Understanding Cultural Diversity and Anthropological Methods

5-2 Final Project Part B Milestone Two: Interview Transcript Outline Michele Hanna Southern New Hampshire University ATH 101 Janice Cobb February 8, 2024

Interview Transcript or Recording Outline I. Cultural Diversity : In this section, you will explain the importance of understanding and being sensitive to cultural diversity. A. Reporter : What is so important that we understand cultural diversity in a time like this? Who cares if we’re all different? What does it matter anyway? 1. Your Response : Knowing cultural diversity is essential because it can clarify the reasons behind the ideas, customs, and behaviors that members of particular cultures follow regarding particular issues, such as gender norms. Identifying our family lineage is one example of how gender and sociocultural identity are intertwined. Genealogy is typically traced back via the father's side. On the other hand, matrilineal societies exist all over the world in which the mother's side determines ancestry. Studies have indicated that matrilineal communities, such as those in Malawi, have more favorable results for women and girls, such as guaranteeing access to education and promoting equal rights (Robinson, 2021). 2. Your Response : How funerals and final rites are performed around the world illustrates how sociocultural identity is connected to human conduct. In most Western nations, funerals are depressing affairs. In contrast, funerals in Cameroon are seen as a celebration of the life of the departed, complete with street dancing and singing, as well

as colorful clothing worn by the bereaved relatives (Jindra, 2011). It demonstrates that although everyone will eventually die, the traditions surrounding funeral customs vary widely. 3. Your Response : The way that civilizations view animals is another illustration of human social identity. Dragons are portrayed as "evil" creatures in popular culture and fairy tales, protecting princesses and treasures and setting people on fire if they try to disturb them. However, humans adore dragons and represent good luck in most Asian cultures, including Chinese culture (Bates, 2007). B. Reporter : Human culture might seem more complex than I initially imagined, so how does it relate to the crisis we have witnessed here? 1. Your Response : An anthropologist will be part of the team attempting to resolve a worldwide catastrophe as our field investigates the many facets of human existence, including society, history, behavior, culture, technology, and many more (Welsch et al., 2019). Anthropologists contribute to the development of workable and feasible solutions for the community by objectively analyzing a situation while maintaining cultural sensitivity to the location of the crisis. It is crucial because it approaches the situation from all angles,

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guaranteeing that the environment and community suffer the least harm while experiencing the most beneficial change. II. Anthropological Methods : In this section, you will speak as though you are an anthropologist investigating the crisis. You will describe the anthropological methods you would need to use to investigate the crisis and explain how you believe people would react to you investigating the crisis. A. Reporter : Alright, can you explain how you came to this conclusion to the audience? 1. Your Response : According to a cultural anthropologist emphasizing environmental anthropology, the best research methodology for examining the plastic catastrophe is ethnography. Participant observation, in- depth interviews, and close work or living with the impacted community are all examples of ethnography (Welsch et al., 2019). Although very interactive, these techniques are the most effective in determining the crisis's effects on the community and its underlying causes. B. Reporter : How did these people let you study them? Why did they let you? You most likely upset them, right? 1. Your Response : Anthropologists are particularly conscious of how we conduct study in a culture that may be unfamiliar to us. Locals are typically suspicious of outsiders entering their lives to observe and study a

side that may not be the most picturesque. Gaining the trust and understanding of the locals that you are not a threat is, I believe, the most time-consuming component of the investigation. Once over that point, people are more inclined to communicate, facilitating the study process. 2. Your Response : One of the most crucial habits for anthropologists to form is objectivity. It facilitates the use of a broad perspective. Although it may not always allay the anxieties of the people we examine, it conveys that we will not be unkind or prejudicial toward them. III. Cultural Connections : In this section, you will make connections between cultural factors and the likelihood of the crisis occurring in your own culture. If the crisis has already occurred in your own culture, explain how the specific cultural, biological, or environmental factors allowed this to occur. A. Reporter : Do you think this crisis could happen here, to us? 1. Your Response : The global plastic catastrophe is a natural phenomenon. Plastic is used in almost every civilization on the planet. Most of the things we purchase in the United States are made of plastic, and the world has suffered greatly due to our consumer culture of buying and discarding. With 8.4 hectares of ecological footprint per person, Americans have the most significant ecological footprint in the world (Welsch et al., 2019).

