Anthropology/El Alto, Bolivia

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Expert: - 1/11/2009


Question
In what way are the inhabitants of El Alto, Bolivia different from other people?
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Answer
Dear Yiangos,

The city of El Alto is one of the highest cities in the world, up to 4150 meters (13,615 feet) above sea level. The main factors of El Alto are:
1.   Rich ethnic culture: As of the 2001 census, the population was 649,958 and 79% of them are Aymara. This ethnic group lived in the region for many centuries before becoming a subject people of the Inca, and later of the Spanish in the 16th century. Till now they contained many of their ethnic markers.
2.   Economy: The recent growth of commerce and industry has made local authorities to claim the title of "Bolivia's Economic Capital."
3.   Rapid population growth: Explosive population growth (10% a year) has meant that.
4.   Access to necessary services: A good many of the inhabitants have no access to basic services. Only 34 percent of the city’s residents had access to all services, including paved streets, garbage collection, and public telephones (UNICEF, 1997). Twenty percent lack potable water and electricity; eighty percent live in earthen dwellings.
5.   Healthcare facilities: Up to 75 percent of El Alto’s families have no type of professional medical care; acute respiratory diseases and diarrhea abound, and there is a high rate of infant mortality. Illiteracy rose in the early 1990s to 40 percent, and only 25 percent of young people were completing secondary school (Wikipedia, 2009).
6.   Women’s involvement in economy: Women and girls overwhelmingly dominate employment in restaurants and shops.
7.   Conflicts: The people of El Alto experienced a number of conflicts regarding the natural resources (Zibechi, 2005).

Now, these are the factors which may contribute to the difference of the inhabitants of El Alto. I must admit that all the cultural/ethnic groups/people have diversities regarding the surroundings they grow in. I just projected few factors that are different. You will find such differences in other countries/regions as well, based on which people and their culture may vary.

Regards,
Gorkey

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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