Homework 4: Ethnography Articles

What is ethnography?

An ethnography is a systematic study of human culture that aims to capture the perspective of the typical member of said culture. Culture is a vast and complex subject of research - it permeates every aspect of social interaction. An ethnographer should study the institutions, customs, codes, and behaviors without becoming subjective to their influence - a difficult task.

Ethnography

An ethnography is a means to represent graphically and in writing, the nature of people. Typically, ethnographies are conducted by anthropologists and sociologists who work as participant observers, bound to strict ethical codes. 

Data collection aims to capture the social meanings and ordinary activities of people in naturally occurring settings in a manner that minimizes the amount of bias imposed on the data. Reflexive researchers aim to explore their influence on their research as a means of maintaining transparency. Participation is key to data collection.

The ethics of ethnographic study are of great concern. The classic virtues of the ethnographer are kindness, friendliness, and honesty. Additionally, ethnographers should aim to be candid, chaste, fair, literary, precise, observant, and unobtrusive.

Coming of Age in Samoa

Book by Margaret Mead (American anthropologist) based on ethnographic research of youth on the island of Ta’u in Samoa. A widely popular text in the field of anthropology and a key text in the nature vs nurture argument. Mead sought to answer the question: “Are the disturbances which vex our adolescents due to the nature of adolescence itself or to the civilization?” Concluded that the transition from childhood to adulthood in Samoa was smooth and stress-free. Mead hypothesized that this was a result of the stable, open, monocultural culture they grew up in.

This book upset many Westerners when released in 1928 - Samoan ideas of proper female behavior were very unlike the ideals of the typical Westerner. Additional controversy arose when Derek Freeman challenged Meads observations and data. He was eventually regarded as misguided, and it is speculated that he waited to publish his book until after Mead’s death so as to deny her to opportunity to respond.