Tag: u.s.a.

Racism Going Viral: The Coronavirus and Xenophobia

February 5, 2020

Not too long ago I came across a story from my local ABC News station, WFAA, on my Facebook news-feed. The story was about the continuing spread of the new coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China. Against my better judgement, I went to the article’s comments.
In the case of an epidemic, rumors and stereotypes are known to lead to scapegoating, which leads to further racism and discrimination. Differences in culture and ways of living are viewed as threats to one’s own existence. Fear of disease can be easily exploited to spread xenophobia for political or other gain. … More Racism Going Viral: The Coronavirus and Xenophobia

A Look at Current Events: Anthropology and Democracy

August 15, 2019

While watching coverage of the Hong Kong protests on Tuesday, I heard a U.S. American correspondent say something like “Americans hearts do, and should, go out the Hong Kong protesters.”I’ve watched quite a bit of coverage on the protests, and I eventually lost track of the exact video clip that I heard this statement from. Nonetheless, the quote has been stuck in my thoughts. In the U.S., many citizens take pride in our country’s democracy and all that it stands for. But what about the rest of the world? This led me to the questions “how universal is democracy?” and “what can anthropology tell us about democracy throughout the world?” … More A Look at Current Events: Anthropology and Democracy

Everyday Anthropology: Political Economy

July 3, 2019

There are many ways to define the theory of political economy (especially depending on the field of study you ask). Based on my background in anthropology, I define it like this:

Political economy is the study of cultural phenomenon in the broader context of economic, political and social power structures. It is a way of studying culture that recognizes the influence of politics, economic structures and social hierarchies on everyday life.
… More Everyday Anthropology: Political Economy

Book Discussion: Tell Me Who You Are by Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi

June 22, 2019

Tell Me Who You Are: Sharing our stories of race, culture & identity, was written by Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi, two young women from Princeton, New Jersey. The pair took a gap year between high school and university to complete the research for this book, which involved traveling all over the U.S. to interview hundreds of people about their racial, cultural, and ethnic identities. The result is a collection of profiles, perspectives, and experiences that come together to form an insightful picture of the U.S.’s large and diverse population. … More Book Discussion: Tell Me Who You Are by Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi

Everyday Anthropology: Environmental Justice

May 17, 2019

Environmental justice centers around the belief that all people have a right to a healthy living environment and fair treatment through environmental laws and regulations. In addition, environmental justice persists because of the existence of environmental injustices—ways that environmental issues such as pollution and natural disasters disproportionately affect vulnerable and disadvantaged people. … More Everyday Anthropology: Environmental Justice