International Journal of African Historical Studies, 1993
About the Author Alma Gottlieb is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Ill... more About the Author Alma Gottlieb is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Since 1979, her major research has been with the Beng people of Cote d'lvoire (West Africa). She is the coauthor (with fiction writer Philip Graham) of the ...
Stepney Causeway, even at the best of times, is not a very inviting thoroughfare, but apAn Easter... more Stepney Causeway, even at the best of times, is not a very inviting thoroughfare, but apAn Eastern , /? Pilgrimage, proached through the pouring ram, on a cold, miserable day just before Christmas, the neighbourhood impresses one with its utter desolateness and chronic poverty. Commercial Road, its big shops decked in honour of the festive season with an eye only to striking effect, is, it is true, quite close, but even that broad highway fails to redeem the too obvious hard-upishness of the streets branching out of it. But my concern is not with the East End generally, but with the East End babies, and particularly with that representative fraction of them who use that infantile hotel and boarding-house known as Mrs. Hilton's
When, and why, do we hear the call of a new field site? What questions, what theoretical models, ... more When, and why, do we hear the call of a new field site? What questions, what theoretical models, what emotional relations do we bring from our immersion in a former field site when we pick up stakes and embark on research in a new place? Does the art of fieldwork look different in midlife from how it looked in early research? After conducting long-term field research in a place—and developing deep relations with members of a community—(how) do we maintain a connection to that place in a new modality, sans regular “return visits”? When aging bodies do not permit new visits to far-flung locales, how do we maintain our identities as fieldworking anthropologists? The authors of the four essays plus afterword that follow broach these and related questions as they explore the decision paths that led them from North Dakota to North Sumatra (in the case of Edward Bruner), or from the Pacific island of Vanatinai to the Pacific coastline of California (in the case of Maria Lepowsky). Such decision paths do not follow the straightforward, predictable outlines of a simple scientific script. Accordingly, the essays that follow offer stories of a discipline that is above all—though perhaps oxymoronically—a human science. They are stories of moving from conducting research in the home field to the outfield, as Linda Seligmann phrases it; stories of the role that our own moves across the human life cycle plays in our fieldwork careers, as Edward Bruner explores with the wisdom that only six-plus decades of a fieldworking life can provide; stories of the unexpected twists and turns down which the fieldworking road takes us in the all-too-human quest to find a centered sense of well-being amid our often-restless spirits, as Paul Stoller reminds us. The four essays plus afterword in this special section began as talks presented in a session at the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association in 2012. But their history takes us back to 2007, when the five scholars of these essays delivered a different set of talks delivered at an earlier Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association. Those original talks developed into full-blown essays that joined several other, newly commissioned essays that, together, saw the light of day as an edited collection, The bs_bs_banner
Baby Sassandra gains comfort sucking the empty breast of his grandmother. Alma Gottlieb (left), P... more Baby Sassandra gains comfort sucking the empty breast of his grandmother. Alma Gottlieb (left), Philip Graham (right) Author conversing with a Beng friend, Amenan.
An anthropological analysis of the jury decision in the trial of Derek Chauvin for murdering Geor... more An anthropological analysis of the jury decision in the trial of Derek Chauvin for murdering George Floyd.
This is a Portuguese translation of "The Afterlife is where We Come from: The Culture of Infancy ... more This is a Portuguese translation of "The Afterlife is where We Come from: The Culture of Infancy in West Africa." This edition was translated by Mara Sobreira and published by the University of São Paulo Press (Editora Unifesp/Editora da Universidade Federal de São Paulo) in Brazil in 2013.
International Journal of African Historical Studies, 1993
About the Author Alma Gottlieb is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Ill... more About the Author Alma Gottlieb is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Since 1979, her major research has been with the Beng people of Cote d'lvoire (West Africa). She is the coauthor (with fiction writer Philip Graham) of the ...
