Spotlight on Students: Military Life & Mental Health

The following is a post written by a student, Kiera McNulty.  This post highlights her work that she completed as part of her requirements in Ant 411: Culture Areas of the World.  Students have the opportunity to explore material through their own research.  Please show your appreciation for her work through the comments.

By Kiera McNulty

The military has always been there as a means of defense for our country as they protect and serve. The military builds their recruits into soldiers, so they will excel at their tasks in the field. They save lives and give homes to those who need it. These are people who are putting their lives on the line everyday giving up time for the ones they love. Although the military seems like one big perfect family looks can be deceiving.  Even though the military has good benefits it is only to a certain extent.  Given the class discussion and the content of the video I want to know if the military hides/shames those who need help mentally or emotionally?

It is crazy how the ones who help save others will not even save their own soldiers. Those of us who are not in the military can only image how terrifying and awful being out in the field is. These soldiers are putting their lives on the line, but when they need help to cope with these experiences they are look down upon. Many don’t want to see or seek help in fear that they will be discharge, dishonorable discharge, and losing everything they work for.

Seeking help is not confidential in the military and everything is reported to the commanding officer. They expect their soldiers to be nothing less than perfect and the same for their families. This standard is a tough standard to hold up to due to the fact that it doesn’t exist. Despite the fact that the military try to come off as a tight facility they have a few cracks in the walls. Masculinity is huge so the men are look upon the most as they are expected to keep themselves and household in order.

Families suffer from these strict standards, and they pay the consequences.  Lack of support from outside sources affects the homes of those who served. Since they cannot handle it mentally they most likely will not be able to handle it emotionally. Some military personnel develop mental disorders, such as PTSD or depression. Since majority will not seek out help professionally they turn to drugs and alcohol, and this leads to drug and domestic abuse. Alcohol abuse is greater among the military personnel than among civilians mostly because of development and war. The military does offer help to domestic abuse families but because of the fear of being homeless or discharger some never speak up. They do not want their husbands losing their jobs and being kicked of base or whatever consequences that may apply.

It is not just military leaders or soldiers either; it is also their families who suffer the most. Sometimes the military’s strict environment can cause a lot of emotional damage to children and spouses. Children who suffer from depression, mental disorders, or suicidal tendencies have it really bad in the military life. Families did not talk to their kids about what was going on or was ashamed of taking their kids to the hospital for suicide attempts or mental breakdowns. Anything of the sort was immediately reported or gave officials a reason to let them go. Altercations or crimes, such as rape, are worst because victims are terrified to speak up or incriminate a military official. Victims are scared because they are putting someone’s career on the line and that comes with a lot of backlash on them and their family. The military has been known for covering up rape cases and much more.

You would think that they would take care of the people who helped them achieve their goals and protect this country. The health issues they develop are caused by them and should be supported. They should promote counseling or seeking help medically for mental health. These events should be confidential and kept private in the military. Whatever is diagnosed or determined should not be use against those who were brave enough to speak up and say they need help.

Just because they have a minor setback does not make them broken or unworthy. They are not flawed or should be look down upon. Everyone should pitch in to make sure that everyone gets the help they deserve and need.

References

DrugFacts: Substance Abuse in the Military | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

(2013, March). Retrieved from

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/substance-abuse-in-military.

Bryan, C.J., Morrow, C.E., Etienne, N., & Ray-Sannerud, B. (2013). Guilt, shame, and suicidal ideation in a military outpatient clinical sample. Depression and Anxiety, 30, 55-60.

https://veterans.utah.edu/research/suicide-risk-in-military.php

Robert Jamaal Downey.  Making Home: An Autoethnography of a Military Brat.

University of Massachusetts

Gift Giving Guide 9.0: Anthropology Style

As another school year comes to a wrap students and parents look forward to the next chapter for many, which for some includes a rite of passage, graduation, and entering into either graduate school or full time employment.  This rite of passage is typically celebrated with gifts, and if you are stumped on what to get the anthropologist in your life say no more!  I am here to help you find the best gift based on their specific area of interest/focus and all for under $50 (including shipping!).  :)

For the Sociocultural Anthropologist

Calaca Creations has a series of great shirts and other accessories for social theorists who focus on sociocultural anthropology.  This t-shirt featuring Margaret Mead is my personal pick for the anthropologists in your life, but if this is not his or her speed there are other options that you can check out.  :)

You can purchase this shirt here.

 For the Archaeologist

As a lot of archaeologists immediately go into the field (either working full or part-time either while in or school or not) a practical gift may be best.  One of the things archaeologists always need is water, and this small but useful water bottle is not only practical but also archaeologically themed.  Cognitive Surplus has a variety of other drink ware items available for purchase that are also archaeologically (as well as biologically anthropologically) themed, so you are bound to find something appropriate if this piece does not work.

You can purchase this water bottle here.

For the Linguistic Anthropologist

Dylan Balliett has a variety of artistically minded items, from art prints and books to hard enamel pins and patches.  It was from his collection that an appropriate gift for linguistic anthropologists comes: a hard enamel pin.  Small but cute, this piece is something that they can wear every day or on special occassions.

