The Work of Anthropologists

Anthropology is described as the study of man and humanity. It is a social science alongside sociology and philosophy. It is also considered part of the humanities. Humanities are the study of human conditions and cultures. Cultural anthropology studies mankind in different cultures throughout the world to get a better outlook on humanity. Anthropology is an important discipline for cross-cultural comparisons and cultural critiques. Knowledge of other cultures helps the world along the path of globalization.

Culture is passed down through generations. A biologist named LeMark believed acquired traits are passed onto offspring. LeMark was later proven wrong by Darwin’s theory of evolution. Evolution and adaptation are the selection of traits allowing humans to thrive in their location. Culture follows the LeMarkian theme because of trans generational characteristics of society. Cultural anthropologists study human cultures, the way they live, their beliefs, practices, and behaviors. However, culture does evolve.

Globalization is an example of the way culture evolves. The intent of globalization is international integration through cultural advancement. Globalization affects every culture in different ways. This is why most anthropologists study the effects of globalization in cultures of which there is little knowledge. In many of these places, their economics, politics, and way of life are very different from the United States’ capitalist society. Anthropologists study the effects of globalization on these communities. Cultures that thrive without technology, consumerism, and capitalism seem to sometimes have immunity to globalization. However, when feminists in Catholic and Muslim countries struggled against the oppression of women, their “separate but equal” status request had Western representatives accusing them of being traditional instead of progressive. Part of Catholic and Muslim cultures is the separation of men and women. Women have a certain status and people in those cultures felt that it should stay that way, but women are deserving of certain employment and social rights. The western representatives felt that the way their culture had altered with social construction should be globalized (Robbins).

Another culture that was affected by globalization was the Huaorani in eastern Ecuador. Lawrence Ziegler-Otero studied how the Huaorani were forced to create an organization against “oil companies, missionaries, and state agencies that were increasingly threatening Huaorani territory and autonomy” (Ziegler-Otero) Huaorani are hunter/gatherers in the rain forests of the Andes without technology or capitalism effect. The affect of globalization on their community forced them to organize politics in response to the pressures of capitalism and colonization (Robbins).