Ethnography Articles Response

eth·nog·ra·phy 
Pronunciation: \eth-ˈnä-grə-fē\ 
Function: noun 
Etymology: French ethnographie, from ethno- + -graphie -graphy 
Date: 1834

: the study and systematic recording of human cultures ; also : a descriptive work produced from such research

              -Merriam-Webster Online

As I was not very sure what an ethnography was before reading these three articles, I found them very informative. The "American Ethnography" and Wikipedia descriptions pointed out many important points in describing what an ethnography is. The Wikipedia article was especially descriptive and discussing the different types of ethnography. Some of these types included Cultural and Social Anthropology,  Sociology, and Communication Studies.

As an example of one the "Cultural and Social Anthropology" type of ethnography, the third article discussed Coming of Age in Samoa by Margaret Meade. I found this ethnography quite interesting. It is about Meade, at the age of 23, doing field work in Samoa and the information she gathered. She was trying to discover if troublesome adolescence was just an issue in the United States or if it was prevalent in other cultures as well. By going to Samoa and studying young girls, Meade discovered that adolescence was a smooth transition for those girls. This proved that problematic adolescence for children was due to the culture of the United States.

This example of Meade's study in Samoa helped me better understand how an ethnography could be helpful. Before these articles, I just assumed that an ethnography was a way to get to know other cultures. This is true, but what is important is that this information can be used to better our society.