Stepney Causeway, even at the best of times, is not a very inviting thoroughfare, but apAn Easter... more Stepney Causeway, even at the best of times, is not a very inviting thoroughfare, but apAn Eastern , /? Pilgrimage, proached through the pouring ram, on a cold, miserable day just before Christmas, the neighbourhood impresses one with its utter desolateness and chronic poverty. Commercial Road, its big shops decked in honour of the festive season with an eye only to striking effect, is, it is true, quite close, but even that broad highway fails to redeem the too obvious hard-upishness of the streets branching out of it. But my concern is not with the East End generally, but with the East End babies, and particularly with that representative fraction of them who use that infantile hotel and boarding-house known as Mrs. Hilton's
When, and why, do we hear the call of a new field site? What questions, what theoretical models, ... more When, and why, do we hear the call of a new field site? What questions, what theoretical models, what emotional relations do we bring from our immersion in a former field site when we pick up stakes and embark on research in a new place? Does the art of fieldwork look different in midlife from how it looked in early research? After conducting long-term field research in a place—and developing deep relations with members of a community—(how) do we maintain a connection to that place in a new modality, sans regular “return visits”? When aging bodies do not permit new visits to far-flung locales, how do we maintain our identities as fieldworking anthropologists? The authors of the four essays plus afterword that follow broach these and related questions as they explore the decision paths that led them from North Dakota to North Sumatra (in the case of Edward Bruner), or from the Pacific island of Vanatinai to the Pacific coastline of California (in the case of Maria Lepowsky). Such decision paths do not follow the straightforward, predictable outlines of a simple scientific script. Accordingly, the essays that follow offer stories of a discipline that is above all—though perhaps oxymoronically—a human science. They are stories of moving from conducting research in the home field to the outfield, as Linda Seligmann phrases it; stories of the role that our own moves across the human life cycle plays in our fieldwork careers, as Edward Bruner explores with the wisdom that only six-plus decades of a fieldworking life can provide; stories of the unexpected twists and turns down which the fieldworking road takes us in the all-too-human quest to find a centered sense of well-being amid our often-restless spirits, as Paul Stoller reminds us. The four essays plus afterword in this special section began as talks presented in a session at the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association in 2012. But their history takes us back to 2007, when the five scholars of these essays delivered a different set of talks delivered at an earlier Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association. Those original talks developed into full-blown essays that joined several other, newly commissioned essays that, together, saw the light of day as an edited collection, The bs_bs_banner
Baby Sassandra gains comfort sucking the empty breast of his grandmother. Alma Gottlieb (left), P... more Baby Sassandra gains comfort sucking the empty breast of his grandmother. Alma Gottlieb (left), Philip Graham (right) Author conversing with a Beng friend, Amenan.
An anthropological analysis of the jury decision in the trial of Derek Chauvin for murdering Geor... more An anthropological analysis of the jury decision in the trial of Derek Chauvin for murdering George Floyd.
This is a Portuguese translation of "The Afterlife is where We Come from: The Culture of Infancy ... more This is a Portuguese translation of "The Afterlife is where We Come from: The Culture of Infancy in West Africa." This edition was translated by Mara Sobreira and published by the University of São Paulo Press (Editora Unifesp/Editora da Universidade Federal de São Paulo) in Brazil in 2013.
The Handbook of Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence
a continuing debt, which I always strive in vain to repay, to the Beng community. This chapter pe... more a continuing debt, which I always strive in vain to repay, to the Beng community. This chapter pertains to life in Beng villages before the major disruptions of the current civil war in Ivory Coast, which has caused enormous hardship and upheavals in villagers' lives.
Childbirth and the postpartum period are critical times for both mothers and babies. Traditional ... more Childbirth and the postpartum period are critical times for both mothers and babies. Traditional cultural practices often play a significant role in providing support during this time. However, in exceptional circumstances, such as those faced by refugees giving birth in disrupted social environments, these practices may be inaccessible, leading to emotional distress and delayed physical recovery. Aim: To explore the cultural significance of traditional motherhood practices in Syria that are still observed by some Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Methods: The study used a phenomenological approach and included in-depth interviews with eight Syrian mothers residing in informal settlements in Lebanon. Findings: Findings were organized around three themes: (1) Familial Support during the Postpartum Period, (2) Specific Cultural Practices during the Postpartum Period, and (3) Emotional Experiences during the Postpartum Period Discussion: Understanding these cultural practices is essential for developing culturally sensitive interventions that can improve wellbeing of refugee mothers.
