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Connor O Ramirez

Professor Montague

ANTH-1010

05/01/23

Anthropology: Signature Assignment

In this paper, we will explore a few varied topics covered during our time in class. The

idea is to utilize our fieldwork topics covered, to describe “American Culture”. Much like

Anthropologists do when researching other cultures inside and outside this country. The idea

behind this paper is to explain the culture to an individual that is completely unfamiliar with the

culture in general. The topics I will be covering include the following: Marriage, Gender,

Language, Social Issues, and Patriotism. Each of these topics will be broken down and explained

using my understanding and the things learned in class.

Methods:

Anthropology in general is a study of human culture and the societies that come with it.

Some of the focal points for this field are human biology, behavior, linguistics, and economics,

concerned with both the past and present. This field covers a broad spectrum of what it means to

be human, and what makes up humanity as a whole. As you can imagine, there isn’t one specific

way of deciphering this broad subject. Many Anthropologists have a large toolkit of techniques

that are used to provide perspective and relativistic approached to understanding each other.

The methods used when conducting my own fieldwork on certain facets of American

culture were as follows:

 Interview – conducting interviews with specific individuals to provide insight and

perspective on certain topics.

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 Media Observation – evaluation of certain types of media, old and new, to find

trends, and information pertaining to a specific subject.

 Participant Observation – immersion into a specific group/culture, typically with

the intent to provide context through tangible means.

Marriage:

Marriage is something that is shared by many cultures across the globe. The idea

of taking a husband or wife, and creating a family, that in some form or fashion may

contribute to society/humanity has been practiced for hundreds of years. In American

culture, the idea of marriage has made a marked shift in the past few decades. People now

more than ever, are becoming open to the idea that marriage is not about a man and a

woman, rather a partnership between two individuals, that work towards a common goal

utilizing a set of skills and strengths, rather than falling into traditional gender roles.

For this fieldwork, I conducted interviews of married(some divorced) individuals

across a range of age groups, to hear their thoughts on marriage and to see if they change

based on generational differences.(1) What I found was not only did generational

differences change opinion but cultural, religious, and spirituality played a role in

interpreting what marriage means as well. The variety of responses received made me

look at American culture, and really dwell on the idea that “American culture” is not

static in its interpretations of things like marriage, we are a diverse set of people from

different race, creed, sexuality, and belief. With more and more people adopting this fluid

mindset, it’s no wonder that the antiquated traditional “American” format of marriage is

rapidly fading.
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Language:

Language is one cornerstone of survival for any species. Humanity is no different, as

such anthropologists seek to understand how language affects all cultures and how language can

change based on the differing cultures. In this particular section of fieldwork, I referenced

language used within my local climbing club. Climbers have an extensive vocabulary of lingo

and slang used when describing routes, and techniques used when climbing. Climber culture is

one of community, fostering friendships and encouragement. Climbing is an extremely

challenging and rewarding sport, everyone that climbs knows the risks and the difficulty of

handling routes- as such many climbers are vocal in praise and willing to give a heaping dose of

it at any given opportunity.

Building on language in climber culture is one facet that I talk about extensively in my

fieldwork: Route Grades1. This is one of the single most important usages of language in this

culture – grading routes goes back to the start of sport climbing. Grades allow the climber to

judge the difficulty of the climb and by doing so, ensure personal safety and the safety of others

while climbing – as previously stated climbing is a very dangerous sport and can maim or kill if

not done correctly. The use of specific terms denoting climbing grades helps keep the sport in a

place that is accessible to all skill levels while maintaining difficulty in a safe and educated

manner.

Gender:

Gender concepts have changed significantly in American society during the last

few decades. Historically, the dominant framework for comprehending gender identity has been

the binary gender system of male and female. A rising understanding and acceptance of non-

binary genders, such as genderqueer, genderfluid, and agender identities, has, however, put this
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paradigm to the test. These identities highlight the richness and diversity of gender expression

while also challenging the conventional idea of binary gender. As a result, gender variety is now

more widely accepted and visible in American culture, and more people feel at ease expressing

their gender identity in ways that are true to them.

The growing understanding of intersectionality's impact on how people experience

gender has also had a profound impact on gender constructions in American society. The

intricate interactions and intersections between many facets of identity, such as race, ethnicity,

sexual orientation, and class, are referred to as intersectionality. For instance, there is now more

awareness of the difficulties experienced by transgender individuals of color, who may be targets

of violence and prejudice due to both their gender identity and race or ethnicity. The emphasis on

developing more inclusive and intersectional ways to resolving gender-related issues and

promoting equality for all people, regardless of their gender identification, has increased as a

result.

Power:

For this section, I was tasked with self-reflection – analyzing the power dynamics

between me and those around me, including friends, family, significant other, and general

acquaintances. We typically don’t think about how the act/idea of power affects our day-to-day

lives. When I think of power, governments, kings, and monopolies come to mind. However, the

scale doesn’t have to be so broad/macro, in many cases we experience a power dynamic to some

degree, in most every facet of life that involves communication and interaction with one another.

More often than not power is expressed in the non-physical sense.

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Conclusion:

Explaining American Culture is difficult, as a vast array of social, political, and economic

beliefs and behaviors are included in the concept of American culture. One thing I can say for

certain is that I believe that American culture is in a constant state of flux. Many people have an

idea of American Culture, as a static and unchanging behavior, when in my opinion – it’s

grounded in change, and completely open to interpretation. That’s not to say there aren’t

behaviors and things that are distinctly American.

I believe the fundamental principles of American culture are the pursuit of pleasure,

democracy, and individual freedom. This is represented in a variety of cultural practices and

traditions, such as the focus on individualism and business as well as the celebration of

independence and the American Dream. American culture at its core is distinguished by the

diverse ethnic, racial, and religious groups that make up the country's distinctive cultural mosaic.
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Appendix:

1.Fieldwork #7:

I had a very mixed result out of the people I asked this question to. The majority

considered marriage today as nothing more than a legal formality. Many believe that their

connection to their partners was wholly unaffected by getting married and that they place less

importance on it, in todays social and political climate. Whereas looking objectively in the past,

people were raised with the mindset that in order to have kids, marriage was the first step.

Additionally, the reasons for getting married have shifted, with couples today placing more

emphasis on love, companionship, and shared interests, rather than just financial stability or

societal pressure. Same-sex marriage has also become legal in all 50 states, and more people are

choosing to delay marriage or forego it altogether.

A few mentioned the fact that the roles and responsibilities within marriages have also

evolved. Gender roles have become less rigid, and women are now more likely to work outside

of the home and have a greater say in household decision-making, thus changing the "traditional"

family dynamic. Couples are also increasingly likely to share responsibilities like childcare and

household chores. Additionally, technology has had a significant impact on marriages, both

positive and negative, with social media allowing for greater communication and connection but

also providing more opportunities for infidelity. Overall, I believe the changes in marriage over

the past 50 years reflect a greater emphasis on personal fulfillment, individual choice, and

equality within partnerships.

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