Anthropology is a field that comprises the study of human behavior, society, and culture. This essay critically explores two anthropological readings, Scheper-Hughes’ “Parts Unknown: Undercover Ethnography of the Organs-Trafficking Underworld” and Cox’ “Shapeshifters: Black Girls and the Choreography of Citizenship,” employing various anthropological principles to interact with the texts. Scheper-Hughes’ work examines the ethical dilemma of the organ trade industry and its relationship with globalization. On the other hand, Cox’s article highlights the challenges of black girls in attaining citizenship in a society that promotes marginalization. The two readings offer valuable contributions to anthropology by using ethnographic research to analyze the issues of exploitation and marginalization in different social contexts. Through a critical examination of the author’s perspective, the essay will emphasize the relevance of these two readings to contemporary social issues and the significance of anthropological research in understanding complex social phenomena.
Scheper-Hughes’s article provides a convincing account of the international human organ trade industry that she defines as a wicked business of human flesh that exploits the vulnerable and the poor. Through her ethnographic investigation, she delves into the political, ethical, and moral implications of human organ trade, disclosing the multifaceted web of motivations and actors that promote this illegal market (Scheper-Hughes 15). In addition, Scheper-Hughes demonstrates how organ trade has emerged due to different factors, such as the globalization of medical tourism, the unequal distribution of healthcare resources, and the commodification of the human body. Her work reveals the extent of abuse and exploitation that takes place within the organ trade industry as donors, brokers, and recipients navigate social and legal barriers to acquiring and selling organs. Even though Scheper-Hughes’s article is undisputedly eye-opening and offers vital insights into the multifaceted ethical issues surrounding selling human organs, it is without drawbacks. For instance, her research is limited in its ability to fully capture the experiences and perspectives of those participating in the organ sale industry. Her examination can be read as somehow ethnocentric.
On the other hand, Cox’s article, “Shapeshifters: Black Girls and the Choreography of Citizenship,” displays a rich ethnographic examination of the black girls’ experience in a Detroit-based after-school dance program. She states that these ladies use dance specifically as a means of choreographic citizenship, where they navigate and counterattack the marginalization and constraints imposed on them by the societal structure of class, gender, and race (Cox 10). By exploring the exemplified practices of the dances, their relationship with their bodies, each other, and their instructions, and their negotiation of several subjectivities, Cox offers an intimate and nuanced understanding of the complexities of black girlhood in the Urban US (Cox 10). Also, she situates her ethnographic research within the boundary context of neoliberalism and the conventional and modern forces that have created and maintained marginalization and inequalities. Through her study, Cox challenges dominant discourses of black girlhood as lacking in resilience and agency and highlights the significance of valuing and empowering creativity and cultural practices of sidelined societies. Even though Cox’s research is compelling and eye-opening, some have criticized it, arguing that she paid little attention to the role of systemic and structural racism and its effect on the dancer’s experiences. The critics have also pointed out Cox’s tendency to romanticize and essentialize black girlhood.
These two readings present a common thread in the marginalization and exploitation of vulnerable groups. While the mechanisms and contexts of exploitation vary between the readings, the authors displayed the significance of taking a nuanced and critical approach to understanding the experiences of marginalized societies (Scheper-Hughes 31). Further, both readings emphasize the value of ethnographic study in revealing the nuance and complexities of social phenomena that are always covered by the dominant perspectives and narratives. Nonetheless, the articles also present the drawbacks of a purely ethnographic tactic, especially regarding the broader systematic and structural factors that support the marginalization and exploitation of these groups (Cox 13). Therefore, while the ethnographic approach provides a significant insight into the lived experiences of marginalized societies, it is vital to position these experiences within political, historical, and economic contexts and to engage with various perspectives to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted social issue.
Additionally, the two articles display the essence of employing anthropological approaches and principles in exploring and analyzing social phenomena. Scheper-Hughe’s work on the human organ sale industry emphasizes the role of inequality, power, and exploitation in influencing international systems of commodification and healthcare (Scheper-Hughes 39). She uses the principle of anthropology of participant observation to acquire a nuanced and intimate understanding of the experiences and practices of those involved in the organ trade industry. On the other hand, Cox focused on the experiences of black girls in the dance program and similarly emphasized the significance of an intersectional and holistic approach that considers how gender, race, and class intersect in influencing the lives of marginalized people (Cox 49). Also, she uses the anthropological principles of ethnography to give a rich and complex understanding of the embodied practices and cultural forms these girls use to navigate and resist societal constraints.
Nonetheless, the two readings also portray a great need to be mindful of the possible limitations and biases in anthropological studies. Scheper-Hughes’ work has been criticized for its outsider concept and failure to capture the ideas of those directly involved in the business. Cox’s ethnography has also been criticized for overstating cultural practices as it underestimates the effects of structural factors like poverty and racism. These critiques pinpoint the significance of critical and reflectivity self-reflection in anthropological research and the great need to integrate different perspectives and engage with the larger political, social, and economic contexts.
Furthermore, the two readings offer a nuanced and critical examination of the exploitation of vulnerable groups. Scheper-Hughes reveals how the organ trade industry exploits the marginalized and the poor, especially in underdeveloped nations (Scheper-Hughes 41). She emphasizes how structural inequalities influence the global organ market, highlighting the relationships between the trade in organs and broader issues of political, social, and economic inequalities. Cox demonstrated how the black girls’ experiences in the dance programs are influenced by the intersection of race, class, and gender and how they navigate these obstacles through creative practices like dance (Cox 60). Although the two readings take different approaches to understand the experiences of marginalized communities, they share a commitment to a reflective and critical analysis of inequality and power. The two authors adopt an ethnographic approach to attain a more intimate and nuanced understanding of the experiences of those they investigate. In so doing, the two articles offer insight into the lived realities of marginalized people and societies. However, as anthropologists, they also recognize the need to be mindful of potential biases and limitations in their research and to engage with larger social, political, and economic contexts that shape the experiences of these communities.
In a nutshell, the two articles differ in their approach to examining social phenomena. Scheper-Hughes’ investigated the organ trade industry, while Cox examined the experiences of black girls in the dance program. The two readings provide significant insight into how inequality, power, and exploitation influence the lives of vulnerable individuals and communities. They both point out the significance of using anthropological approaches and principles to gain a more critical understanding of the experiences of abused and marginalized groups. Their use of ethnographic research helps to provide a more comprehensive and intimate understanding of the lived realities of these communities. Nonetheless, the readings also show the need for anthropologists being aware of possible biases and limitations in the research and to engage with broader political, social, and economic contexts in exploring the experiences of marginalized groups.
Works Cited
Cox, Aimee Meredith. Shapeshifters: Black girls and the choreography of citizenship. Duke University Press, 2015.
Scheper-Hughes, Nancy. “Parts unknown: Undercover ethnography of the organs-trafficking underworld.” Ethnography 5.1 2004: 29–73.
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