Reading Report #1
CI 706—Lassiter
Jill Wood
05/31/2014
Introduction
Culture is defined as a “…shared and negotiated system of meaning informed by
knowledge that people learn and put into practice by interpreting experience and
generating behavior” (Lassiter, 2014, p. 43). Culture is not a topic that I often
consciously think about, but it is obvious that it heavily influences all aspects of my life.
To view human life anthropologically, culture is of the utmost importance and must be
considered when studying all topics concerning human life. I know that I have
ethnocentric views since I have had limited exposure to any other culture but that of the
United States, but I do make an effort to both understand and appreciate difference
concerning aspects of race, sex and gender, family and kinship, and religion.
Marriage
As I began reading the text, there were many topics that were new to me.
Beginning with the general topic of marriage, I was aware of the incest taboo but
surprised to learn that it varied globally. It would seem that it varies due to the type of
descent system a culture recognizes and participates in (Lassiter, 2014). I found it
particularly interesting that it would not be inappropriate to marry a first cousin as long
as the cousin was not “…directly related…” since descent only passes through either the
mother or father in a unilineal descent system (Lassiter, 2014, p. 170). It also was
intriguing that most of the marriage rules were focused on either the transfer of
property or strengthening the family relations rather than the traditional view of love
we have in the United States. I see no problem with this, but I wonder how does this
effect people genetically? It may be due to my ethnocentrism that I assume marrying
someone closely related to you could result in any children having genetic problems. I
know from previous research that some groups of people who marry within small
groups, such as the Amish, have some genetic mutations show up with more relative
frequency than the rest of the breeding population in the United States.
The practice of sororate was unknown to me as well concerning marriage. The
practice of a widow or widower marrying their deceased spouse’s brother or sister,
respectively, actually makes sense to me. The family connections would seamlessly
blend and it would help the family maintain their needed status in the social network.
Marrying within the same family would also allow any inherited property to descend
through the proper channels (Lassiter, 2014). The only question I have about this is what
happens if the other siblings are already married? I wonder if this is a culture that allows
polygamy?
The narrow views the United States has concerning the topic of marriage is
ridiculous once you realize the cultural diversity that exists on a global scale. I believe
our culture, particularly the religious views of the majority of Americans, are what
influence what we as a society deem as acceptable. Perhaps Christianity leads to even
more ethnocentric beliefs concerning marriage. Personally, I have no opinion on how
other people choose to live their private lives. I believe people have a right to choose
how they live and marry. The choice of marrying someone of the same sex or having
multiple marriage partners is simply someone’s choice. I believe if no harm is caused to
another person, children included, then we have no right to make judgments.
Religion
The chapter in the text on religion introduced many new topics. Living
exclusively in the United States, and particularly West Virginia, my religious beliefs
and knowledge were limited. I grew up as a Catholic and basically only knew people
that were either Catholic or Protestant. Until I attended West Virginia University, I
never knew anyone that was a participant in any other type of religion. Taking a
course in Religious Studies at West Virginia University did open my eyes to all of the
various popular types of religions found around the globe, but the course made no
mention of the lesser-known religions that were mentioned in this text. I had heard
of the snake-handling churches in southern West Virginia, but honestly didn’t know
if they were real until later in life when the media covered stories about them.
The concept of the two forms of the supernatural was unknown to me.
Animatism is a very generalized or impersonal force whereas animism is a specific
and personal form of a supernatural force (Lassiter, 2013). The Spiritists of Brazil
seemed odd to me in that they actually allowed a person to perform surgeries
simply because they believed the person to be possessed by the spirit of Dr. Fritz
(Lassiter, 2014). When I think of Brazil in a religious sense, I automatically think of
Catholics being the dominant religion. The religion of the Spiritists seems unrealistic
and strange, but that is my ethnocentrism on what I view as an appropriate religion.
In reality, the Spiritists must be witnessing some successful healing after these
surgeries or people would not continue to believe in this phenomenon. Whether this
is all coincidental that people are healed or some type of placebo effect cannot be
proven. This is the essence of religion as a faith-based occurrence. Whether we
believe in the Holy Spirit, Dr. Fritz, or some other supernatural entity is irrelevant as
it does serve many functions in human life.
