Preconceived Notions of Western-Europe - 1165 Words

Preconceived notions of Western-European forms of kinship and societal relations influence anthropological studies of kinship in different cultures (Schneider). Morgan theorized that a sexual relationship between female and male constituted marriage. In addition to this, Morgan considered the biological reproduction of offspring the key determinant in kinship classification as parents of said offspring. This paradigm has influenced the viewpoint of anthropologists’ studying other forms of kinship in different cultures. Rather than examining what kinship is to those being studied, anthropologists attempt to classify it into familiar categories. Two ethnographies that attempt eliminate this Western-European bias are â€Å"Biology Unmoored† by Sandra Bamford and â€Å"Sport of Kings† by Rebecca Cassidy. â€Å"Biology Unmoored† examines the Kamea, an indigenous people of the Papa New Guinea Highlands. The Kamea do not solely base kinship on reproduction; rathe r, kinship and societal relations are based on the human relationship with the plant environment. Using the viewpoint of the Kamea, Bamford analyzes the biological paradigm proposed by Morgan, which has influenced many anthropological studies. In the ethnography â€Å"Sport of Kings† Rebecca Cassidy examines the British racing industry in Newmarket, the international headquarters of horse racing. Cassidy claims that by analyzing the relationship between humans and animals we may better understand kinship and social relations between humans. ByShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of James L Gelvin s Book, The Modern Middle East876 Words   |  4 Pagesdeny that the occurrence of one country occupying another, that country leaves its’ â€Å"footprint† on the other. Thusly, Gelvin’s crux is to challenge the reader’s notions of the Middle East by focusing on the dialectic between the history of the Middle East recounted by the Middle East and the history of the Middle East narrated by Western Powers (i.e. Britain, France, and the U.S.). Through a globalized lens of Middle Eastern history, the region opens up to assessment in identical means as any otherRead MoreTheme Of Oppression In Jane Eyre1088 Words   |  5 Pagesportrayed in the novel holistically relies on historical society to serve as its backbone. The history of Victorian society is utilized within the novel in order to depict the England that Bronte had grown accustomed too, as well challenge the preconceived notions held dear in nineteenth century England. Bronte’s early life is clearly reflected within Jane Eyre, as Jane experiences a similar upbringing as a member of the lower class. Jane was adopted into the Reed family following the death of her biologicalRead MoreThree Western Religions and their View on Women: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam636 Words   |  3 PagesMy paper studies the three most significant and most commonly known western religion Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in terms of the role that the woman played and a brief synopsis of the religions itself. Religion is a system of human though which usually includes a set of narratives, symbols, beliefs and practices that give meaning to the practitioner’s experiences of life through reference to a higher power, deity, or ultimate truth. Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are the only religions thatRead MoreWhile Generally, People Aim For Truth In The Pursuit Of1540 Words   |  7 Pagesinfluenced the region while discrediting Arab culture and ideas. A nyone inclined to question the superiority of European knowledge only had to remember the Europeans’ ability to subjugate the Middle East which inherently suggested that the culture of Europe must be superior to that of the Middle East. A person attempting to produce knowledge operates under the confines of their position in society. Given this situation, in the case of the knowledge affected by power relations, the place of both theRead MoreResearch Paper: Marjane Satrapi756 Words   |  4 Pagesobedience and expressive nature would have caused her immense trouble with government. Thus, afraid she’d be a victim of the regime’s repression and prejudice, her parents sent her to Vienna (Kutschera). Unfortunately, she was challenged with preconceived notions held by Europeans (Leith). While attending a boarding school ran by nuns, Marjane was expelled for calling the chief mother a prostitute when she claimed that Iranians were uneducated (Hattenstone). Marjane’s life eventually plummeted leadingRead MoreA Review of Nancy Fasers Rethinking the Public Sphere1000 Words   |  4 Pagesa response to Habermas 1973 essay, later published in English as The Public Sphere in 1989. Habermas states his co ncept of the public sphere as both historical, and normative. It is historical both in the sense of era and region- 20th century Western Europe. He dismantles the distinctions between the public and private domain. According to Habermas, man should be autonomous from the state and the civil society, but he feels that public-ness is degenerating due to the advent of theRead MoreA Review of Nancy Fasers Rethinking the Public Sphere1007 Words   |  5 Pagesa response to Habermas 1973 essay, later published in English as The Public Sphere in 1989. Habermas states his concept of the public sphere as both historical, and normative. It is historical both in the sense of era and region- 20th century Western Europe. He dismantles the distinctions between the public and private domain. According to Habermas, man should be autonomous from the state and the civil society, but he feels that public-ness is degenerating due to the advent of the massRead MoreThe Humanitarian Intervention And International Aid2827 Words   |  12 Pagesaid provided by Western forces to combat diseases such as ebola and AIDS reinforce already preconceived patriarchal notions of Africa as the afflicted continent. From the colonial era leading up to the present day, Africa has been constantly afflicted in one form or another by various types of lethal disease including but certainly not limited to ebola and AIDS. The epidemics caused by these diseases have often been considered to necessitate outside intervention namely by Western influences. PerceivedRead MorePacific Geopolitics During The 21st Century1788 Words   |  8 Pagespoints/arguments (from Orientalism) and the extent to which these are relevant to the Pacific. Hayley Catlow Introduction Orientalism tries to answer the question of why, when we think of the Orient, we have a preconceived notion of what kind of people live there, what they believe, and how they act; even when we may have never been there or met anyone from there. Said argues that the way we acquire this knowledge is not objective, but rather the end result of a processRead MoreThe Economic And Social Structure Of Africa1661 Words   |  7 Pagespredictions and decisions. One of the world’s oldest boats was found in Nigeria (Emeagwali 2015). Boats are very important for economics because they are relied upon for trade. Africa had a great influence on the economy of Europe. Africa was â€Å"the major source of gold for Europe before the conquest of the Americas- from the empires of Ghana and Mali† (Emeagwali 2015). Control of the gold trade â€Å"was a major stimulus behind the founding of the state† (Shillington 2012: 104). The rulers of Mali had