The Oriental Anthropologist: A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man最新文献

{"title":"Culture and Demography: A Micro Level Study Between Two Communities Residing in the City of Kolkata, West Bengal","authors":"Mir Azad Kalam, A. Mishra, S. Pal, Subho Roy","doi":"10.1177/0972558X20913701","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0972558X20913701","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract We aimed to study the demographic patterns of two contrasting communities, namely Bengali Hindu and Bihari Hindu groups, residing in adjacent clusters in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal. The former were the original inhabitants of Kolkata and the latter were a migrant group from the state of Bihar. We collected data from 164 ever-married females (Bengali [84] and Bihari [80]). Data on household information, demographic variables, and marital distance and preferences were collected using a well-tested schedule/questionnaire from ever-married females of both the groups. Some in-depth interviews were conducted on the participants to get information on the reasons for sex preference in childbirth, preference in selecting mates, determining the age at marriage, and so on. Results showed that both the groups differ with respect to sex ratio and child sex ratio, marital preference, marriage distance, and fertility. It appeared from the study that despite the physical proximity between these two groups, their demographic traits differed sharply. We concluded from this study that the differences in demographic traits between these two groups may be attributed to contrasting cultural attributes of these two communities.","PeriodicalId":185534,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental Anthropologist: A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man","volume":"29 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115222550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding Child Sexual Abuse: Findings from an Ethnographic Research Among the Mothers in Delhi National Capital Region (India)","authors":"Sonal Pandey, Sunita Reddy","doi":"10.1177/0972558X20913957","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0972558X20913957","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a widespread problem against children in India. Data suggest that every hour four children are being sexually abused in the country. In this context, the current qualitative research intends to explore the awareness, beliefs, and perceptions about the CSA among the mothers from the lower economic sections of the society. Using in-depth interviews, 30 females aged 18–54 years were interviewed from five marginalized communities in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), India. The sampling was purposive and convenient, and the data collected were thematically analyzed using the interpretive paradigm. The findings reveal that awareness about CSA is quite high among the research participants. However, the testimonies of the participants reflect limited and narrowed understanding of CSA as most of the participants believed that only penetrative sexual assaults such as rape or sodomy qualified as sexual abuse, thereby underestimating the other non-penetrative sexual abuses such as verbal abuses, voyeurism, contact abuses such as fondling, sharing pornographic materials, or internet-based sexual abuse. The data further reveal that the participants were quite aware of the potential threat of CSA; however, they were uninformed of the preventive measures to prevent and stop the CSA. The results reveal the dire need for intervention in the form of education and awareness for the mothers using suitable Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials to accomplish CSA prevention.","PeriodicalId":185534,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental Anthropologist: A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man","volume":"18 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132885273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Somatotype Characteristics of Sunni Muslim Population: A Cross-sectional Study","authors":"Chonsing Shimrah, Sukhmani Kaur, Gurjinder Kaur, S. Chandel","doi":"10.1177/0972558X20913699","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0972558X20913699","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The aim of this study was to understand the distribution of various somatotype components and determine the age- and sex-related variations of the somatotype among Sunni Muslim population of Uttar Pradesh, India. The study population consisted of 214 individuals (100 males and 114 females), belonging to the age group of 18–73 years. All somatometric measurements were taken according to the protocol of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). Anthropometric somatotyping was done using Heath and Carter method. Somatotype dispersion distances (SDD), mean somatotype dispersion (SDM), and standard deviation of somatotype dispersion distance (DSD) were calculated. Somatochart was also plotted for the body physique of the studied population. The results showed that mean somatotype of males is balanced endomorph (4.2–3.2–3.1), while that of females is mesomorphic endomorph (6.6–3.7–1.2). Endomorphy and mesomorphy increased with age up to 55 years and then decreased thereafter; however, ectomorphy showed the opposite trend in both the sexes. The findings of the study indicate that males and females of Sunni Muslim population are predominantly endomorphic.","PeriodicalId":185534,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental Anthropologist: A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129169399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tracing My Roots: An Ethnographic Review of “Sugars” Addiction","authors":"Y. Chetty, P. Naidoo, A. Nadar","doi":"10.1177/0972558X20913958","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0972558X20913958","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract “Sugars” is an illicit drug cocktail that has gained