Rose Stone: Urban Ghetto

In case study 9, Rose stone moved to an urban ghetto in order to study strategies for survival used by low- income residents. Here it is clearly shown that Stone is using the method of ethnographic research. This is a hands on method used by researchers in order to fully grasp and understand different situations. Ethnographies are difficult to conduct because customs aren’t the same for a whole culture and they’re always changing. Another problem with doing an ethnographic research is that the researcher can potentially manipulate what they are studying because they are simply human. Humans have emotions, and personal interests, and naturally can connect or relate to certain situations. This brings forth the whole notion of a detached observer.

This can be a potential problem because it can alter the findings. When it comes to understanding different cultures it’s important to have an unbiased perspective. Every person has an identity that stems from their beliefs, rituals, and traditions. Keeping this in mind, it’s impractical to try to make an understanding of a different lifestyle through objective conclusions, in which says there’s an absolute right and wrong. To fully understand another culture one must measure the standards of an individual's own unique culture. With this is mind, I believe Rose stone should have taken the items and or asked more questions instead of simply denying the offer.
With a relativistic approach to the situation, Rose Stone would have went along with the way they do things and accept the items she was given from a friend.

Relativism is the belief that values, morals, and many other aspects are not universal but are different based on a culture. The case emphasized that “She was able to discern that there were two important survival tactics used by the community residents which she could not engage in: the first was a system of reciprocity in the exchange of goods and services (neither of which she felt she had to offer), and the second was outright theft of easily pawned or sold goods (clothing, jewelry, radios, TVs, and so on).” But technically she could engage in that. As I learned in my Core class, The Test for Determining Human Right Violations states that traditions held by a culture are ethical unless the victim has no control over the situation and the act can be fatal or cause serious harm such as the Female genital mutilation that is often argued. However, in this case, theft of easily pawned or sold goods, and a system of reciprocity in the exchange of goods and services do not apply to

that.
Its clear that Rose stone is studying the culture of the low-income residents.

And every culture has their own set of norms and values. For Stone to fully study their behavior she should accept the gift. By accepting the gift she is not breaking the cultures rules, but the universal rules. However, if she chooses not break universal rules, Rose Stone can also simply ask questions. Rose could have asked what the gifts were for and could take this as an opportunity to learn more about the culture and why they give gifts. She may even have the opportunity to explain how stealing is not acceptable where she comes from and that people don’t often do it like they do where she is studying. While doing this instead, of straight denying the items, and potentially ruining a relationship and her study, she can accept the items, and may even stop the person from giving her the items in the first place if they understand where Rose is coming from when she explains how her norms, and values are different than the theirs. She should make sure to explain that although their values and norms are different, that doesn’t make either of theirs wrong, or bad, but simply just different because values, norms and many other things are not universal, but vary depending on the culture. Altogether, its clear that the solution isn’t denying the items, but simply, putting yourself in their shoes, and either accepting the items as a way to respect their way of doing things, and or asking questions and

explaining your culture, so that they can understand that by giving you stealing items, it may make you uncomfortable. By following those 2 simple solutions, you can avoid the overall problem of disrespecting their way of doing things, and ruining your research.