Ministry of Science and Higher Education Anthropology September 2012 Addis Ababa Ministry of Science and Higher Education Module Title : Anthropology Prepared By : Hawassa University (HU) & Addis Ababa University (AAU) Module Writers 1. Elias Alemu (PhD, HU) 2. Dagne Shibiru (PhD, HU) 3. Getaneh Mehari (PhD, AAU) i Anthropology Course Code: Anth101 Credit Hours: 2 ChHr Abbreviations and Acronyms FGM: Female Genital Mutilation IK: Indigenous Knowledge ii IKS: Indigenous Knowledge system MoSHE: Ministry of Science and Higher Education Module Introduction: Dear Learner! Welcome to this course, Anth101. The course is expected to acquaint you with essential concept of anthropology covering a wide array of questions revolving around iii our very existence. It cover issues such as what makes human beings similar to each other? How do we differ one another? What do anthropologist mean when they talk about diversity, multiculturalism, marginalization, inclusion and exclusion? The course will enable learners grasp the different ways of being human by dealing with themes such as culture, kinship, marriage, cultural relativism, ethnocentrism, humanity, human origins, cosmologies, race, ethnicity, ethnic relations, ethnic boundaries, marginalization, minorities, local systems of governance, legal pluralism, indigenous knowledge systems, and indigenous practices and development. Contents of the module: In addition to the above mentioned themes, this module comprised the following contents: scope of anthropology, braches of anthropology, unique features of anthropology, and research methods in anthropology. Delivery Methods: The teacher or course facilitator who is assigned to deliver is recommended to make use of different active learning methods including: brainstorming, question and answer, group discussion, buzz-group, cross-over, home-works, reading assignments, peer teaching, and seldom active lecturing. Modes of Assessment: To assess the progress of student, the instructor/ the course facilitator is expected to employ a continuous assessment technique in the form of quizzes, group and individual assignments, take-home exam, final exam, term paper. The purpose of using various assessment techniques is to improve the process of students’ learning. Module Learning Competencies: Up on the successful completion of the course, students will be able to: Develop an understanding of the nature of anthropology and its broader scope in making sense of humanity in a global perspective; Understand the cultural and biological diversity of humanity and unity in diversity across the world and in Ethiopia; Analyze the problems of ethnocentrism against the backdrop of cultural relativism; Realize the socially constructed nature of identities & social categories such as gender, ethnicity, race and sexuality; Explore the various peoples and cultures of Ethiopia; Understand the social, cultural, political, religious& economic life of different ethno- linguistic & cultural groups of Ethiopia; Understand different forms marginalization and develop skills inclusiveness; Appreciate the customary systems of governance and conflict resolution institutions of the various peoples of Ethiopia; iv Know about values, norms and cultural practices that maintain society together; Recognize the culture area of peoples of Ethiopia and the forms of interaction developed over time among themselves; and Develop broader views and skills to deal with people from a wide variety of socio- economic and cultural backgrounds. Acknowledgments: v The writers of this would like to express their gratitude to the rest of the anthropology syllabus developing committee members at Hawassa University (Namely, Dr. Alemante Amera; Dr. Hanna Getachew and Ato Debela Gindola) for their enormous contribution throughout the preparation of this module. We would also like to thank Ato Alazar Lissanu (from Arba Minch University) for his valuable comments and proofreading of the module, and all anthropology instructors from Dessie University, Wollega University, Selale University, Gondar University, Jimma University and Mekelle University. Thank you for being with us from the very beginning. vi Contents Module Introduction: ............................................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgments: ................................................................................................................................. v Unit One .................................................................................................................................................. 1 1. Introducing Anthropology and its Subject Matter .............................................................................. 1 1.1 Definition, Scope and Subject Matter of Anthropology ................................................................... 2 1.2 Sub-fields of anthropology ................................................................................................................ 6 1.3 Unique (Basic) Features of Anthropology ....................................................................................... 14 1.4 Misconceptions about anthropology .............................................................................................. 16 1.5 The Relationship between Anthropology and Other Disciplines .................................................... 17 1.6 The Contributions of anthropology ................................................................................................ 17 1.7. Unit Summary ................................................................................................................................ 19 Unit Two ................................................................................................................................................ 22 2. Human Culture and Ties that Connect ............................................................................................. 22 2.1. Conceptualizing Culture: What Culture is and What Culture isn't ................................................. 23 2.2 Characteristic Features of Culture .................................................................................................. 24 2.3 Aspects/Elements of Culture .......................................................................................................... 26 2.4 Cultural Unity and Variations: Universality, Generality and Particularity of Culture ..................... 28 2.5. Evaluating Cultural Differences: Ethnocentrism, Cultural Relativism and Human Rights ............. 29 2.6 Culture Change ................................................................................................................................ 33 2.7 Ties That Connect: Marriage, Family and Kinship ........................................................................... 35 2.8 Unit Summary ................................................................................................................................. 45 Unit-Three ............................................................................................................................................. 47 3. Human Diversity, Culture Areas and Contact in Ethiopia ................................................................. 47 3.1. Human Beings & Being Human: What it is to be human? ............................................................ 48 3.2 Origin of the Modern Human Species: Homo sapiens sapiens ....................................................... 51 vii 3.3 The Kinds of Humanity: human physical variation ...................................................................... 56 3.4 Human Races: the history of racial typing .................................................................................... 60 3.5 The Grand Illusion: Race, turns out, is arbitrary ............................................................................. 62 3.6. Why is Everyone Different? Human Cultural Diversity/Variation ................................................ 63 3.7. Culture area and cultural contact in Ethiopia ................................................................................ 64 Unit Four ............................................................................................................................................... 67 4. Marginalized, Minorities, and Vulnerable Groups ...................................................................... 67 4.1 Definition of concepts ..................................................................................................................... 68 4.2 Gender-based marginalization ........................................................................................................ 69 Female genital cutting ...................................................................................................................... 70 4.3 Marginalized occupational groups ........................................................................................... 72 4.4 Age-based vulnerability .................................................................................................................. 75 4.5. Religious and ethnic minorities ...................................................................................................... 79 4.6. Human right approaches and inclusiveness: Anthropological perspectives ................................. 80 4.7. Unit Summary ...............................................................................................................................