You can purchase this hard enamel pin here.

For the Biological Anthropologist

One of the most famous biological anthropological discoveries ever is known as Lucy (aka, Australopithecus afarensis).  She tends to be a favorite of many anthropologists, making a gift involving her a safe bet for any biological anthropologist.  Feel free to check out Scaling Down the Past's options, but this figurine of Lucy in-situ may be just the thing to buy for the biological anthropologist in your life.

You can purchase this replica Lucy here.

Spotlight on Students: What is an "Urban Indian"?

The following is a post written by a student, Apre’shana Page.  This post highlights her work that she completed as part of her requirements in Ant 411: Culture Areas of the World.  Students have the opportunity to explore material through their own research.  Please show your appreciation for her work through the comments.

By Apre’shana Page

Author Ned Blackhawk uses the article “ I Can Carry on From Here: The Relocation of American Indians to Los Angeles” to reveal some of the experiences that a majority of the American Indians who were mentally and financially forced to leave their traditional homes due to the lack of government and resources went through during this transition.  Although leaving was the best option many American Indians several preferred staying on the reservations as the only thing they knew as home. The main objective for them was preserving their culture and traditions wherever they ended up at. In the video related to this article we can see that they took everything from home with them. They came together and performed the normal rituals, like dances, as they would if they were on the reservations still. I am quite sure that the individual experiences they encountered differed greatly but also had some comparisons since they all were put into a new environment than they have ever been exposed to. Gas running stoves, running water, and other appliances that we depend on daily were all new and interesting to them.  Those that had been born and raised on the reservation were used to seeing people that look like them, act like them, and have all of the same opportunities as them in the small populated place they come from. It is understandable how hard their transition to one of the most popular places in the United States, Los Angeles, California, may have been.  Los Angeles is fairly big and diverse. 

            Ned, the author of this article, made a valid statement he says “the experiences of urban American Indians clearly remain marginalized in the study of American Indian history.”  (Ned Blackhawk. Pp.19) Based off this quote my question is what is an urban Indian?  One thing I picked up from this article and the video watched in class is there are not just one or two types of Indians. We have American Indians, Native Indians, and I am sure there’s more but I was not aware of the differences before this article. I also wasn’t aware that some Indians get offended by things that we Americans refer to sometimes. For example, a woman in the video stated that she got offended when we tell children to sit down Indian style mostly because, that is not a thing and we use the term without knowing the true meaning behind it.  I agree with her one hundred percent, a lot of things are taken from different cultures not just the Indian culture and used out of context. I think we should learn the true meaning behind it before trying to turn it into our own. 

            One perspective to answer my question according to The National Urban Indian Family Coalition:  “Urban Indians are those Native Americans who now live in the United States in urban areas.”  Those Indians who left the reservation and came to the U.S for better opportunities and living conditions did so to help themselves and their family. However, to those who decided to stay at the reservation and use the little resources they have had access to for a period of time are looked upon as traders or outsiders I can say if they ever decide to return home. Many people who left didn’t decide to go back to their reservation until years later if ever. While others who tried hard to adapt to the new living environment which was better and challenging at the same time decided early on that the American Dream was not for them and they wanted to return home.  I can understand why they thought it would be a better choice and what they thought life living in California would be like based on the perception that we give them. The United States is seen as the best place for opportunity. We have government assistance and rights a lot of places don’t have. What they don’t show is how much people rely on this assistance and how hard once you get on it, that it is to get off of it. That is what many Indians faced when they came to us. They were promised assistance and then cut off of it leaving them almost in the same position that they had been in while staying on the reservations. The only difference now was that they were in a completely different environment now with a bigger amount of people struggling like them. 

            Urban Indians represent the growing population of Indians in America today.  I personally feel like they are being deprived of their culture since they can’t experience what their ancestors did back when they stayed on reservations this is why they are referred to as  “Urban Indians”. 

Works cited 

American Indian Policy Review Commission. (1976). Report on urban and rural Non-reservations Indians. Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office.

No Author.  No Date.  Americans, www.californiaindianeducation.org/tribes/faq/. 

I Can Carry on from Here: The Relocation of American Indians to Los Angeles Ned Blackhawk Wicazo Sa Review, Vol. 11, No. 2. (Autumn,  1995), pp. 16-30.

Spotlight on Students: African Hunter-Gathers: Was Hunting Considered Just Men’s Work?

The following is a post written by a student, Aide Gonzalez.  This post highlights her work that she completed as part of her requirements in Ant 411: Culture Areas of the World.  Students have the opportunity to explore material through their own research.  Please show your appreciation for her work through the comments. 

by Aide Gonzalez

The reading this week and the video focused on African hunter gathers on how they were able to survive during difficult times. It focused on the help to African civilizations, and the efforts to preserve their political and cultural identities in a continent besieged by crisis. The reading focused more on hunter-gatherers in specific areas of Africa. The video focused on Bruce Parry who spent time with the Akie people of Tanzania. Akie people have their own language; they are known as one of the last people that still practices hunter-gatherers.

