Anthropologists Quote by Anthony Seeger
““Increasingly anthropologists are being asked "what can you do for us?" by the people whose societies they are doing research on. It is sometimes a disturbing question, but generally a healthy one, indicating an end to some forms of colonial domination. The Suyá never asked us this question, partly because they knew what they wanted us for: we could become "their Whites", bring them things they wanted, treat the sick, answer questions they had about our world, and sing for them.””
About This Quote
Source Article: “Anthropology and the Ethics of Engagement”, Journal of Social Sciences, 2019
Anthropologists are increasingly asked to serve the communities they study, shifting from extractive to collaborative roles.
In simple terms: Researchers are now expected to help, not just observe, the societies they study.
Key Takeaway
Embrace partnership and mutual benefit in fieldwork.
Themes
ethics
collaboration
decolonization
anthropology
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
theoretical
practical
When to use this quote
- field research
- policy advising
- health initiatives
- educational programs
Key Concepts
power dynamics
community engagement
reciprocity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can researchers ensure aid does not become paternalistic?
- What mechanisms protect community voices?
A Different Perspective
Balancing assistance with respect for local autonomy can be complex.
![“Anthropology has always struggled with an intense, fascinated repulsion towards its subject… [The anthropologist] submits himself to the exotic to confirm his own inner alienation as an urban intellectual.” quote by Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe1/susan-sontag-332_alienation_anthropology-has-always-struggled-with-a_15322.jpg)