In recent years, many in anthropology have been challenging the positivist paradigm that dominate... more In recent years, many in anthropology have been challenging the positivist paradigm that dominated the field, with its assumption of the researcher as a transparent data gatherer and the notion of data as something to be collected through fieldwork. Questions of qualitative research methodology are also surfacing in education even as the divisions between intellectual disciplines are increasingly becoming blurred. The more one studies the foundations of research inquiry, the more one finds that issues of methodology and the participation of the researcher are complex in the extreme. Qualitative research is often associated with moral implications that cause deep pain, and there are few examples in the literature that help the researcher ensure that the study does no harm. How informed are the participants who indicate informed consent? Who are the real authors of a study? Should children even be the subjects of research? How important are emotions to the research process? All of these questions must be examined in order for qualitative researchers to take the ethical challenges of qualitative research as seriously as they deserve. (Contains 23 references.) (SLD)
Anthropologists researching children’s lives have incredible stories to tell. How might we best t... more Anthropologists researching children’s lives have incredible stories to tell. How might we best tell them in readable ways that will appeal to “ordinary readers” beyond our colleagues and students? In this article, I explore the possibilities of “alternative” ways to write ethnography in general, and the ethnography of children in particular. Given children’s nature, I argue that creative approaches to writing children’s lives are especially appropriate and powerful. In the first section, I consider a variety of adventurous ethnographic writing on assorted topics; in the second section, I discuss some creative approaches to ethnographic writing focused, specifically, on children.
In West Africa, the Beng pattern of caretaking of infants is more a collective than an individua... more In West Africa, the Beng pattern of caretaking of infants is more a collective than an individual (mother’s) responsibility. This article chronicles the many ways that infants are raised by multiple people across the age spectrum, from relatives to neighbors.
... Page 3. PRAISE TOR ALMA GOTTLIEB'S The Afterlife Is Where We Come From "A tour de f... more ... Page 3. PRAISE TOR ALMA GOTTLIEB'S The Afterlife Is Where We Come From "A tour de force of deep ethnography, nuanced reflexivity, and characteris- tic elegance. ...
This chapter presents an alternative view to classic attachment theory and research, arguing for ... more This chapter presents an alternative view to classic attachment theory and research, arguing for systematic, ethnographically informed, approaches to the study of child development. It begins with the observation that the attachment relationships children develop are locally determined and insists that these features of attachment can only be captured through observing, talking with, and listening to local people as they go about living their lives, including caring for children. It reviews the profound ways in which child care around the world differs from the Western model, upon which attachment theory was founded and myriad recommendations have been derived. This worldwide account perspective of child care is profusely illustrated with ethnographic examples. Network theory is then discussed: from the full range of social networks to relational ones (i.e., smaller sets of individuals to whom children may become attached). The chapter considers attachment theorists’ resistance to t...
ABSTRACT Religious diversity dates to the founding of Cabo Verdean society by Portuguese explorer... more ABSTRACT Religious diversity dates to the founding of Cabo Verdean society by Portuguese explorers in the mid-15th century. Increasing anti-Semitism that claimed Iberia beginning in the last decades of that century propelled a disproportionate number of Jews to join Catholic Portuguese migrants emigrating (for their own reasons) to the previously-unoccupied islands of Cabo Verde. Centuries later, another “wave” of Jews fleeing persecution—this time, in Morocco—reached Cabo Verde. In this article, I profile several living Cabo Verdeans with Jewish ancestry, to sample the variety of ways in which diasporic Cabo Verdeans themselves understand and experience their intriguing Afro-Jewish heritage.
