Applied Anthropology - Problems and Criticisms

Problems and Criticisms

The process of conducting anthropological research and then applying knowledge in attempts to ameliorate the lives of research participants can be problematic, and is often laced with elements of Orientalism and/or Colonialism. Kedia and Van Willigen describe the moral dilemma embedded in this work, “The ethical requirements of applied anthropology are especially challenging since the practitioner must negotiate an intricate balance between the interests of the clients who commission the work, and those of the community being studied.” Obviously, the authors continue, this negotiation leads to issues of privacy, ownership, and the implications and purposes of the study being produced (p. 16). Although guidelines for ethicalities of applied anthropology are put forth by major anthropological organizations, including the American Anthropological Association (AAA), the Society for Applied Anthropology (SFAA), and the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology (NAPA), it is increasingly difficult to ensure that the high volume of worldwide anthropologists proceed with their research in ways that are both culturally relative and sensitive to community needs. Kedia and Van Willigen describe the myriad roles an applied anthropologist must play as effective resource for communities in need; a researcher must be an Advocate, Cultural “Broker,” Evaluator, Policy Researcher, Public Participation Specialist, and Research Analyst. The multinational phenomenon of Female Genital Cutting (FGC), exemplifies the necessity for an anthropologist to account for relative cultural contexts, "The work of scholars who stress the fundamental importance of offering perspectives on cultural factors that promote the practice of female genital cutting has brought the debate surrounding cultural relativism into sharp focus. Greunbaum (1996) notes that analyses that do offer emic interpretations and cultural contextualizations are often criticized as bordering on advocacy for the practice. In these instances, it is imperative that an anthropologist not cloud his or her own preconceived notions about health and gender relations in an attempt to “remedy” a complex social issue.