Anthropology is the study of humankind and its culture in the past, present and future. This broad definition allows students to study anthropology as a social science and to pursue specific areas of interest such as archaeology (human cultures in the past), cultural anthropology (the study of modern cultures), linguistic anthropology (language, its history and development) and physical anthropology (including evolution, paleoanthropology, primatology and forensic science).

They say that the United States is the land of opportunity. I have a hard time just really getting this to sink in. It seems like becoming a citizen of the United States just locks you into this prison of social class, debt you will be paying off forever, and a constant worry of making money to live. We are born into or move into a country where social stratification effects everyone's lives.

There is a myth in the United States that if one works hard enough there will be no limit to what he can achieve. In fact this myth is the very foundation that many of our ideas about politics, law, education, health care and business are built on--the idea that whether we succeed or fail is ultimately up to our own ambitions and capabilities. Sociologists like to refer to this as the Horatio Alger Myth; which refers to the popular 1800's stories depicting young men making it from rags to riches based on sheer tenacity (Henslin 221). In fact, if you just turn on the news tonight you are bound to hear a story about someone making it "big" by nothing other than "hard work" and "grit". However enticing this story may be, and however much we have invested in it, the story is not true. The truth is that most societies, and ours is no exception, are built upon a social stratification system. This system helps organize society, and more importantly society's assets and resources, based on where an individual falls on the 'strata' or level in the system. In order to fully understand this system we have to understand how it functions in US society, how individuals are categorized, and what categories constitute the 'master statuses'--or predetermined, unchangeable categories that are so pervasive they influence all aspects of your location in society.

Do you think that the low-wage factories of the multi-national corporations, located in countries such as China, Bangladesh or Mexico, represent exploitation or opportunity?

"Every exploitative relationship begins with an initial inequality that makes the taking advantage possible. In exploitative relationship the rich get richer and the poor fall further behind. "- Robert Mayer

Exploitation, in this case economic exploitation, can be defined as using somebody's labor, but in return giving an unfair compensation, or taking unfair advantage of laborer. Exploitation is nowadays mostly taking place in factories of undeveloped countries of Asia, Africa and South America. The workers in factories are paid low, sometimes paid under the minimum wage and also placed to work in very bad conditions. According to Robert Mayer there are two kinds of exploitation: discretionary and structural exploitation. Karl Marx viewed the whole capitalist class as exploitative thing. On the other hand those people in between those multi-national corporations and oppressed workers are in dilemma to call it exploitation or opportunity. The question also is: Is exploitation ok even if it is not harmful and mutually beneficial?

No matter how many degrees or experience a woman may have there is still inequality with the pay they receive compared to men, and this problem is global. Henslin states, "one of the most remarkable areas of gender inequality at work, the pay gap."(1) Women have become a large part of the work source through out the world, yet they are continually discriminated against in the form of compensation. Women and men do the same jobs, with the same vivacity and expertise but women receive much less pay for the same work. There is still discrimination going on throughout the world for women and there does not seem to be much change in sight. This discriminatory social process is being viewed and studied but not changed. This trend is a worldwide problem that affects the workplace and the economy all across the globe. Women continue to be victims of discrimination and being told they will never be as good as men, and it shows in their paychecks.

All I can think about is where to start. I was thinking about the beginning but that might be a little too early in the life I speak of. I wish I had more life experience I could work with but maybe the experiences I can objectively speak of can help me and others around me have more understanding of some of life's core values and social norms that can be better understood. In society I have lived constantly adjusting my values and norms to fit those acceptable by society's standards. Sometimes situations arise in the free world that are very aggressive and I work with what good experiences I have to reflect on to avoid the negative group pressure and discover more productive ways of dealing with different situations throughout the course of life. Coming from a good upbringing I was like many others, very foolish in my teenage years. With my parents never teaching me anything about jail or prison I was schooled as soon as I showed up to McLaren "Juvenile jail" and unlike so many other people that came before me in what is referred to as the testing situation, a fight for ones safety, I stood against many by myself with those watching making wagers. In that instant when It was all over I knew that whatever I had done was the right way to act in this place I was sent to live receiving pats on the back from people I have never met and hugs while getting cuffed. Being forced into a living situation where violence is the first and only way to really get your point across did, in a way, corrupt my way of life for a while.

In the novel Ishmael, Daniel Quinn takes his readers on a journey to de-construct the notion of civilization. Our culture is examined over the course of a lengthy dialogue between a teacher and a student. Through this discourse, it is established that our current methodology of living has set us on a path toward destroying not only our own civilization but much of the life on the planet. As products of the very construct from which this dilemma has arisen we, as individuals and society as a whole, find it nearly impossible to see the way out. The answer, according to Quinn, lies in observing nature and uncovering the laws which govern all other systems on the planet. The decision to ignore these laws has landed 'civilized man' in dire straits and, if we are to survive, we must learn to play by the rules on peril of extinction. In essence, we must commit to participating in the competition of the natural world while abstaining from destroying our competitors- either through outright attack or by interfering with their food source. This, the peace-keeping law, is at the core of the evolutionary process and is responsible for the longevity of our world, as well as it's diversity and in turn it's resilience. When we make the commitment to return to living in accordance with this law we will begin the next phase of humanity. Quinn's vision is that humans will realize their place in evolution as being the first to evolve a higher consciousness and that, in a revised climate of supportive coexistence, others will follow- evolution will continue and humans will lead by example. Working toward this inspiring vision will replace our ongoing enactment of a faulty viewpoint which has brought us to the current situation. Ultimately, the all-important question arises: "What do I do?" This question is the crux of the message, yet receives little enough attention by Quinn in the novel. It is this question that baffles individuals on a daily basis as we are presented with a laundry list of problems and enemies that seem so much greater than ourselves. The answer? Teach others, change minds.