Alongside the wrenching announcement of the day’s latest mortality statistics, as a cultural anth... more Alongside the wrenching announcement of the day’s latest mortality statistics, as a cultural anthropologist, I find myself fascinated to read “culture” changing before our eyes — weekly, daily, even hourly. What we took as immutable practices grounded in deep-seated values are turning out to be far more pliable than most of us imagined.
“Jews in/and/of Africa: New Research in Cape Verde and the Cape Verdean Diaspora,” in Program in Jewish Culture and Society/2008-2009 Newsletter (U Illinois at Urbana-Champaign).
The notion of a "theory" comes from science. As such, the term conveys all the legitimacy upon w... more The notion of a "theory" comes from science. As such, the term conveys all the legitimacy upon which the scientific method relies. It should not be tossed around casually like a frisbee in the park.
The so-called "Great Replacement Theory" we are now reading about in mainstream publications is not a theory. Therefore, it should not be called a theory. And it should not be graced with capital letters. Both these practices suggest unearned legitimacy. And, unearned legitimacy carries great risk.
YES to far more sensible gun-purchase background checks and restrictions.
YES to more comprehens... more YES to far more sensible gun-purchase background checks and restrictions. YES to more comprehensive mental health treatment options. It's not EITHER-OR. This is an issue of binary thinking gone amok.
What can humans learn from geese?
In this blog post, I recount a day spent banding Canada geese (... more What can humans learn from geese? In this blog post, I recount a day spent banding Canada geese (as part of a citizen-science project organized by my state's Department of Environmental Management). I reflect on what I learned about geese lives, and what they can teach us about people.
I interview Robbie Davis-Floyd about a new book she has recently co-authored (with Charles Laughl... more I interview Robbie Davis-Floyd about a new book she has recently co-authored (with Charles Laughlin), The Power of Ritual.
Research among laughing gathering-hunting women of Central Africa might give newly empowered fema... more Research among laughing gathering-hunting women of Central Africa might give newly empowered female members of the U.S. Congress some inspiration about how to keep unruly men in line.
Unilever and General Mills have both created ad campaigns aimed at challenging disempowering imag... more Unilever and General Mills have both created ad campaigns aimed at challenging disempowering images of women. This blog post compares their successes and failures and ends by calling for systematic overhaul of the advertising industry to promote more gender-positive and empowering images of women.
Reflections on lessons learned after having received a venomous bite by a brown recluse spider. ... more Reflections on lessons learned after having received a venomous bite by a brown recluse spider. Concludes with a call for a new anthropology of pain.
Anthropological linguist Perry Gilmore and I have a conversation about her astonishing new book, ... more Anthropological linguist Perry Gilmore and I have a conversation about her astonishing new book, Kisisi.
This short reflection piece was written to accompany US showings of "The Consul of Bordeaux," a f... more This short reflection piece was written to accompany US showings of "The Consul of Bordeaux," a film chronicling the life of Portuguese diplomat, Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who single-handedly saved the lives of perhaps some 30,000 people from the Holocaust by issuing transit visas (from France through Spain) to these individuals (mostly in an astonishing six-day period) while he served as Portuguese consul in Bordeaux. The Portuguese film (subtitled in English) has been introduced to the US by SPIA Media (dir., Claire Andrade-Watkins).
When Hamlet's father died and in less than two months his widow Gertrude married Claudius, S... more When Hamlet's father died and in less than two months his widow Gertrude married Claudius, Shakespeare's audiences were appalled. Not only had Gertrude remarried too soon, but her new mate was her husband's brother, an incestuous category of affine in ...
Difficulties in comparing the position of women in different countries & cultures are discussed, ... more Difficulties in comparing the position of women in different countries & cultures are discussed, with particular attention to problems arising from attempts to translate local customs, practices, & concepts into English or to label & assimilate them into Western anthropological understanding. Keeping in mind these difficulties, an attempt is made to compare the conception, valuation, & structuring of male-female roles & statuses in sub-Saharan Africa & northern India, analyzing marriage, family, household, bridewealth, & dowry practices.
