Identity
What Factors shape Identity?
Community, friend groups, family, education, job and hobbies.
How does community relate to Personhood?
Community relates to personhood because community shapes one’s life experiences, while personhood is often realized through community engagement.
What’s the difference between ascribed and achieved status?
Ascribed status is the social label one is given at birth. Whilst achieved status is that status you earn through personal effort.
How was their culture different from typical “normal” American culture?
Dobe Ju/’hoansi culture differs in numerous ways, a key one being the marriage system where marriages are arranged since a child’s birth and involve an extended system of gift giving.
What is one way that street culture in ISOR differs from the forager society in The Dobe Ju’/Hoansi?
In the forager society of the Dobe Ju/’hoansi, their culture heavily relies around a system of reciprocity. Meanwhile, the street culture of ISOR uses violence and cruelty as a way to gain “respect”. (pg 23-24)
What role does community play in the Dobe Ju/’Hoansi versus in ISOR?
Community is the Dobe Ju’/Hoansi society is focused on sharing and equality, something crucial to their group’s survival. Meanwhile, in ISOR, community is more non-existent, for the society is more based on fear/respect, with everyone looking out for themselves most of the time. (pg 34)
How does place in society relate to Personhood?
Place in Society relates to Personhood b/c your social class can determine your path in life, sometimes affecting one’s perception of oneself.
How does ethnocentrism relate to Personhood?
Ethnocentrism can establish how we view the world, as it is our preconceptions that we have about different cultures/places/people aka our biases.
What is identity?
Identity is the way in which one views and defines themself, or how they’re viewed from a social group.
What are different aspects of community?
Community can be established through friend groups, family, people of the same culture, gender or more. Additionally, school teams/clubs/groups are a source of community.
What is place in society?
Place in Society is one’s social standing in either fixed, more open systems/hierarchies or truly equal communities.
How can conflict occur when it comes to different cultural beliefs?
Ethnocentrism may lead to conflict due to one misinterpreting other cultures/groups due to their own set of standards and beliefs (their ethnocentrism).
How does Identity relate to Personhood?
Identity relates to Personhood because the individual aspect of the view of one’s self/life.
What is community (definition/key concept)?
A group of people living in the same place or sharing the same beliefs, characteristics or lifestyles.
What role do ascribed factors play in determining place in society?
Ascribed factors determine where one falls on the social hierarchy (high/low, etc.).
What is ethnocentrism?
Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s own culture, values, etc. are superior to other groups.
What is one way that the collective identity of the Dobe and the collective identity of those in ISOR are similar?
While both communities are very different from one another, they share one thing; unique economies that are seen as “not normal” by the rest of the world.
In what way does Ethnocentrism shape communities?
Ethnocentrism can cause communities to become more close-minded, for fear of being mistreated or for uncomfortability in engaging with unfamiliar groups.
What are the different theories of Place in Society?
Foraging communities, caste systems, horizontal movement, vertical movement, open systems/closed systems.
What are examples of ethnocentrism in ISOR and the Dobe Ju’/Hoansi?
Both authors of the texts were surprised when their stereotypes of the culture/communities were not fulfilled.
(pg 30-31)