In the article 'Body Ritual Among the Nacirema', Horace Miner has set out to use our cultural biases to color our view of our own culture. The language he has chosen and the point of view from which he writes masks the fact that he is describing our own customs and culture. By appealing to many aspects of our shared cultural perspective, we come to view ourselves as very separate from the Nacirema. I would like to focus on three qualities which we value as a cultural group and the ways in which these were used to trick us into believing the Nacirema to be something other than American. These notions are: science, sophistication, and religion. Finally, I will propose to utilize what we've learned to guard against this type of manipulation within the framework of our country's consumerist culture.

How have gender roles changed in society? Historically gender roles have been associated with male verse female inequalities and inequities. Social construction of gender differences throughout history have made males the dominant gender. They have been praised and worshiped for thousands of years as if they were the superior gender. This is also known as patriarchal based society. Societies have perpetuated this form of social behavior of men all throughout history accommodating for hyper-masculine social infrastructures. For centuries patriarchal based societies have flourished and it was not until recently that gender equality was regarded as a successful social behavior.

In America the struggle for racial equality has become an every growing battle with no end in sight. This can't be blamed completely on Americans and their lack of knowledge about racism and the actual definition of race, though it does play a role. The main factor that I'm focusing on is how the media that surrounds everyday life is constantly reinforcing racism amongst Americans without their knowledge. This inequality among races isn't only displayed in the media, but also in other very important aspects of everyday life, such as the workplace. Racism in the media can be as simple as seeing a poster with an all white community to watching a movie where the main characters are white and they happen to be fighting against another race. Examples like these go unnoticed until they are pointed out, which needs to be happening more often. The power of race in America has become so overpowering that is has become deeper than just the color of one's skin, it has become their identity entirely. And with the media backing people's views about race, the future of racial equality has a long way to go.

My seven year old has never fit into his specified gender role like most kids do his age; growing his hair long, preferring dolls and Barbie over traditional boy toys, at school preferring the company of girls to play with and happily avoiding correcting people when they mistake him for a girl. I never really understood the pressures society puts on people's gender until I watch what my son goes through. Whether a man or woman, society dictates that one's gender also comes with a set of rules- standards for clothing, activities, how people should perceive themselves, and sets expectations regarding appropriate behavior and interactions with others. Our family, peers, social institutions, work, religion, and media help to enforce the guidelines about specific attitudes about gender roles.

Henslin (2009) discusses language as something that allows the human experience to be cumulative, cooperative and goal directed (p.57). Language allows culture to exist. It gives us the opportunity for a collective experience that includes a shared past, present, and a social future. Furthermore, languages are not universal - just like gestures, mores, values, and customs (which consequently are supported by language), language is a unique way of perceiving the world around us and making sense of it all. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis states that embedded in language, each and every language, are these unique ways of looking at the world. Learning a language is part of the sociological experience - we learn the perceptions, knowledge, history, traditions, and attitudes of our respective cultures. In this way, according to Henslin, "language both shapes and reflects our cultural experience." (p. 44).

Often times you find yourself having to deal with customer service representative either over the phone or in person. You are asked a series of questions to prove your identity so you may inquire about your accounts. No longer do the banks or companies have any personal ties with you. The customer is now either a bar code or a name flashing on the screen. Most if not all big corporations are set up bureaucratically. Each worker has their defined role and what tasks they are to accomplish within that bureaucracy. With more and more companies outsourcing their customer service departments for cheaper labor; Americans are searching for that personable touch to their daily business interactions that were there in yesteryear.

Democracy does not guarantee equality of conditions - it only guarantees equality of opportunity. Irving Kristol

The unequal distribution of wealth in the United States is a condition that remains unchallenged by many, if not the majority, of citizens. The existence of "haves" and "have nots" has become an accepted reality and, going beyond economics, is often used as a way to judge the moral fiber of a person. We live in a relatively young country that boasts of unlimited opportunity for the individual to fill any role that they desire. Our society grants respect to individuals who manage to to amass material wealth, recognizing wealth as a reward for hard work. How does this affect the beliefs and behavior of the people affected by this system and continue to reinforce the gap between rich and poor Americans?

In today's world it's hard to get by. There have been many who have lost their homes and jobs do to nothing more than a failing economy. Since the fall of the United States' economy the unemployment rate has hit a high at 9.6 percent as of November 5, 2010 (Month). With so many individuals being down and out many have had to downsize and tighten the belt. The bankruptcies claims have increased by 20 percent in the last year (U.S.) and many have had to move out of the homes that they have had for years. With all of these statistics it has lead many into poverty. Individuals who once considered themselves to be middle or even upper middle class have found themselves with a new title, poor.