... from "Is Female to Male as Nature Is to Culture?" by Sherry B. Ortner, in Woman, Cu... more ... from "Is Female to Male as Nature Is to Culture?" by Sherry B. Ortner, in Woman, Culture, and Society, edited by Michelle Zimbalist Rosaldo ... William O'Barr, ZI Gir-aldo, Naomi Quinn, Tom Reefe, Carol Smith, Catharine Stimpson, and Denise Soffel all found good material for me ...
American anthropologist: Journal of the American Anthropological Association, 2003
If rebutting ethnocentrism, embracing cultural relativism, and advocating for social justice cons... more If rebutting ethnocentrism, embracing cultural relativism, and advocating for social justice constitute the three legs of the conceptual triangle that define the intellectual territory covered by much of contemporary cultural anthropology, then female genitals operations (FGOs) represent ...
... Modernity and Its Malcontents: Ritual and Power in Postcolonial Africa. JEAN COMAROFF and JOH... more ... Modernity and Its Malcontents: Ritual and Power in Postcolonial Africa. JEAN COMAROFF and JOHN COMAROFF, eds. ALMA GOTTLIEB. ... Get PDF (393K). More content like this. Find more content: like this article. Find more content written by: ALMA GOTTLIEB. ...
Individually, each of these 11 books grabbed my attention because of its brilliant analysis of so... more Individually, each of these 11 books grabbed my attention because of its brilliant analysis of some topic(s) I judge to have critical importance to the world. Plus, the writing in all these books is oh-so-readable. Collectively, they remind us: Anthropology is not only alive and well, the discipline continues to offers unique insights into vexing issues in ways that only long-term immersion can produce.
Anthropologist Helena Wulff has been conducting research on youth culture and multiple art worlds... more Anthropologist Helena Wulff has been conducting research on youth culture and multiple art worlds (especially in Western Europe) for over thirty years.
Wulff’s recent book, "Rhythms of Writing: An Anthropology of Irish Literature" (Bloomsbury, 2017), brings an anthropologist’s questions to the world of contemporary literature.
We recently had an e-conversation about her new, pathbreaking book about Irish writers. Read the interview here.
Childbirth and the postpartum period are critical times for both mothers and babies. Traditional ... more Childbirth and the postpartum period are critical times for both mothers and babies. Traditional cultural practices often play a significant role in providing support during this time. However, in exceptional circumstances, such as those faced by refugees giving birth in disrupted social environments, these practices may be inaccessible, leading to emotional distress and delayed physical recovery. The aim of this study was to explore the cultural significance of traditional motherhood practices in Syria that are still observed by some Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The study used a phenomenological approach and included in-depth interviews with eight Syrian mothers residing in informal settlements in Lebanon. Findings were organized around three themes: (1) Familial Support during the Postpartum Period, (2) Specific Cultural Practices during the Postpartum Period, and (3) Emotional Experiences during the Postpartum Period Understanding these cultural practices is essential for developing culturally sensitive interventions that can improve wellbeing of refugee mothers.
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Books by Alma Gottlieb
The so-called "Great Replacement Theory" we are now reading about in mainstream publications is not a theory. Therefore, it should not be called a theory. And it should not be graced with capital letters. Both these practices suggest unearned legitimacy. And, unearned legitimacy carries great risk.
YES to more comprehensive mental health treatment options.
It's not EITHER-OR.
This is an issue of binary thinking gone amok.
In this blog post, I recount a day spent banding Canada geese (as part of a citizen-science project organized by my state's Department of Environmental Management). I reflect on what I learned about geese lives, and what they can teach us about people.
Wulff’s recent book, "Rhythms of Writing: An Anthropology of Irish Literature" (Bloomsbury, 2017), brings an anthropologist’s questions to the world of contemporary literature.
We recently had an e-conversation about her new, pathbreaking book about Irish writers. Read the interview here.