Dialect is merely an efficient
way to communicate within a social group that everyone of that group understands and can use.
From an etic perspective, AAVE is the water-downed or inappropriate language of Standard
English, the dialect taught in U.S. schools and used by most people in the U.S. on an academic
level. The comparison between the two languages is throughout US culture. William Labov
studied AAVE in Philadelphia, New York and other urban communities in the United States and
their noted patterns (1972). From this study, he gathered that dialect in the Inner City immovably
creates African American Vernacular English not just as slang but rather as “a well- formed set of
rules of pronunciation and grammar capable of conveying complex logic and reasoning”
(Labov). Contemplating not just the ordinary methods of communication in the inner city Labov
affirms the Black vernacular as an independent dialect of English.
Part 2
In this part of my research paper, I will be examining the effects the media has on young women
in Fiji from an emic perspective. The central claim is that the press can make people feel
insecure about themselves because it shows the world unrealistic ultra skinny models, actors and
actresses, and then young women believe that that is what they need to look like to be appealing
and fit in so that they are accepted. Beauty magazines also profoundly impact young females
significantly in the process of identity development. The body dissatisfaction that occurs in
women is troubling to me. The fact that psychologically they believe that they aren’t good
enough, and no one will ever love them the way the are is disturbing to me. This leads to eating
disorders, sickness, depression, anxiety and stress, or even worse death. These women have a
distorted body image and feel fat when they are only skin and bones, with a fear of gaining
weight. I mean it is human nature to want to fit in with those around you, but it should never be
at the expense of your health and physical well-being. I think it’s about time women that the
average women start thinking or themselves as beautiful. The fascination with superficial beauty
has taken our country and the world by storm. It’s all about how you look but being extremely
skinny was never attractive to me. Women should embrace their curves and give up this
obsession to look like twigs.
Part 3
Discrimination is an issue that affects women of all races, more specifically African American
women, one significant discrimination issue women are battling globally, takes place in the
workplace. African American women who have equal training and education, along with the
same experience as men and Caucasian women, are not receiving equal pay. In the early days
Women’s work consisted of unskilled labor that required little to no training or advanced
education such as cleaning, sewing and caring for the sick, therefore being worth less than a
man’s work. Men, on the other hand, were considered the bread winners and held jobs such as
attorney’s, doctors, educators, and other skilled labor, or professions in which an advanced
education or technical skills was required, therefore being worth more than a woman’s work.
Fast forward to the 20th century and women in the women are still at a disadvantage compared
to their male counterparts. Despite women’s gain towards narrowing the gap, the gap still
continues to exist. Even in the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, some of the industry’s highest-
paid actresses are not immune to the issue of the gender wage gap. In 2015, Hollywood’s highest
paid actress, Jennifer Lawrence, became the outspoken opponent of the gender pay gap. She
became aware of the disparity during the Wikileaks scandal involving Sony that revealed, the
world highest paid actress, Lawrence, made $52 million in the 12 months to June 2015- an
impressive number until it is compared to the $80 million banked by Robert Downey Jr., the
world's top-paid actor. The wage gap Is even greater for women actresses of color who see the
largest percentage gap compared to their male counterparts. In a Forbes article Everything You
Need to Know about the Hollywood Pay Gap, Berg highlights the disparities in the wages of
African-American and Native American men and women. “While, on average, women in this
country make an average of 78% of their male counterparts, African American and Native
American make 64 cents and 59 cents, respectively, for every dollar made by white men, and
Hispanic women earn just 56 cents to a white man’s dollar” (2015). Males and females in other
unique groups within society receive their fair share of wage discrimination as well.
Conclusion
In today’s world, there are many cultures, which shape the world. As Crapo describes it. “to view
your culture as superior to others is known as ethnocentrism”. The opposite of ethnocentrism is
cultural relativism, which is the viewing of a different culture from the perspective of an
individual who practices the culture, outside your own (p. 8). In most cases, viewing another
culture, which is different from your own with an insider’s perspective is tough. It is critical to
change your perspective and see your culture from an outsider’s perspective to gain a deeper
insight and viewing of your culture which is what I have attempted through my paper speaking
on the AAVE dialect of my African American culture from an etic perspective. I think it’s
terrible that the young women of Fiji look to the media and develop the feelings that because
they don’t look like the images they see on Television they don’t fit in with what societies vision
of beauty is and should be it causes them to be insecure and depressed. When in all actuality you
don’t have to starve yourself and become skin and bones to be considered beautiful. The media
has too much power over our youth. Lastly, me being an African American woman, being faced
with discrimination on the daily basis and not receiving equal pay just because of the color of my
skin is a difficult pill to swallow. I’m hoping that eventually the wage inequality with gender and
race will cease to exist.
References
Anderson, D., & Shapiro, D. (1996). RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN ACCESS TO HIGH PAYING
JOBS AND THE WAGE GAP BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE WOMEN. Industrial & Labor
Relations Review, 49(2), 273-286.
Becker, A. E. (2004). Television, disordered eating, and you women in Fiji: Negotiating body
image and identity during the rapid social change. Culture, Medicine & Psychiatry, 28(4), 533-
559. Retrieved from the EBSCO host database.
Berg, M. (2015). Everything You Need to Know About the Hollywood Pay Gap. Forbes.Com,
10.
Crapo, R. H. (2013). Cultural Anthropology
Miner, Horace., Body Ritual Among the Nacirema, American Anthropology Association from
American Anthropologist 58:3, June 1956.
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Docx

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Docx

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Final Research Paper 1

Final Research Paper

ANT 101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Instructor: Angela Fuhrmann

March 22, 2016

African-American women are faced with on the daily basis.

According to Crapo (2013), an “etic perspective is an outsider’s or observer’s allegedly

From an etic perspective, AAVE is the water-downed or inappropriate language of Standard

affirms the Black vernacular as an independent dialect of English.

obsession to look like twigs.

your culture as superior to others is known as ethnocentrism”. The opposite of ethnocentrism is

race will cease to exist.

Relations Review, 49(2), 273-286.

559. Retrieved from the EBSCO host database.

Crapo, R. H. (2013). Cultural Anthropology

American Anthropologist 58:3, June 1956.

You might also like