My curiosity question is was hunting considered just men’s work? On the video we watched in class, Bruce Parry built a close relationship with the Akie. He was able to practice different things, such as speak their language, hunt animals, collect and eat wild honey, and drink their home-made beer. He was exposed to their life style and conflicts that the Akie tribe faced; he was also able to practice their survival skills.

When I watched the video, Parry spent the majority time with men and it made me curious about if hunting was just for men or were women able to be part of it?  I did my research and found an article related to the hunter-gathers the name of the article is “The Okiek of Kenya” This article provided the history of the Okiek tribe, religion, and most important their way to survive in their village.

This article answered my question.  According to “The Okiek of Kenya” article, “Making beehives, collecting honey, and hunting were all considered men's work”. Men were responsible to provided food to the table.  The Okiek traveled with dogs, they built their own bows, arrows, spears to hunt, and they also set traps. As we watched the video, hunting was not easy. The Akie people and Parry left early in the morning to hunt, but they were unlucky and did not kill an animal. They stayed up all night waiting to hunt something, but finally after days, they were able to kill an animal. Hunting was not described as an easy job, and hunting would usually take hours to up to days to hunt a big animal to feed a village. According to the article Okiek tribe was roughly two dozen groups of hunters and honey-gatherers, and the tribal members were located in the middle of Kenya living in forested highlands.

The article also reported that women’s work was to stay in the village and take care of other necessary things. According to the article, “women's work included processing and cooking food, building traditional houses, maintaining firewood and water supplies, most childcare, and making leather bags, straps, and, at one time, clothing”. One thing that I observed in the video was, man and women went together to look for water. This was the only thing that the Akie tribe did together. Also, in the article discussed that the Okiek tribe relied on a diet of meat and honey, supplemented by traded grains.

In conclusion, this week’s focus was hunter-gatherers, and I came up with a curiosity question. My question focused on whether or not hunting was considered just men’s work? I found an article, “The Okiek of Kenya,” which answered my question. According to the article men were the only ones to provide hunted food. They were responsible to collect wild honey and hunt. They traveled in groups and with dogs to hunt. The women’s job was to stay in the village to process the meat, cook food, make leather clothing, building traditional houses and take care of their children.

References

Kratz, Corinne A. (2013, September) “The Okiek of Kenya”. Vol.46, 1-5.

 

Spotlight on Students: Are There Social Classes Among the People of Papua New Guinea

The following is a post written by a student, Jeremy Morin.  This post highlights his work that he completed as part of his requirements in Ant 411: Culture Areas of the World.  Students have the opportunity to explore material through their own research.  Please show your appreciation for his work through the comments.

By Jeremy Morin

After watching the video over tourism in Papua New Guinea, I thought about whether or not there are social classes for those people who might make a little more money based on sales of products, sale of photos, and off the sales of tourism in general.  Now according to two sources, there are classes.  One is referred to as the “grassroots” but is more commonly referred to as the poor, and there are also the middle class.  According to an article from the University of Hawai’i -Maona, “Papua New Guinea’s middle class in the last 20 years has evolved to adapt consumption habits that are increasingly becoming comparable to western middle class consumption habits.” (Milli).  In Milli’s article she talks about not only the rise of the middle class, but also gender related issues within New Guinean society.

Also, in her article Milli references another author, Leela Fernandes, about how a middle class in newly developing countries as “a group that represents the promise of a new national model of development” (Milli).  Milli links the rise of a “new” middle-class to the acquisition of independence in 1975.  She also notes the factor of Papua New Guinea being a mining country, and has increased its mining sector. Milli states that there are two major factors in the major increase in the mining industry; the first she says is the opening of the mines.  The opening of new mines added jobs, especially for those who are extremely skilled in a specific labor area.  The second she says is the boom in retail, real estate, school, health, etc.  All of these industries have grown due to the increase of mines and other forms of mining.

            Milli also talks about how other members of the middle class have occupations such as being lawyers, doctors, and even pilots.  All of which are allowed to enjoy the “luxuries” of being a middle-class citizen. By they are allowed to enjoy luxuries I mean they earn enough money from their middle-class jobs to be able to afford nice houses, cars, as well as to send their children to school.  They may not be poor, but they also are not the richest in the country, and there are very few extremely rich native people.  A large portion of the rich, or upper class, are non-native peoples.

            So, in conclusion there is an upper, middle, and lower class within the Papua New Guinean society.  Even thought the country has not had a system of currency as long as other countries, but in the small amount of time they have established a class system.  The answer to my question is yes, there is a social class system among the people of Papua New Guinea. 

Works Cited

Gewertz, Deborah B., and Frederick K. Errington. Emerging Class in Papua New Guinea: The Telling of Difference. Cambridge UP, 1999.

Milli, Geejay P. "The Emerging Middle Class in Papua New Guinea; The heightened awareness of gender issues and political participation by middle class women in the 21st century." U of Hawai'i

Manoa, MA thesis.