Anthropology is the study of human societies and cultures. It encompasses a variety of subfields, including archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, linguistics, and medical anthropology.
Anthropologists have played a key role in the fight against AIDS. In Kenya, for example, anthropologists have worked with local communities to develop educational materials about the disease and its prevention. They have also conducted research on the social and cultural factors that contribute to the spread of AIDS.
Anthropology is a vital tool for understanding our world and ourselves. It can help us to better understand other cultures and learn from their wisdom. It can also help us to improve our own society by bringing new perspectives to issues like health care, education, and economic development.
However, when one looks at the sections of the science, it becomes rather complicated. This is especially true for the field of applied anthropology. Applied anthropologists are not simply engaged in research, observation, and analysis of a situation; instead, they provide a solution to a human problem. It takes great effort for someone to abandon their own culture in order to observe another; nevertheless, this is essential to ensure that all studies and potential answers are as unbiased as possible and that no ethical codes are broken.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Anthropology is defined as “the science of human beings; especially : the study of human beings and their ancestors through time and space and in relation to physical character, environmental and social relations, and culture” (Merriam-Webster). In simpler terms, anthropology is the study of people and cultures.
There are four main subfields within Anthropology: archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology (“Anthropology”). It is important for students to take classes in all four subfields in order to get a well-rounded education on Anthropology. However, many students choose to focus on one particular area. I myself am interested in focusing on cultural anthropology.
Cultural anthropology is “the study of human societies and cultures” (“Cultural Anthropology”). It is also “the study of living people and their cultures” (“Anthropology”). This subfield of Anthropology is interested in studying how people live, what they believe, what they do, and how they do it. In order to learn about other cultures, cultural anthropologists often conduct fieldwork.
Fieldwork is defined as “systematic intensive research in a natural setting or community involving direct observation and participation in the activities being studied” (“Fieldwork”). It allows anthropologists to immerse themselves in the culture they are studying in order to gain a better understanding of it.
Applied Anthropology is a “subfield of anthropology that applies the findings and methods of the discipline to contemporary human problems” (“Applied Anthropology”). It is “the use of anthropological knowledge and methods to solve practical problems” (“Anthropology”). Applied anthropologists work in various settings, such as businesses, schools, nonprofits, and government agencies. They use their skills to help solve problems in different areas, such as education, health care, economic development, environmental protection, and social justice.
One of the most pressing issues that applied anthropologists confront today is addressing one of the most devastating trends sweeping Africa: AIDS-related orphanhood. In countries severely affected by the disease, about two percent of kids were orphans before it began (1). According to the US Census Bureau, there are currently thirteen million AIDS orphans in Africa; that is children who have lost at least one parent to the epidemic.
The numbers are staggering and, as the epidemic continues unabated, children orphaned by AIDS will become increasingly commonplace. The problem of AIDS orphans is further complicated by the fact that many of these children have no other family members who can take them in.
In Africa, it is not uncommon for children to be raised by their extended families; however, with the rise of AIDS, many of these extended families have been decimated. As a result, there are now millions of children who have nowhere to turn and no one to care for them.
The plight of AIDS orphans has caught the attention of applied anthropologists who are working to find solutions to this growing problem. One approach that has been taken is to provide support and care for children who have already been orphaned. This can involve setting up orphanages or foster care systems, both of which can provide a loving home for children in need.
Another approach that has been taken is to try and prevent orphans from occurring in the first place. One way to do this is by working to educate people about the importance of using condoms and other forms of birth control. Another way to prevent orphans is by providing support to families who are affected by AIDS. This can involve providing financial assistance or offering counseling and other forms of support.
The problem of AIDS orphans is a complex one, but applied anthropologists are working hard to find solutions. By providing care and support to children who have already been orphaned and by working to prevent orphans from occurring in the first place, they are making a difference in the lives of millions of children in Africa.
The number of people infected with HIV is expected to rise even more unless something is done to stop the epidemic (2). AIDS has had a devastating social earthquake in Kenya, thanks to which it contains 1.2 million AIDS orphans. The number is anticipated to double by the end of the decade (5). T
he Kenyan government’s failure to safeguard the millions of AIDS orphans, or those whose family members are afflicted with the disease, is egregious (7). As Joanne Csete stated, “The rights of children have been a missing component in the fight against AIDS.”
Anthropology has the ability to help by conducting research that will put a human face on the orphaning crisis and bring it to light, which is necessary for change to occur.
In recent years, the Kenyan government has been struggling to cope with the high number of orphans caused by AIDS. According to UNICEF, there are 1.2 million AIDS orphans in Kenya, and this number is expected to double by the end of the decade (5). The lack of support for these orphans is having a devastating effect on Kenyan society. Anthropology can play a role in helping to address this problem by conducting research that puts a human face on the crisis and brings it to light. This research is necessary in order for change to occur.
Anthropologists have long been concerned with the issue of orphan care. In recent years, however, the scope of this problem has become much more widespread due to the AIDS epidemic. AIDS has orphaned millions of children in Africa, and the numbers are only expected to increase in the coming years. This social earthquake, rooted through AIDS, has particularly been devastating in Kenya.
