This essay will explore the anthropological work of Philippe Bourgois's book In search of respect. The book is an ethnographic study of social marginalisation amongst a predominately Puerto Rican community living in El Barrio, a neighbourhood in East Harlem, New York. Bourgois spend five years living in the community and compiling his work on the lives of Puerto Rican drug dealers, their friends and girlfriends (Bourgois, 2003).
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Scientific and Humanistic Approaches
- Research Objectives and Methods
- Cross-Cultural Patterns in El Barrio
- Language and Perspective
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines Philippe Bourgois's anthropological book, In Search of Respect, which explores social marginalization among a predominantly Puerto Rican community in El Barrio, East Harlem, New York. The essay analyzes Bourgois's use of both scientific and humanistic perspectives in his ethnographic study, highlighting the methods he employed to achieve these perspectives.
- The integration of scientific and humanistic approaches in anthropological research.
- The social and economic marginalization experienced by the Puerto Rican community in El Barrio.
- The impact of drug dealing and the underground economy on interpersonal relationships and community dynamics.
- The cultural clashes between different immigrant groups in El Barrio.
- The use of language and perspective in anthropological research.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The essay begins by defining both scientific and humanistic approaches to anthropology, outlining their respective methodologies and aims. Bourgois's motivations for choosing El Barrio as his research site are then explained, highlighting his desire to understand the inner workings of the underground economy in a personal and political context. The essay then details Bourgois's research methods, emphasizing the importance of participant-observation techniques and the use of both quantitative and qualitative data.
The essay further explores Bourgois's analysis of cultural patterns in El Barrio, demonstrating his dualistic approach by presenting both empirical evidence and emotive descriptions of the community's experiences. The economic dynamics of street culture are contrasted with those of mainstream capitalist systems, highlighting the frustrations and internalized feelings of the drug dealers. The essay concludes by analyzing the language Bourgois employs throughout the book, showcasing the integration of scientific and humanistic vocabulary and the impact of emotive language on the reader's understanding of the community's struggles.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key concepts explored in this essay include: scientific and humanistic approaches, participant-observation, ethnography, social marginalization, underground economy, cultural clashes, drug dealing, and emotive language. The essay focuses on the anthropological study of the Puerto Rican community in El Barrio, New York, and analyzes the complex interplay between social, economic, and cultural factors that contribute to their marginalization.
- Quote paper
- Lee Hooper (Author), 2010, An analysis of Philippe Bourgois’s anthropological book "In search of respect", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/233136