popularity in Chatsworth, KwaZulu-Natal, which was prehistorically classified as an Indian township. This area has now become interracial but is still predominantly inhabited by South Africans of Indian descent. “Sugars” is a mixture of various ingredients including low-grade heroin, and its cycle of addiction has proven difficult to rehabilitate in affected individuals. This is possibly due to the variation in its composition, which may lead to ineffective treatment. Addiction is thought to be influenced by both genetic and environmental cues; therefore, this review provides an introspective view on how the living conditions in Chatsworth may have played a role in making its community susceptible to drug use. This review is therefore a reflexive ethnography, which uses the first authors’ childhood experiences of growing up in Chatsworth as a foundation to understand the challenges and experiences that the local community has been exposed to over the years. This review also focuses on the marketing tactics used in the illegal drug trade, the scientific background of “Sugars” and addiction, and possible suggestions on ameliorating the drug problem in South Africa. The combination of science and ethnographical viewpoints in this review article provides an interesting and informative perspective of the “Sugars” issue in Chatsworth, Durban, South Africa.","PeriodicalId":185534,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental Anthropologist: A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man","volume":"2011 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131675722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the Effects of Globalization on Silk Weaving Tradition of Bishnupur Region in West Bengal, India","authors":"Abhradip Banerjee, Gopal Chakrabarti","doi":"10.1177/0972558X20913660","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0972558X20913660","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Over the years, increasing concerns among the scholars incline to see the adverse effects of globalization. One of the major reasons for this ever-increasing concern is the gradual infiltration of market-driven production system and global capitalism among different groups of people who earn their living either as wage laborers or artisans. This effect has been most profoundly noted among those whose place is on the fringe of the national economy. Another main reason is that the states are increasingly losing their capacity to govern and to regulate in this increasingly borderless world, where resourceless artisans have become the worst sufferers both in the cultural and economic frontiers. This article attempts to examine the effect that the process of globalization has made among the silk weavers of Bishnupur region in West Bengal, India. It adopts a transformational approach and uses both contextual reading and ethnographic data collected through firsthand fieldwork among the aforesaid community. The ethnography describes the messy and unquantifiable relationship between local actors and the international process.","PeriodicalId":185534,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental Anthropologist: A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122579981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of Sociodemographic Factors on the Utilization of Contraceptive Methods Among the Married Women of Jowai Town, West Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya","authors":"M. Passah","doi":"10.1177/0972558X20913726","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0972558X20913726","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Family planning refers to the practices that help individuals or couples avoid unwanted births, regulate the intervals between pregnancies, and determine the number of children in the family. The present study was undertaken to know the extent of knowledge, attitude, and adoption of family planning methods among the married women of Jowai town, West Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya. An attempt has also been made to find out the sociodemographic factors influencing the use of contraceptive methods among the studied population. The information on awareness as well as the use of contraceptives was collected from 719 married women of the reproductive age group 15–49 years using a structured scheduled. Among the women in Jowai town, the knowledge of family planning methods is widespread. In addition, a majority of the women have a favorable attitude towards family planning. However, there exists a gap between the knowledge and the practice of contraceptive methods among the women of Jowai town. Ingesting an oral contraceptive pill is the most preferred contraceptive method among the women. Contraceptive use among women is seen to be positively correlated with educational level and income (significant at p < 0.01), and negatively correlated with current age, age at marriage, number of live births, and family type (significant at p < 0.01). Bivariate analysis substantiates the role of women’s education, household income, current age, age at marriage, number of live births, and family type in influencing the utilization of contraceptive methods.","PeriodicalId":185534,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental Anthropologist: A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man","volume":"28 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121150045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Korku Tribe of Melghat Region in India and Their Current State: An Ethnographic Study","authors":"H. R. Choudhary, A. P","doi":"10.1177/0972558X20913700","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0972558X20913700","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This article is an attempt to document the perturbing socioeconomic and developmental issues of the Korku tribe, one of the most deprived tribal populations found in the state of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, India. The article is a product of extensive ethnographic fieldwork conducted in 10 