Miners Findings

Part A:

1. Developed
We can see that this tribe is not playing around when it comes to tribal worship matters. It is understood throughout the tribe that these shrines are to be put into each household with a 1 shrine minimum. "While each family has at least one such shrine, the rituals associated with it are not family ceremonies but are private and secret."

2. Vague
"In this chest are kept the many charms and magical potions without which no native believes he could live."

3. Punctilious
"The supplicant entering the temple is first stripped of all his or her clothes. In everyday life the Nacirema avoids exposure of his body and its natural functions. Bathing and excretory acts are performed only in the secrecy of the household shrine, where they are ritualized as part of the body-rites."

4. Masochistic
"If there are no naturally occurring holes in the teeth, large sections of one or more teeth are gouged out so that the supernatural substance can be applied. In the client's view, the purpose of these ministrations [8] is to arrest decay and to draw friends."

5. Persuasive
 "It was reported to me that the ritual consists of inserting a small bundle of hog hairs into the mouth, along with certain magical powders, and then moving the bundle in a highly formalized series of gestures."





Part B:

1. As an American, how do you feel about your choice of descriptive words in Part A?

I think that my words (developed, vague, punctilious, masochistic, and persuasive) were pretty spot on when describing the different facets of American society in general and in some extreme ways.

2. Do any of your choices exhibit ethnocentrism on your part?

None of my choices exhibited any bias because I was looking this free from trying to fluff a society for my own gain.

3. For any of the words that are biased, can you provide alternate words that are free of bias but communicate the same explanatory information and intent of your original word?


I believe that all of my words that were chosen were unbiased. 

4. From this experience, reflect on the importance of avoiding ethnocentric judgments when describing other cultures. Why is it important to describe another culture in a manner as free from personal cultural bias as possible? Do you think it is possible to completely avoid personal cultural bias as a Cultural Anthropologist?

The importance of avoiding ethnocentric judgement goes hand and hand with the ethical sound and validity of a Cultural Anthropologist. The better an Cultural Anthropologist is able to describe and experience a culture with a blank slate and openly discuss what happens shows that this person has the best idea in mind for the culture at hand.