Written by Ellen Lewin

It's a paradox, perhaps, but children seem to be saving same-sex marriage. When the Supreme Court took up questions of marriage equality recently, lesbian and gay parents and their children found themselves taking center stage. During arguments over the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8, Justice Anthony...

Written by Edward Liebow

The social sciences are under fire once again. This time the attack is from Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) and the weapon is his "High Quality Research Act," which would require the National Science Foundation to prove before awarding any grants that social science research it wants...

By Leith Mullings

As an anthropologist and president of the American Anthropological Association (AAA), I was especially gratified to hear President Barack Obama acknowledge the discipline of anthropology and support its scientific integrity. In a speech at the 150th anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences, President Obama said:

And...

Written by Ashkuff

Quick rundown. First, I'd like to introduce myself and my biases. Then, as an anthropologist that grew up around firearms, I'd like to address some misconceptions in anthro's blogosphere. Lastly, some notes on AAA's statement about gun control.

Me and My Biases
Everybody in...

Written by Anthony Oliver-Smith

The Feb. 14 GAO report on the costs of climate impacts in the U.S. made it clearer than ever that we have to look forward to build resilience in governance and regulatory systems, both nationally and internationally. It is now virtually certain that by...

Written by Alan Goodman

In Noble Savages, his recently published and much publicized book, Napoleon Chagnon asserts that for well over a century a "widespread biophobia is built into cultural anthropological theory, which results in deep contempt for biological ideas" (p. 381). My view as a biological anthropologist...

By Leith Mullings, Monica Heller, Ed Liebow and Alan Goodman

Do you remember the arcade game 'Whack-a-Mole'? Plastic animals pop up at random from their holes in a table's surface. The player bashes them back into their holes with a rubber mallet. As the pace picks up, initial delight is...

Written by Richard Wilk

We have just been through what has now become an American tradition -- Black Friday -- and big box stores opened earlier than ever before, despite protests by employees at Walmart. Because of the recession, sales in physical retail stores were down 1.8 percent from the...

Written by Eben Kirksey

A new fragrance from Lush Cosmetics, The Smell of Freedom, is a blend of sandalwood oil and diverse other aromas. Starting last year, Lush began an unusual campaign in marketing this perfume. At stores in Germany, England, and Australia, Lush raised the national flag of West...

Written by Tara Waters Lumpkin

There is a movement afoot to humanize environmental issues, to address them from an anthropological, or human, perspective. Biodiversity loss and the ongoing sixth extinction are particularly closely related to human perception, psychology, physiology, culture, political and economic systems, and human evolution....

Written by A. Ashkuff

Over the past year, I've poured lots of effort into a dual social experiment and business venture -- the "KrishnaPonics" urban garden. In search of customers, I've conducted research among local grocery stores, which in turn introduced me to the organic foods industry. I've learned plenty...

Written by Matthew Piscitelli

Since the Age of Enlightenment leading social scientists have proposed that symbolic rituals, sacred practices and theological treatises are products of the past. In fact, for the last century, secularization has been considered a revolutionary step in the transformation of agrarian societies into modern industrial nation-states....

Written by Catherine L. Sanders

Anyone who has traveled without a tour guide has experienced at least the potential of putting themselves at the mercy of strangers. Often, it's inevitable and startling and can be catastrophic, but ultimately helps restore one's faith in humanity. However, anthropologists who often spend over...

Written by Elisa (EJ) Sobo

Some time back, my local chain grocery store began carrying organic foods--at prices that I could afford. Now even Target is in on the business! It seems we've reached a tipping point. The early proponents of pure food--the ones who held the line when the...

By Agustin Fuentes

Recently, the nominee for vice president on the Republican ticket, Paul Ryan, talking about human rights, stated, "Our rights come from nature and God, not from government." Thinking as an anthropologist, one would be forced to ask Ryan, "What do you mean by 'nature,' and...

Written by Andrew Hao

If you have been paying any attention to recent news on the crucible of China's expansive development, then the negative social and environmental impacts of industrialization and economic growth can hardly be ignored. What is particularly provocative, and in need of sustained inquiry, is how these...

Written by Matthew Dalstrom

Rising health care costs, decreasing insurance coverage, and the great recession have made it increasingly difficult to afford health care. Retirees are particularly vulnerable because many live on fixed incomes and require more medical services than younger adults. Furthermore, Medicare, the primary insurer for Americans 65...

Written by Frances Julia Riemer

While many of us on Arizona's college campuses applaud the recent Supreme Court's decision rejecting part of our state's immigration policy, we also know that calls for the policing of borders, the abolition of ethnic studies programs, and the legalization of guns on campus will...

Written by Elisa (EJ) Sobo

I saw my first back-to-school ad last night, and thought "already?" But in truth I think about school all the time: I'm a medical anthropologist studying Waldorf education. My focus is on pre-K through grade 3. My concern is healthy child development.

If you've heard...

Written by Alicia Peters

The typical image of trafficking is of a young girl, forced into prostitution at the hands of a ruthless pimp. She has been beaten or branded and is held in the most extreme conditions imaginable. Indeed, when I ask students in my undergraduate classes if they...