Ethnography Comparative Essay

Essay Instructions:

*Course Reading: Linda Stone and Diane King. Kinship and Gender: An Introduction. 6th Edition (2019). Routledge. *Required book: Medeiros, Melanie. 2018. Marriage, Divorce, and Distress in Northeast Brazil: Black Women's Perspectives on Love, Respect, and Kinship Instructions Written Assignment: Ethnography Comparative Essay Image: Turkistan, Russian Empire - A formal marriage proposal, or shuman, is made by the groom as part a Jewish wedding ceremony in Central Asia. (1871-1872, Image by © CORBIS) THIS IS NOT A SUMMARY OF THE BOOK! Your task is to write a critical analysis of the book's contribution to the study of kinship. It is essential that you connect the ethnography to the course concepts, readings and materials we have covered during the term. This assignment has two components: 1. You should analyze your chosen ethnography's contribution to the study of kinship/families. This first section should be the majority of your essay (about 3-4 pages or 1000 words). In this analysis, include the following: a discussion of at least three of topics relevant to your chosen book, such as: economics/labor; parenthood; child-rearing; marriage/divorce practices; reproductive issues; sexuality; family/kinship structure; household composition, etc. connections and citations to relevant examples from the Stone's & King's Kinship and Gender book and/or other course materials, and your selected ethnography. It is essential to make connections to other course materials, but additional outside research is not required. at least three relevant terms/concepts from M1. 2. You also will do a bit of comparative analysis (about 2 pages or 500 words). Given what you have learned about families in the ethnography you selected, choose one or two topics to compare with family/kinship practices you are familiar with in the US. Try to focus on discussing some of the underlying cultural values that shape these practices in the US, not just a description of the differences/similarities between US and the other culture. (This is a similar exercise to the comparative personal ads you wrote about in your first essay.) Remember: As we learned in M1, the books in this module are ethnographies, are not fictional novels. Anthropologists research particular aspects of a culture through long-term field work (living within that culture and closely observing the behavior, values, characteristics of that population), with the purpose of explaining something significant about the human condition. Pay particular attention to the key information and details in the book's introduction which usually outlines the author's main research questions. Also carefully read the final chapter or conclusion. Here, the anthropologist tells you what they learned and why it is significant. Helpful Resource: What is Ethnography? (Brian Hoey, Marshall University) The total length of this essay should be 1250-1750 words (about 5-7 double spaced pages, 12 pt font). All written work must be proofread for errors in spelling, typing, punctuation, and grammar and should be properly referenced using APA or MLA citation format. Include a reference list/bibliography at the end of your paper. See Rubric for Written Assignments for how your essay will be evaluated. General Instructions for Written Assignments Your instructor may use TurnItIn to assess if you have plagiarized or used Generative AI without referencing. Your written assignment is intended to test your understanding of important concepts and to sharpen your intellectual skills of analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and application. The intent of the written assignment is to provide an opportunity to more fully describe, explain, and analyze the books and other sources. Be sure to cite any and all sources correctly so that your academic integrity is not called into question.

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Name Instructor Course Date Part 1: Critical Analysis of the Ethnography In Marriage, Divorce, and Distress in Northeast Brazil, Melanie Medeiros examines how Black women in Brogodó, Bahia, live through marriage and divorce in an environment of material constraints and cultural norms. It provides insights into how structural configurations and cultural work rewrite marriage and kinship relationships, particularly in relation to women's ability to bear life challenges. When examined alongside Kinship and Gender: An Introduction by Linda Stone and Diane King, it is seen how kinship systems and gender roles are not static but are dynamic and how these influence the stability of familial structure and the changes in roles traditionally assigned. This section examines the practices of marriage and divorce, family form, and economy. It incorporates Module 1 terms such as matrifocal kinship and consensual union, as well as the gendered division of labor. Marriage and Divorce Practices For Black women in Brogodó, marriage hold significant cultural meaning yet are often sources of distress. Medeiros states, "For African-descendant women in the small, rural Northeast Brazilian town of Brogodó, marital conflict was commonplace and a source of distress” (Medeiros 1). Due to changes in the norms of marriage, gender, and autonomy, more women have opted for casual, consensual unions instead of marriage. This arrangement is sociopolitical, not legal – women terminate marriages based on unfaithfulness or disrespect, signaling a transition from passive endurance to active self-determination (Medeiros 1-9). This flexibility complements Stone and King’s analysis of how kinship organization determines marital stability. In marriages that belong to the patrilineal structures, marriages are contracts to perpetuate lineage and resistance to divorce (Stone and King 173). In Brogodó, however, matrifocal structures allow women greater independence and authority, providing “a higher tolerance for divorce or separation when personal well-being is at risk” (Medeiros 130). Such openness is evidence that systems can evolve in response to changes in social and economic conditions to enable women to renegotiate marital duties. Family Structure and Household Composition Family structures in Northeast Brazil diverge from the nuclear family ideal and include informal arrangements, such as consensual unions or “as-if marriages.” Medeiros notes, “Marriage in Northeast Brazil—similar to many Caribbean countries—is not necessarily predicated on legal or religious formalities and can be what some call as-if marriages” (Medeiros 8). These partnerships, which are common among rural and working-class populations, allow couples to avoid the financial burden and formalities of legal marriage. Stone and King contextualize this within the adaptable nature of kinship, noting that “families are constructed over both space (habitation) and time” (Stone and King 281). Stone and King emphasize that for marginalized communities, informal kinship structures offer resilience against economic strain, fostering support systems outside formalized family units. This adaptability demonstrates the value of kinship flexibility in addressing evolving communal needs. Gender and Economic Factors Medeiros also analyses how economic transformations in Brogodó affect gender in kinship. The ecotourism economy has opened new employment opportunities for women, and they are empowered financially to change the nature of family relationships. She explains that “the gendered division of labor in a growing ecotourism economy” has enabled women to leave unsatisfactory marriages, as they are no longer reliant on their spouses for financial support (Medeiros 48). It provides wome...

Updated on February 5, 2025

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