Prcis: First Fieldwork 1. Where did Barbara Andersons fieldwork take place and what was the goal of her research? Barbara Andersons fieldwork took place in the fishing village of Taarnby, Denmark on the island of Amager in the Oresund in the 50s. The goal of her research was to publish the unseen side of fieldwork. She wanted to share the personal and professional sides of fieldwork with the reader. She went to the island to help her husband study culture change. 2. Who accompanied Anderson to her field site?
Barbara Andersons husband (Thor), her daughter (Katie; 5yrs old), and Andersons unborn child (Sarah) accompanied her to her field site. 3. Why was Andersons incompetence with language and household skills both a problem and a blessing for her work in Taarnby? Andersons incompetence with language and household problems were due to the translation and understanding of a new culture. Barbaras confusion of flour with sugar caused her meat loaf to be a disaster. The two words were very similar in Denmark. She also failed to understand the use of a timer.
Her incompetence was a blessing because it showed she couldnt be a threat to the community. The chief pilots wife, who had eluded attempts of an interview, agreed to one and also offered personal cooking lessons. 4. Explain how Barbara became immersed in Danish culture in the bathhouse. Due to her lack of the language she had to unknowingly dive into the bathhouse. Her husband failed to give her any information. She had to learn on her own about the steam bath, the showers foot pedal, the wood shavings, the hot tub, and the cold tank.
She didnt know the appropriate behaviors or protocol of the bathhouse. The attendants and fellow bathers tried to lead her in the right direction. Her many mishaps cause her to learn that she doesnt completely understand a culture until she is immersed in it. 5. Discuss how Barbara gained villager status in Taarnby. The only way one could acquire villager status was to be born in the village. Barbara acquired villager status differently. She gained it by breast-feeding her daughter Sarah. Americans were thought to be unable to breast-feed.
Barbara proved them wrong by breastfeeding and sharing her over abundance of milk with babies with special dietary needs. She was bountiful. 6. In what ways does Barbara become acculturated to the cold and difficult daily activities of Taarnby? Keeping her days overscheduled so shed keep busy acculturated Barbara. The bathroom facilities did, too. She didnt adjust to using the chamber pot, but instead went outside to the outhouse in freezing temperatures. She learned to stack the familys clothes in outhouse order for quick up and down- dressing and undressing to use the pot outside.
This taught Thor and Katie to adjust as well. She adjusted to the slower pace of the villagers in winter-more time for visiting and eating. The slower pace allowed for more personal interaction and interviewing. 7. How does she finally deal with culture shock? Barbara deals with her culture shock by loading Sarah and Thor in the car and heading to Fyn. Barbaras friend, Tove, suggested they go to her brothers house in Fyn for rest, relaxation, and recuperation. Barbara and Thor had a previous week of no quality work.
They both felt a week away would do them some good. . Why does Anderson conclude her discussion of her first fieldwork experience by suggesting that in addition to asking the question Who are they? anthropologists also ask Who am I? An anthropologist must ask, Who I am? as well as Who are they? because they must first know who I am. They need to understand the culture they come from first. They need to know their values in order to understand and appreciate others values. They must have their own self-worth to be able to go to an unknown place and culture- not knowing anyone or the language.
