Through the Lens of Cultural Anthropology: An Introduction to Human Culture

Addressing important and timely topics, including global climate change and the #MeToo movement, __Through the Lens of Cultural Anthropology__ is a fresh and contemporary textbook designed to engage students in the world surrounding them. The book offers a sustained focus on language, food, and sustainability in an inclusive format that is sensitive to issues of gender, sexuality, and race. Integrating personal stories from her own fieldwork, the author brings her passion for transformative learning to students in a way that is both timely and thought-provoking. Beautifully illustrated with over sixty full-color images, including comics and maps, the text brings concepts to life in a way sure to resonate with undergraduate readers. __Through the Lens of Cultural Anthropology__ is supplemented by a full suite of instructor and student supports that can be accessed at lensofculturalanthropology.com. Addressing important and timely topics, including global climate change and the #MeToo movement, Through the Lens of Cultural Anthropology is a fresh and contemporary textbook designed to engage students in the world surrounding them. The book offers a sustained focus on language, food, and sustainability in an inclusive format that is sensitive to issues of gender, sexuality, and race. Integrating personal stories from her own fieldwork, the author brings her passion for transformative learning to students in a way that is both timely and thought-provoking. Beautifully illustrated with over sixty full-color images, including comics and maps, the text brings concepts to life in a way sure to resonate with undergraduate readers. Through the Lens of Cultural Anthropology is supplemented by a full suite of instructor and student supports that can be accessed at lensofculturalanthropology.com. Cover 1 Title 3 Copyright 4 Dedication 5 Contents 14 List of Illustrations 19 List of Boxes 22 Acknowledgments 23 About the Author 24 Preface 25 Note to Instructors 28 Note to Students 29 CHAPTER 1: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 31 Learning Objectives 31 Introduction: The Lens of Cultural Anthropology 31 The Culture Concept 35 The Field of Anthropology 36 Frameworks 40 A Brief History of Anthropological Thought 42 Anthropology and Colonialism 48 The Importance of Cultural Anthropology Today 49 Summary 52 Review Questions 52 Discussion Questions 53 CHAPTER 2: Studying Contemporary Culture 55 Learning Objectives 55 Introduction: Studying Culture 55 What Are the Parts of Culture? 57 Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism 62 Cultural Adaptation and Maladaptation 64 The Functions of Culture 65 Child Rearing 66 Fieldwork Methods and Ethics 67 Applied Anthropology 73 Summary 76 Review Questions 77 Discussion Questions 77 CHAPTER 3: Race and Ethnicity 79 Learning Objectives 79 Introduction: Is Race Real? 79 Human Race Is Not Biological 80 Biocultural Connections: Prejudice and Health 86 History of the Race Concept 87 Defining Ethnicity 92 The Privilege of Fair Skin 97 Discrimination Based on Caste 99 Summary 100 Review Questions 100 Discussion Questions 101 CHAPTER 4: Language 103 Learning Objectives 103 Introduction: Language and Culture 103 Definition of Language 105 Language Origins 105 Language and Communication: Signs and Symbols 108 What Does a Linguistic Anthropologist Do? 110 Communication beyond Words 111 Ethnolinguistics 115 Signed Languages 119 Language Use in the Digital Age 120 Language Loss 122 Language Revitalization 122 Summary 124 Review Questions 124 Discussion Questions 125 CHAPTER 5: Food 127 Learning Objectives 127 Introduction: Food-Getting Practices 127 Adaptive Strategies: Food Foragers and Food Producers 128 Food Foragers 130 Food Producers: Horticulturalists 134 Food Producers: Pastoralists 136 Food Producers: Intensive Agriculturalists 138 Food Producers: Industrialism 141 Globalization of Food 145 The Human Diet 146 Summary 147 Review Questions 148 Discussion Questions 148 CHAPTER 6: Economic Resources 149 Learning Objectives 149 Introduction: Who Gets What and How? 149 What Drives Economic Decisions? 150 Production: Making the Things People Need and Want 152 Distribution: How People Get the Things They Need and Want 156 Consumption: How People Use the Things They Need and Want 166 Summary 168 Review Questions 169 Discussion Questions 169 CHAPTER 7: Marriage and Family 171 Learning Objectives 171 Introduction: Marriage and Family 171 Defining Marriage 172 Spouses: How Many and Who Is Eligible? 173 Family Residence Patterns 180 Marriage as Economic Exchange 182 Kinship 187 Summary 190 Review Questions 191 Discussion Questions 191 CHAPTER 8: Gender and Sexuality 193 Learning Objectives 193 Introduction: Social Roles Based on Sex and Gender 193 Defining Sex, Gender, and Sexuality 194 Sexual Identity 195 Masculine and Feminine 199 Gender Identity 201 Gendered Body Modification 208 Gendered Speech 211 Gender Inequality 213 Gendered Occupations 215 Summary 217 Review Questions 217 Discussion Questions 218 CHAPTER 9: Politics and Power 219 Learning Objectives 219 Introduction: Politics and Power 219 Power, Authority, and Prestige 221 Social Controls and Conflict Resolution 223 Types of Political Organization 225 Social Inequality 231 Violence and War 235 Summary 238 Review Questions 238 Discussion Questions 239 CHAPTER 10: Supernaturalism 241 Learning Objectives 241 Introduction: Religion as a Symbolic System 241 Defining Religion 243 Reasons for Supernatural Belief Systems 244 Sacred Roles 249 Religious Practitioners 253 Religious Resistance 255 Supernatural Beliefs and Cultural Expression 257 Summary 259 Review Questions 260 Discussion Questions 260 CHAPTER 11: Illness and Healing 261 Learning Objectives 261 Introduction: Studying Concepts of Illness and Healing 261 Understanding Illness 263 Cultural Concepts of Healing 267 Health Inequity 277 Disability 279 Summary 281 Review Questions 281 Discussion Questions 282 CHAPTER 12: Anthropology and Sustainability 283 Learning Objectives 283 Introduction: Anthropology and Sustainability 283 History of Human-Environment Relations 285 Defining Sustainability 287 Anthropological Approaches to Sustainability Studies 292 Issues in Sustainability Studies 297 How Can Anthropologists Help? 301 Summary 302 Review Questions 303 Discussion Questions 303 Glossary 305 References 323 Index 335 A 335 B 336 C 336 D 338 E 338 F 339 G 340 H 341 I 342 J 343 K 343 L 343 M 344 N 345 O 345 P 345 Q 346 R 346 S 347 T 348 U 349 V 349 W 349 X 349 Y 349 Z 349 Social Science,Anthropology,Cultural & Social "Addressing important and timely topics, including global climate change and the #MeToo movement, Through the Lens of Cultural Anthropology is a fresh and contemporary textbook designed to engage students in the world surrounding them. The book offers a sustained focus on language, food, and sustainability in an inclusive format that is sensitive to issues of gender, sexuality, and race. Integrating personal stories from her own fieldwork, the author brings her passion for transformative learning to students in a way that is both timely and thought provoking. Featuring learning objectives, glossary terms, and chapter summaries, Through the Lens of Cultural Anthropology also supplies students with review and discussion questions to guide their analysis of the topics raised. Beautifully illustrated with over sixty full-color images, including comics, the text brings concepts to life in a way sure to resonate with undergraduate readers."-- Provided by publisher