Chloe Richardson
When reading detailed studies of a culture group, it is important to sustain an accurate narrative. In order to assure you are maintaining an accurate narrative, for the least biased learning experience, you need to think like an Anthropologist. When thinking like an Anthropologist, there are things to keep in mind: Western colonization has had a large impact on society and the way we perceive information. In order to see humanity for what it truly is, we need to learn from the perspective of those who live(d) in the culture itself during that time. Some key themes as mentioned in Engelke’s How to Think Like an Anthropologist are culture, differences within that culture, blood identity, values, and reason—among other things. Engelke points out western influence, as many non-anthropologists exoticize other cultures other than their own, or what they have learned. Harper Lee quotes in one of his famous works of literature, To Kill a Mockingbird, “You never really understand a person
until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb in his skin and walk around in it” (Harper Lee, 1964). Because of our own egocentric views, it is common to mis conceptualize one’s culture and beliefs. Gender roles, authority, ceremonies, religion, among other things—varies cross-culturally. What we consider normal, for example, is a male-dominated medical field. In Russian culture, it is much more common for females to take on the role as a doctor. In short, culture is very fluid, and in order to observe or learn a culture in the most accurate perception, you must think like an anthropologist with the idea that western culture is not the culture in your back pocket.
Some of the best examples in an accurate narrative in the anthropology are ethnographies and fieldwork. An ethnography is qualitative research through the study of a group. Malinowski was one of the first anthropologists to participate in fieldwork among the people of whom he was studying. Participating in fieldwork, most importantly, living among the people, allows the closest experience and perception to what life is really like among other groups. Living among the people aides in diminishing the western bias and egocentric views. Ethnography comes from the Greek word, Ethos, meaning people—creating ethnography which means culture writing. These ethnographies derive from the participant observation whilst living among a culture very different than your own. Cultural relativism is a term popularly used by Franz Boas which is the approach to avoid judgmental attitudes towards culture being studied. Culture, power roles, politics, social stratification, are all relevant to the cultural experience of a group. In order to attain an accurate narrative, it is key to as closely as possible step into the everyday life and see values and subsistence of a culture. Ethnographies and participant observation are of the most accurate narratives in Anthropology.
