The ecological crisis, recognized by scientists as well as an increasing number of lay people
urges a response from a variety of disciplines. The consideration of sustainability requires the help
of a variety of disciplines, including anthropology, which can contribute an ability to identify
cultural patterns that impede cultural change towards sustainability, skills to describe culturally
appropriate responses to situations, and capabilities to cultivate changes in lifestyles as aspired to by
the group. I tell the story of three groups focused on sustainable communities. I narrate these with a
postmodern approach. In the case studies, I combined techniques from applied anthropology (rapid
appraisal, participant observation, focus groups, and interviews) with postmodern techniques
(consideration of context, shared authority, multi-vocality, and co-creative ethnography).
This study explores the effectiveness of facilitating changes through the use of anthropology and
empowering participants so they can continue to make changes. The study also explores the
effectiveness of combining applied and postmodern techniques. One example of this, and the
hallmark of the project, is the photographic, co-creative ethnography, which, representing the work
of one local group, invited imagined future sustainable lifestyles, and continued to build community
bonds between participants. The collaborative ethnography engaged individuals in the ethnographic
process, inviting them to contribute their voices and images.
In the case studies, I explored questions such as what are cultural obstacles to living a sustainable
lifestyle, what specific cultural strengths can foster an ecological identity, and what can applied
anthropology offer non-governmental organizations working on similar topics? I also explore emic
definitions of what is the community, what are its needs, and what is sustainability? Further,
objectives include reinvigorating community bonds, testing the assumption that public participation
in the process is more effective than a process dictated by an outside expert, and exploring the dual
role of participant and researcher. I compared the two local case studies of communities of interest
in community and sustainability with a national organization working similarly towards
sustainability.
After analysis of my research questions, I discuss the potential for the applied anthropologist as
midwife based on my experiences with the case studies. The applied anthropologist attempts to
respond to local level concerns and issues about the environment and reducing human impact, while
building community. The action-oriented approach is similar to that of a midwife, which facilitates
empowerment of the community involved to birth a more ecological identity. The approach has
eight phases (recognition of a need, contact, dialogue, definition of needs, definition of the
community, developing a plan of action, implementation, and evaluation), which provide
opportunities for changes to occur in the behaviors and beliefs of the participants. The approach
incorporates systems thinking to comprehend complex situations and to bring systematic approach
to the process. The applied anthropologist as midwife fosters development of a sustainable
community identity through the unique process. / Graduation date: 2003
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/28466 |
| Date | 30 August 2002 |
| Creators | Pickering, Kristin Leigh Morgan |
| Contributors | Smith, Courtland L. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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