2. Your Response : From a biological perspective, using plastic does not negatively impact our health. However, if we cannot find a means to stop the expanding plastic catastrophe, it will adversely affect human health. Burning plastic garbage creates toxic chemicals that can damage our respiratory systems, cause cancer, and cause neurological impairment. These pollutants include dioxins, furans, and mercury (Verma et al. , 2016). 3. Your Response : Regarding environmental concerns, your neighborhood's amount of plastic waste may result from where you reside. Climate Policy Watcher (2021) shows poorer nations consume less plastic than more developed nations. However, because their waste management systems are ineffective or nonexistent, there is a greater chance that plastic will end up in the community. IV. Predictions : In this section, you will explain how an anthropological perspective can assist in future crises. A. Reporter : Do you think there is anything that could have informed these people of the crisis? I would hate to think this could have been recognized and prevented earlier. 1. Your Response : History is an important consideration when examining a situation such as the plastic problem. It can help us understand the history of

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plastic innovation and how people initially reacted to the new material. It can also demonstrate the profound effects of plastic on people's lives and whether plastic innovation was expected to lead to something better than the current situation. For instance, historical evidence indicates that plastic was promoted as a substitute for ivory and silk, which became more difficult to obtain following World War II. Because plastic was so inexpensive and readily available, it was frequently discarded after usage (Davis, 2015). Even while we still discard plastic today for the same reasons, we are beginning to understand the repercussions. B. Reporter : Now, I can bet there are people at home that are scared. So, how can you, as an anthropologist, help in preventing this crisis from happening to us? 1. Your Response : From an anthropological perspective, objectivity can help us view the issue from a national perspective. However, cultural sensitivity can assist us as a country in examining our practices to stop something similar from occurring on our soil and undo the harm we have caused to others. C. Reporter : Finally, do you still enjoy being an anthropologist throughout this apparent chaos? I mean, how has being an anthropologist helped you out personally? 1. Your Response :

For various reasons, despite the crisis, I continue to love my job as an anthropologist. Being a volunteer since I was a little child, I believe that anthropology enables me to carry out my mission for the good of humanity. Being an anthropologist is a gratifying experience that comes with learning about and experiencing various cultures in-depth and serving a purpose. It has taught me to appreciate and cherish our species' diversity and recognize the beauty of the world and its inhabitants. References Bates, R. (2007). It's all about Chinese dragons . China History Press. Davis, H. (2015). Life & death in the Anthropocene: A short history of plastic. Art in the anthropocene: Encounters among aesthetics, politics, environments and epistemologies , 347-58.

Garbage Challenges in Developing Countries (2021). Climate Policy Watcher. Retrieved from https://www.climate-policy-watcher.org/waste-management/garbage-challenges- indeveloping-countries.html Jindra, M. (2011). The Rise of “Death Celebrations” in the Cameroon Grassfields. Funerals in Africa: explorations of a social phenomenon , 109-129. Robinson, A. L., & Gottlieb, J. (2021). How to Close the Gender Gap in Political Participation: Lessons from Matrilineal Societies in Africa. BRITISH JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE , 51 (1), 68–92. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1017/S0007123418000650 Verma, R., Vinoda, K. S., Papireddy, M., & Gowda, A. N. S. (2016). Toxic Pollutants from Plastic Waste- A Review. Procedia Environmental Sciences , 35 , 701–708. https://doiorg.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1016/j.proenv.2016.07.069 Welsch, R. L., Vivanco, L. A., Fuentes, A. (2019). Anthropology, 2nd Edition.

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5-2 Final Project Part B Milestone Two- Interview Transcript Outline

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