Anthropology: The study of humanity, encompassing four subfields: Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology. Cultural Anthropology: Focus... Anthropology: The study of humanity, encompassing four subfields: Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology. Cultural Anthropology: Focuses on how culture and social life shape human experiences. Ethnocentrism: The belief that one’s own culture is the only valid way of being. Acculturation: The process of adapting to a new culture. Ethnography: An in-depth study of the everyday lives and practices of a people. Armchair Anthropology: A discredited method that relies on secondary sources rather than direct contact with subjects. Cultural Determinism: Behavioral differences arise from cultural, not racial or genetic, factors. Holism: A broad view that considers historical, environmental, and cultural influences on behavior. Cultural Relativism: Understanding beliefs and behaviors within their own cultural context. The Other: Describes individuals or groups that are perceived as different; often carries negative connotations. Hegemony: Dominance achieved through ideology within cultural institutions. Culture: A dynamic set of learned and shared beliefs, practices, and symbols that shape social life. Research Methods: Emic Perspective: Insider’s view of a culture. Etic Perspective: Outsider’s analysis of a culture. Qualitative Research: In-depth, contextual understanding of human behavior. Quantitative Research: Use of statistical data to analyze behavior. Research: A collaborative and subjective endeavor. Historical Context: Colonialism: Establishment of foreign control over a territory, involving exploitation and cultural imposition. Semiotics and Language: Sign: A unit of meaning consisting of a signifier and signified. Signifier: The sound-image. Signified: The associated concept. Signification: The process of creating meaning from signifier and signified. Langue: The abstract system enabling language to function. Parole: The actual spoken use of language. Thick Description: A detailed account that considers context and complexities of social acts. Structuralism: Study of underlying structures in human behavior and society. Deep Structure: The underlying mechanisms that influence behavior. Bricolage: The organization of diverse elements into a cohesive whole. Gender and Sexuality: Androgyny: Acceptance of fluid gender roles. Binary Model of Gender: Recognition of only two genders: male and female. Biological Sex: Based on physical characteristics; includes intersex individuals. Hijra: A third-gender community in India, often considered to hold spiritual significance. Sex/Gender System: Social arrangements transforming biological sex into gender roles. Biological Determinism: The belief that biological differences dictate gender roles. Cisgender: Identifying with the sex and gender assigned at birth. Dyads: Pairs of individuals in socially recognized relationships. Gender: Culturally constructed roles and expectations surrounding identity. Gender Ideology: A complex set of beliefs about gender roles. Heteronormativity: The privileging of heterosexual norms and structures. Legitimizing Ideologies: Belief systems that rationalize inequalities. Matrifocal, Matrilineal, Matrilocal: Terms describing female-centered kinship structures. Patriarchy: A society structured around male dominance. Patrifocal, Patrilineal, Patrilocal: Terms describing male-centered kinship structures. Third Gender: A gender identity outside the male-female binary. Transgender: Identifying with a gender different from the one assigned at birth. Power Structures: RSA (Repressive State Apparatus): Structures using force to maintain control. ISA (Ideological State Apparatus): Institutions that exert power through ideology. Read more