villages of Melghat region of Maharashtra for a period of 1 year. A close examination was done on the life, lifestyles, and the socioeconomic and developmental indices of the community. The reflections from the fieldwork underline discouraging trends and show the ubiquitous social and development issues of the community. The major shifts in the socioeconomic and cultural life of the Korkus are detailed along with the state of basic amenities, livelihood, health, education, and political affairs. Further, child- and women-related issues are emphasized. The evidence from the study urges the need for focused attention on the developmental strategies for the community.","PeriodicalId":185534,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental Anthropologist: A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man","volume":"12 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130366347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Autoethnography of an Anthropology Fieldworker in Two Housing Complexes in the City of Kolkata in India: A Semiotic Study on Anthropology of Space","authors":"Sankha Priya Guha","doi":"10.1177/0972558X19862393","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0972558X19862393","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The following paper is an outcome of a research project conducted on “Anthropology of Space” in two housing complexes in the city of Kolkata in India. I am to present my write up in two different contexts: the first one of which will include my fieldwork experience in an autoethnographic form in the studied complexes. One of the two is my own residential housing complex, while the other is new one for me. Majority of the residents of these complexes are the educated middle-class Bengali people, popularly and colloquially called Maddhyabitta. The second one will complement my fieldwork experience with theoretical discourse on “Anthropology of Space,” the domain of the study. The collected information is thereafter analyzed using “semiotic cluster” and “semiotic chain” techniques. Finally, I will try to narrate the way, my fieldwork experience has led to the construction of an autoethnography in the studied complexes.","PeriodicalId":185534,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental Anthropologist: A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man","volume":"14 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132209950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Laughing Buddha: A Chinese, or of an Indian Origin!","authors":"Vijoy S. Sahay","doi":"10.1177/0972558X19873818","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0972558X19873818","url":null,"abstract":"The statue of the Laughing Buddha is generally attributed to be of Chinese origin, based upon some Chinese folktales of the 10th century ce. However, few people perhaps know that over 1,000 years before any such Chinese folktale, a prototype of the similar figure, that of the Yakshas, existed sculptured in the pillar capitals of the Western Gate (Figure 1) of Sanchi Stupa, constructed by emperor Ashoka during 3rd century bce. Besides the above, there would be no wonder, if the very “concept” and “image” of the Laughing Buddha might have been influenced, implicitly or explicitly, by the image and concept of Lord Ganesha of the Hindu pantheon. Today, the statues of the Laughing Buddha could be found in any part of the world gracing the drawing rooms of the rich and the poor alike, as also at the entrances of the hotels, restaurants, and even parks. Some keep it in their houses with the belief that this will prove to be harbinger of good fortune for them; whereas, many keep it in their houses or on their office tables, just as an item of decorative art. The image of the Laughing Buddha is conceived in one’s mind as a bald headed, fatty man with protruding belly; and though poor, but a smiling, contended, happy, and of a jolly character. The cult of the Laughing Buddha is not only confined to China, but with different nomenclatures, it also extensively pervades in countries like Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, Manchuria, Taiwan, Laos, and many others. After all, where did the concept and the image of the Laughing Buddha come from? It all started hovering into my mind since June 11, 2019, when I first visited the ancient Stupa at Sanchi in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh in India. There, while observing the Western Gate of the Stupa, I saw the figures of the groups of four Yakshas on each of the right and the left pillar capitals. Immediately, it struck my mind; as to some degree, it seemed to resemble the Laughing Buddha. According to Chinese traditions, the very concept of the Laughing Buddha emerges from the Chinese folktales of the 10th century ce. Accordingly, there lived a Ch’an monk named Ch’i-I’zu, also known as Qieci, in Fenghua district of Zhejiang province of China. Ch’i-I’zu lived a wandering life, and was though eccentric, but was a very-loved character. He could also do some small wonders, like predicting weather and foretelling future. Before his death, he also selfproclaimed to be the future Buddha. Thus, the very semi-historical and/or semi-mythological character of the legendary monk Ch’i-I’zu, in course of time, assumed the form of the Laughing Buddha. Editorial","PeriodicalId":185534,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental Anthropologist: A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man","volume":"44 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122194325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Professor D. K. Bhattacharya","authors":"V. Srivastava","doi":"10.1177/0972558x19862407","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0972558x19862407","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":185534,"journal":{"name":"The Oriental Anthropologist: A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man","volume":"7 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121907853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}