My Research
Ethnographical Question |
Analyzing the way indigenous people are affected by, and react to, the associations and implications of belonging to this ethnic minority. This “struggle” encompasses both the long history of colonialism and marginalization, and the way which indigenous is associated with poverty, backwardness and inferiority, especially for those coming from rural areas of the country—which has similar connotations of “underdevelopment” and “traditional”. Making sense of these conceptions is essential for examining the ways the students are affected by this loaded understanding of what others consider them to be. This process impacts not only the expectations others have of them, but also the expectations they have of themselves; the way they interpret policies concerning indigenous and minority rights; the way they view their opportunity at these institutions; and often their behavior.
The programs, both privately funded and independent, created opportunities for bright, underprivileged students from around the country to come to the City and complete their undergraduate studies. Although there are some of the selected students live in the capital already, most of them come from el interior and a fair amount of them come from indigenous families. The students’ adaptation and integration into city life, especially into the high socio-economic circles, was significantly influenced and remained contingent on the preconceived notions associated with being both indigenous and del interior. In this specific case study, the students were not conforming to these stereotypes—nor where they truly hindered by them—but rather they found ways to challenge the conduct which was expected of them. Understanding why indigenous rights and the fulfillment of the peace accords have lost prevalence in Guatemalan society—or why they never had any real significance to begin with. Additionally, the notion that political and socio-economical restructuring has shifted away from indigenous concerns is furthered by the fact that, despite the increase in indigenous participation in governmental offices, cultural activities, universities and other such places, there is always a question dealing with the degree of social and economical advancement that the indigenous people have achieved. Many scholars fear that this type of involvement, often very specific (usually related to culture, education, etc.), is merely superficial, and that nothing has changed in the past decade and a half (Alcantara 2005, Hale 2006, Plant 2002). Other scholars even go as far as to suggest that the “peace talks and agreements were more or less imposed upon Guatemalan society by the international community” (Rettberg 2007), and as such there is a lack of interest by a majority of the national community to follow through on the peace accords. |
-Must people relinquish their minority status/identity in order to shake the negative stereotypes/connotations associated with their ethnic identity?
- Neoliberal Multiculturalism, is this possible? |
Anthropological Question |