Structural anthropology

Structural anthropology is like playing with blocks, but instead of blocks, we use ideas and concepts. Just like how every block has a certain shape and only fits with certain blocks, ideas and concepts in society also fit together in certain ways. Structural anthropologists study how these ideas and concepts fit together to create different cultures and societies.

For example, imagine we are studying a tribe in a far away land. We might notice that the tribe has strong beliefs about family and community. They rely on each other for things like food and protection. We might also notice that they have different roles within the tribe, like hunters, gatherers, and caregivers.

As structural anthropologists, we would then try to understand how these beliefs and roles fit together. We might see that the belief in community creates a need for specific roles and duties within the community. The hunters gather food to share with everyone, the gatherers collect materials needed for their daily lives, and the caregivers take care of the young or elderly.

By studying how these ideas and concepts fit together, we can learn more about the culture and society of this tribe. Structural anthropology can help us understand why certain beliefs and practices exist, and how they shape the lives of the people within that society.