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DISCUSSION 1

Alternative Gender Roles or Rites of Passage

Choose either Option A or Option B. Formulate an initial post in which you address the points noted in the prompt for your chosen option

Option A: Supernumerary Genders
According to the textbook, gender is the social construct that is assigned and learned based on cultural concepts about the nature of sex differences and their place in social life. Pick one of the supernumerary genders discussed in the textbook (e.g., Two Spirits or hijra as discussed in section 5.3), and explain how these genders function within their respective societies.

Option B: Rites of Passage
A rite of passage is a ritual that helps mark a person’s transition from one status to another. All cultures have rites of passage to mark these important transitions. With that in mind, choose a rite of passage either from the textbook (see section 6.4) or from your own research. What is the function of this rite within the particular society? How do American rites of passage, such as those you have experienced personally, differ from other rites of passage (see section 6.4, Puberty Rituals)?

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required materials and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references. Cite your sources in the body of your post and provide a complete reference for each source used at the end of it, By Day 7, respond to at least two of your peers, including one who responded to the option you did not choose. Demonstrate your understanding of the topic by respectfully asking questions, raising new points for consideration, or requesting clarification from your fellow students.

Discussion # 2

Native American Religion or Social Groups

Choose either Option A or Option B. Formulate an initial post in which you address the points noted in the prompt for your chosen option

Option A: Native American Religion
Read the article, Indian Prisoners Claim Spiritual Needs Ignored. Then, address the following:

Should Native Americans be able to perform their ceremonies in prison? Explain your position using evidence from the article and your textbook.
Do inmates give up all rights when they enter prison? Does this include the right to practice their religion? Does this apply to all prisoners, or just to Native Americans?

Option B: Social Groups
There are many different kinds of social groups in the United States: clubs, fraternities, gangs, counterculture groups, online communities, etc. Identify a social group that you are part of, and then discuss which of the social control mechanisms (mentioned in section 8.4 of the textbook) are applied in your group. Why do you think these forms of social control are effective?

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required materials and/or other scholarly sources. Cite your sources in the body of your post and provide a complete reference for each source used at the end of it. By Day 7, respond to at least two of your peers, including one who responded to the option you did not choose. Demonstrate your understanding of the topic by respectfully asking questions, raising new points for consideration, or requesting clarification from your fellow students.

Journal/Discussion #3

Self-Reflexive Journal

In this week’s journal entry, you will critically reflect on your own beliefs and biases about your Final Research Paper topic by using the concept of self-reflexivity. Paraphrasing Crapo (2013), self-reflexivity is the process of confronting one’s own preconceived notions and examining how these may influence how one understands (or misunderstands) others. Understanding biases and beliefs about other cultures helps researchers apply cultural relativism to their work.

For this journal, consider the sources that you summarized for Part I and Part II of your paper in your “Week Three Assignment Worksheet.”

What was your initial response to what you read?
Can you identify any biases that you might have about the cultural practices you will discuss in either Part I or Part II of your Final Research Paper?
Identify any problems you might be having in looking at your own culture from an etic perspective or the other culture from an emic perspective.

The journal entry should be at least 250 words in length.

Discussion #4

Feminization of Poverty or Consumption and Globalization

Choose either Option A or Option B. Formulate an initial post in which you address the points noted in the prompt for your chosen option.

Option A: Feminization of Poverty
Crapo (2013, section 9.4) uses the term “the feminization of poverty.” What do you think the author means by that term? Why would women be more vulnerable to living in poverty? What cultural factors might contribute to that?

Option B: Consumption and Globalization
Chapter 10 provides an overview on the anthropological perspective on globalization. After viewing the film, Guatemala: The Human Price of Coffee, discuss the impacts of globalization on the coffee farmers in Guatemala. How does buying a cup of coffee affect coffee farmers in Guatemala? How does this relate to globalization? Would what you saw in the video, and what you read in the book, change your consumption patterns?

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required materials and/or other scholarly sources. Cite your sources in the body of your post and provide a complete reference for each source used at the end of it. By Day 7, respond to at least two of your peers, including one who responded to the option you did not choose. Demonstrate your understanding of the topic by respectfully asking questions, raising new points for consideration, or requesting clarification from your fellow students.