Anthropology/"Sin" or "Shame"

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Expert: - 12/17/2008


Question
What assumptions have been made about "Sin" or "shame" by anthropologist?

Answer
First of all, neither Anthropologists nor the Anthropological studies are solely guided by assumptions ... this is more about looking for empirical evidences.

I think I've got your point, I'm trying to answer your question:

It is a commonplace of anthropology to distinguish between a ‘sin’ and ‘shame’. While considering ‘shame’, Anthropologists focus on social mores revolves around the related ideas of honor, duty, country, glory, loyalty, name, praise, and reputation. It may be concerned with group-identity as well as individual-identity to understand about the cognition and social constructs about ‘shame’. ‘Sin’, on the other hand refers to anything that does not ‘obey the rules’ of the social construct at super structural level.

Religion, for example, religion is a super-structural concept. While we try to fit ‘sin’ in it, Anthropologists may identify ‘sin’ as any want to undermine basic principles of ‘God’, whether it be in act, disposition, or state. ‘Sin’ in this perspective, is ‘shameful’, but there is nothing ‘shameful’ about the confession of ‘sin’ as in most of the religions, repentance is considered honorable.

Considering ‘sin’ and ‘shame’ both may be measured at super-structural level. However, assumptions about ‘shame’ as a single issue are more fluid concepts. Wearing a miniskirt may be noting uncommon in America, but it will be ‘shameful’ in a rural village in Bangladesh as the social constructs does not necessarily match wearing such cloths. This contest may change over time due to urbanization, technology and thereby social change.

Thanks and regards.

Anthropology

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Gorkey Gourab

Expertise

Identity, ethnicity, anthropological theories, medial anthropology (social & behavioral aspects), psychology and anthropology, gender and sexuality, philosophy of social science, research design and analysis procedures, computer assisted qualitative data analysis and data management (using ATLAS.ti)

Experience

More than six years' professional research experience as Medical Anthropologist (in the field of HIV &AIDS, gender & sexuality etc.). Qualitative research, programmatic and M&E experience with MAPRs.

Organizations
International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) as Manager - M&E (Qualitative) at Laboratory Sciences Division

Publications
(1) Khan, S. I., Hussain, M. I., Parveen, S., Bhuiyan, M. I., Gourab, G., & Bhuiya, A. (2009). Living on the extreme margin: Social exclusion of the hijra in Bangladesh. Journal of health, population and nutrition. (2) Khan, S. I., Hussain, M. I., Gourab, G., Parveen, S., Bhuiyan, M. I., & Sikder, J. (2008). Not to stigmatize but to humanize sexual lives of the transgender (Hijra) in Bangladesh: condom chat in the AIDS era. Journal of LGBT Health Research, 4(2-3), 127-141. (3) Khan, S. I., Pasa, K., Gourab, G., Hasan, A. M. R., Kaukab, S. S. T., & Islam, A. (2007a). Living with risks and vulnerabilities to STIs/HIV: a qualitative assessment of indigenous populations at the northwestern belt in Bangladesh. Paper presented at the ASCON: ICDDR,B, Dhaka, Bangladesh. From http://www.icddrb.org/images/11thAscon_Orals_Day2.pdf. (4) Gourab, G., Karim, M. S., & Karim, Z. (2004). Religiosity of the santal community. Paper presented at the International Seminar on Anthropology: Chittagong University, Chittagong, Bangladesh. (5) Khan, S. I., Gourab, G., Sarker, G. F., Ghosh, S., & Khondokar, S. I. (2008a). Mapping geographical and service delivery gaps and estimating size of street, hotel and residence based female sex workers in Bangladesh (draft report). Dhaka: ICDDR,B & Save the Children USA. (6) Khan, S. I., Gourab, G. et al. (2008b). Understanding the operational dynamics and possible HIV interventions for residence-based female sex workers in two divisional cities in Bangladesh (draft report). Dhaka: ICDDR,B & Save the Children USA. (7) Khan, S. I., Gourab, G. et al. (2007b). Understanding the context of risks and vulnerabilities to STI/HIV and sexual health: an anthropological assessment of the indigenous community of northwestern belt of Bangladesh. Dhaka: ICDDR,B. (8) Khan, S. I., Parveen, S., Hussain, M. I., Bhuiyan, M. I., & Gourab, G. (2007c). Socialization and sexuality constructions of hijra: implications for STIs/HIV intervention. Dhaka: ICDDR,B.

Education/Credentials
Post graduate in Anthropology.

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