Question 1

Define ethnography? Discuss feminist approach and methodology in ethnography.

Accepted Answer

Ethnography is a foundational research method and a written product within anthropology, primarily aiming to provide a detailed, in-depth description and interpretation of a culture, social group, or community. It relies heavily on immersive, long-term fieldwork, typically involving participant observation, interviews, and collection of various forms of data. The goal is to understand the world from the perspective of the people being studied, often referred to as the 'native's point of view'.

Question 2

Critically examine Karin Kapadia's Siva and her sisters: Gender, Caste and Class in Rural South India.

Accepted Answer

Karin Kapadia’s seminal ethnographic work, "Siva and her sisters: Gender, Caste and Class in Rural South India," offers a critical examination of the complex intersections of social stratification in rural Tamil Nadu. Published in 1995, the book challenges monolithic understandings of gender by demonstrating how women's lives are profoundly differentiated by their position within caste and class hierarchies. Kapadia argues that these categories are not isolated but mutually constitutive, shaping

Question 3

Discuss any one of the ethnography from your course that reflects on the functional approach in writing ethnography.

Accepted Answer

The functional approach in anthropology views society as an integrated whole, where every custom, institution, and belief serves a vital purpose in maintaining the social system's equilibrium and fulfilling individual or collective needs. One classic ethnography from the course that profoundly reflects this approach is Bronislaw Malinowski's *Argonauts of the Western Pacific* (1922).

Malinowski, a pioneer of modern fieldwork, adopted a needs-based functionalism. He argued that cultural institut

Question 4

With reference to the ethnography Himalayan Polyandry: Structure, Functioning and Culture Change discuss the fieldwork concerns, intellectual background and the social stratification and caste hierarchy examined in the work.

Accepted Answer

D.N. Majumdar's ethnography, *Himalayan Polyandry: Structure, Functioning and Culture Change*, stands as a significant contribution to Indian anthropology, offering deep insights into a complex social system. The work, likely conducted in the mid-20th century, exemplifies the challenges and theoretical orientations prevalent in the study of 'traditional' societies.

Regarding **fieldwork concerns**, Majumdar's study of polyandrous communities in the remote Himalayan regions, such as Jaunsar-Baw

Question 5

Write short notes:

Accepted Answer

Anthropology uniquely frames life stages and research practices through a cultural lens. The following sub-questions explore the culturally constructed nature of 'Coming of Age' and the essential ethical considerations guiding social science research, both critical aspects of anthropological practice.

Question 6

Give an overview of writing cultures.

Accepted Answer

The 'writing cultures' movement represents a pivotal moment in anthropology, emerging primarily in the 1980s as a critical self-reflection on ethnographic representation. It questioned the traditional authority, objectivity, and scientific claims of anthropological writing, largely influenced by post-structuralist and postmodern thought.

This movement gained significant traction with the publication of the edited volume *Writing Culture: The Poetics and Politics of Ethnography* (1986) by James

Question 7

Discuss symbolism in religious functions through Geertz work.

Accepted Answer

Clifford Geertz's interpretive anthropology offers a profound understanding of symbolism in religious functions, viewing religion not as an empirical system but as a cultural system. He posits that religious symbols are central to how humans make sense of the world, providing meaning and motivating social action. Through his work, particularly "Religion as a Cultural System," Geertz meticulously unpacks the intricate relationship between symbolic forms and the human experience.

Geertz defines r

Question 8

Examine how Evans-Pritchard's The Nuer provides an insight into their life ways in the political domain.

Accepted Answer

Evans-Pritchard's seminal ethnography, *The Nuer*, published in 1940, provides profound insights into the political domain of the Nuer people, revealing how social order is maintained in an 'acephalous' or stateless society. His work challenges Western notions of political organization, demonstrating that complex societies can function effectively without centralized governmental institutions, chiefs, or formal legal codes.

The cornerstone of Nuer political life, as articulated by Evans-Pritch

MANE-003 Solved Assignment — January 2026 / July 2025

Practicing Anthropology | IGNOU Master of Arts (Political Science) (MA)

MANE-003—January 2026 / July 2025

Practicing Anthropology

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MANE-003 Assignment Questions — January 2026

Q11. Define ethnography? Discuss feminist approach and methodology in ethnography.

Q12. Critically examine Karin Kapadia's Siva and her sisters: Gender, Caste and Class in Rural South India.

Q13. Discuss any one of the ethnography from your course that reflects on the functional approach in writing ethnography.

Q14. With reference to the ethnography Himalayan Polyandry: Structure, Functioning and Culture Change discuss the fieldwork concerns, intellectual background and the social stratification and caste hierarchy examined in the work.

Q15. Write short notes:

Q16. Give an overview of writing cultures.

Q17. Discuss symbolism in religious functions through Geertz work.

Q18. Examine how Evans-Pritchard's The Nuer provides an insight into their life ways in the political domain.

Q19. Why is re-study in ethnography important? Evaluate with the help of examples.

Q20. Write short notes referring to the ethnographies discussed in the course: