ANT3CHH: Anthropological Perspectives on Health Major Essay

Major Essay Questions

Choose any ONE of the following directives (‘questions’) and write an essay on that basis using a relevant example, examples, or “case study/ies”.

Examples/cases studies can be drawn from anthropological or other academic work, such as from public health, sociology, etc. You may also use examples from popular culture such as films, advertising campaigns, newspaper/magazine/blog articles, etc. Examples/case studies may also be drawn from sources covered in class, but must also incorporate independent research beyond these. Overall essay contentions and arguments must however be supported by academic scholarship.

Consult the subject guide and relevant LMS/library resources for further guidelines:

• As Mary Douglas has evocatively suggested, “dirt is matter out of place.” Concentrating on an example or examples relating to illness, health, hygiene and/or the body, write an essay that illustrates the meaning and significance of this statement. 
• Describe what is meant by the term “medical pluralism,” and discuss how this concept may help us understand and respond to potentially problematic or negative aspects of healthcare-seeking behavior within a specific cultural context or contexts. 
• Through reference to an example or examples, write an essay that outlines and demonstrates some of the key aspects of “illness narratives”, including some of the benefits that may be derived from taking account of such narratives within anthropology and/or healthcare. 
• Define and illustrate the concept of the “medical gaze” and/or “the panopticon”, and in doing so demonstrate how this is/they are exemplified in stereotypical Western biomedical, clinical or public health contexts. 
• As Paul Farmer has maintained, “inequality itself constitutes our modern plague”. Taking this quote a starting point, write an essay that demonstrates how “structural inequality” and/or “structural violence” contributes to poor health outcomes in a specific context or contexts. 
• Brigitte Jordan has noted that belief systems shape birth practices in both symbolic and practical ways. Write an essay that demonstrates this claim.

Assessment Requirements Overview

The major essay assessment required students to select and respond to one directive question from a given list, each focusing on a central anthropological concept related to health, illness, and the body. The essay was expected to be approximately 1,500 words, grounded in academic scholarship and supported by relevant examples or case studies.

Students were encouraged to draw upon anthropological, sociological, or public health sources, along with examples from popular culture such as films, media, or advertisements, provided that these examples were critically analysed within an academic framework. Independent research beyond classroom readings was mandatory.

Key pointers to be covered in the assessment included:

• Selecting one essay question from the six provided directives.
• Demonstrating clear understanding of core anthropological concepts such as medical pluralism, the medical gaze, illness narratives, structural inequality, or cultural interpretations of health and illness.
• Supporting arguments with academic references and empirical or ethnographic examples.
• Developing a coherent essay structure: introduction, critical discussion, case study analysis, and conclusion.
• Engaging with theoretical frameworks and demonstrating analytical thinking in linking cultural concepts with health-related practices.

Academic Mentor’s Step-by-Step Guidance Process

The academic mentor adopted a guided, structured approach to help the student meet assessment expectations and academic learning outcomes.

Step 1: Understanding the Assessment Task

The mentor began by explaining each of the six essay directives in detail, helping the student identify which question aligned best with their interests and prior readings. The student chose the question based on Paul Farmer’s statement: “Inequality itself constitutes our modern plague.” This topic was selected for its relevance to structural violence and health inequality, key anthropological concerns.

Step 2: Topic Scoping and Research Direction

The mentor guided the student in formulating a focused research question examining how structural inequality affects health outcomes in low-income communities. The mentor provided direction on locating peer-reviewed sources, including works by Paul Farmer, Nancy Scheper-Hughes, and Arthur Kleinman, alongside WHO and UN reports for empirical evidence.

Step 3: Structuring the Essay

Next, the mentor helped the student design a logical essay framework, ensuring alignment with academic writing conventions:

• Introduction: Present the chosen directive and define key terms (“structural inequality”, “structural violence”).
• Theoretical Context: Discuss the anthropological framework underpinning Farmer’s claim.
• Case Study: Analyse a real-world context (e.g., healthcare disparities in Haiti or rural India).
• Critical Discussion: Integrate scholarly perspectives and critique systems of inequality.
• Conclusion: Summarize findings, highlighting anthropological insights and implications for healthcare policy.

Step 4: Draft Review and Scholarly Integration

The mentor reviewed the first draft, focusing on the depth of analysis, use of evidence, and academic referencing style (APA/Harvard). Guidance was provided on strengthening the argument flow, ensuring critical engagement rather than descriptive writing. The student was also reminded to maintain balanced analysis linking theoretical ideas with empirical data.

Step 5: Final Refinement

In the final stage, the mentor worked with the student on enhancing academic tone, clarity, and coherence. Citations were verified for accuracy, transitions between sections were smoothed, and the conclusion was refined to emphasize the anthropological contribution of the essay to understanding structural inequality in health.

Outcome and Learning Objectives Achieved

Through this guided process, the student successfully:

• Demonstrated critical understanding of anthropological theories related to health, illness, and social structures.
• Developed the ability to link theory to practice through case study analysis.
• Strengthened academic research and writing skills, particularly in argument construction and scholarly referencing.
• Met the learning objectives of the course by:
  • Applying anthropological frameworks to analyse health systems.
  • Illustrating the interplay between social inequality and health outcomes.
  • Producing an evidence-based, reflective essay that aligns with academic standards.

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