Discussion # 2

Some of the unique aspects of the researchers studying was mainly trying become accepted into the prostitution culture. She quickly learned that this society was very complex and she had to decipher who had good reputations that would benefit her research. She found it difficult to work out who was trustworthy and who would negatively affect her research. Another challenging part of her research was the emotional impact it had on her. She found that the spreading of AIDS was very common because the prostitutes were afraid to ask the customers to use a condom. Several times she had to physically leave the environment because of intense situations that she had no control over.
I think the role of the anthropologist in different cultures should mainly stick to their research and observing the natural society they have. In some cases, maybe if a person asked for help or information, the anthropologist could definitely provide any resources they had. If someone was suffering and wanted help I don’t think I could deny a person that. I don’t believe that it’s an anthropologist job to go to a different society and begin to preach or educate their views or ideas though. I think there is a fine line that shouldn’t be crossed unless a person asks.
Universal Standards should be set by an entity made up of people from all around the world with different cultural perspectives. They then could decide on the basic human rights of people everywhere such as the power over their own body, right to live free, right to own things, and basically the power to be successful in the context of their society. While nursing homes can be the wrong place for the elderly in some circumstances, it also can be the best place for older people with no one to take care of them. Also, child care wouldn’t be my first choice if I had children, but in our society making a living is necessary to provide for the family you have.

Nacirema

When reading about the Nacirema, I find it very unusual that they view their bodies as ugly and almost not worthy enough to live in. It struck me very odd that these put themselves through intense pain and torture to rid themselves of the evil they believe is there. It is significant that the children who are not completely trained in the rituals yet think that going to the medicine man is practically a death sentence. Women putting their heads in an over is definitely something I would see as extreme in ritual belief. It is also unusual that reproducing and childbirth is almost avoided in this culture, instead of being eager to bring children up in their rituals. Their behavior makes sense in context to their beliefs in magic and rituals. Without these beliefs, none of their daily practices would make any sense.
It is not so unusual to me that these people have shrines in their homes, many religions worship statues or figures. The holy-mouth man is also not that odd, people in out society go to the dentist all the time. The big difference is that our dentists do not do harm or drill holes when unnecessary. Medicine men and witch doctors are not unheard of. The fact that these people are economically motivated shows in a way that they have the same concerns of people in our culture. Daily rituals is something that many cultures do, whether is religious or not.
It is difficult to describe a cultural so different from our without a bias because some of their rituals would definitely be interpreted as cruel and barbaric. The only way a person could understand what they do is to completely understand the culture in its entirety.