As a person educated in the natural sciences, I found the section of the text
about knowledge and belief pertinent. I often struggle with belief and faith in
religion as being illogical. In science, truth is based upon experimental results that
can be proven. Frazer argues that since science works and is based on causation
eventually it should logically replace religion (Lassiter, 2014). In a sense, I believe
there is a large group of people that are reaching this conclusion. In reality, I believe
religion will always be present as long as humans occupy the Earth. It serves many
functions such as teaching right and wrong, comfort from loss and fear, and an
explanation for many unknowns about life and death (Lassiter, 2014). Regardless of
our individual belief or nonbelief, religion is a very personal choice and has a large
influence over human life and culture.
Race
Race is a particularly important topic to me. I teach biology at the high school
level and one of the primary units I focus on is genetics. The number of times I have
been asked about race by my students ranks as one of the most frequently asked
questions. My students are under the impression that people with different skin
color are actually significantly genetically from one another. Race as a social
construct is a very real subject. It shocked me to learn that Carolus Linnaeus actually
categorized races in his system of classification, a topic that is actually never
mentioned in biology text I have read (Lassiter, 2014). I was also unaware that race
really was never an issue until it began to emerge in Europe and America (Lassiter,
2014).
Growing up and currently living and teaching in southern West Virginia, I
have witnessed acts of racism frequently. It is disturbing to me that this social
construct of race is still such an issue and has such an influence in the year 2014.
Many of my biology students believe that there is a distinct genetic difference
between whites and all other races, or people of varying skin color. Often, many
students believe that whites are actually genetically superior to other races. When I
teach genetics, I attempt to eradicate this misconception through science. I think
most students understand that genetically we are the same, but their cultural
influences from family beliefs are hard to forget.
Issues of Importance
As I read the text, all of the issues mentioned were important to me on some
personal level. The topic that applied to me and resonated with me is the issue of
success. I was shocked to realize the way Americans view success is often very
different than other people, even some other people living in America. Growing up
in a capitalist society, it is engrained in children from a very young age to be
successful you must go to school and college to obtain a good job, meaning one that
you will make a lot of money, to be considered a success. Joining a doctoral cohort to
obtain a degree was driven by this cultural belief. I feel I have to keep going to get a
better job and provide for my immediate family.
The Kiowas are one exception to typical American culture (Lassiter, 2014).
The Kiowas view success as raising children, often more than their biological
children, so they will stay with the family and subsequently their children and so on.
It is evident that family and tradition is at the forefront of importance to the Kiowa
people (Lassiter, 2014). I wish American life were more like the Kiowa people,
especially since having my own children. I am sad that for my children to be viewed
as a success they will have to leave me and go on their own path in life. The family
values and view of success that the Kiowa people follow sounds wonderful and
obtainable.
The issue that applies most to my teaching would be evolution, genetics and
race. Evolution and Genetics are two of the four overarching themes that I focus on
when teaching biology at the high school level. Often my students ask me why they
need to learn biology and I ask them if they are living organisms? They don’t seem to
make the connection that biology is the study of life and they are alive.
Teaching evolution in a high school can be tricky to navigate. Evolution, or
change over time, is irrefutable, but many students deny it is real due to their
religious beliefs. There are multiple lines of evidence that I present such as
similarities in embryonic development, geographic distribution of species, fossil
records, and homologous structures, but the strongest piece of evidence is genetics.
When we discuss genetic similarities between humans and chimpanzees I see many
students have an aha moment. Usually, students say they do believe evolution
occurs to some extent, but they make it clear that they still believe in some form of a
supernatural power that created Earth and its inhabitants.
Cultural influences such as religion have a strong hold over people regardless
of where they live. I understand that religion has an important function in society so
I do not take it personally that students hold on to that belief even when science
may point in another direction. Lassiter’s (2014) text has sparked some new ideas
for me to use in class concerning the ever-present race issue. I believe it is
imperative to dispel this notion that race is a biological concept and I look forward
to using the text as a resource to inform my students in the future.
Conclusion
Lassiter’s (2014) text was eye opening on the various ways that culture truly
influences human life. The anthropological viewpoint on topics such as success,
marriage, sex and gender, race, and religion is relevant to anyone involved in the
education system in the United States. As teachers and professors, we need to be
open to new ideas and beliefs that our students may be entrenched in. Educators
also need to be aware of their own ethnocentricity that influences their own
perspectives on life. As the United States becomes more diverse, it is imperative
that we are empathetic and informed so our students receive the most appropriate
individualized education.
References
Lassiter, L.E. (2014). Invitation to anthropology. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.