Introduction to Anthropology: Society, Culture & Language Tutorial Session II Jude Fokwang

Tutorial Plan – 31st Jan 2008 Revision of previous week’s concepts Discussion of this week’s key concepts Questions on “The Muslim Woman” Think-pair-share (Group work) Feeding Desires End

Introduction TUTORIAL OBJECTIVE: By the end of this tutorial, I would like students to understand and explain how gender, as a central organising principle, shapes our bodies and embodies our cultural experiences.

Concepts Gender Ethnocentrism Cultural relativism

The Muslim Woman (Lila Abu- Lughod) 1.What is ethnocentric about Westerners’ perceptions of veiled Muslim women? 2.How different is Abu-Lughod’s position from the anthropological concept of cultural relativism? 3.According to Abu-Lughod, how can Westerners constructively engage in alleviating the socio-economic predicament of Muslim women?

Think-Pair-Share How are female/male bodies treated differently in North America and how is this informed/shaped by gender? Think of some gestures/movements that are gendered?

Islam, Gender & the Female Body among the Azawagh Arabs In this discussion we will reflect on the ways in which Islam informs gender relations and bodily practices. Can you outline some ways in which understandings of the body are linked to Islam? How does Islam shape gender relations – e.g. in legal matters, marriage, property etc.? Why do female Azawagh Arabs fatten themselves?