Anthropology › Section A · What is anthropology? › Topic A.4
Western bias in assumptions about humanity
Many ideas presented as facts about "people in general" were built from the experience of a small, wealthy slice of humanity. This topic shows where that bias came from, where it still hides, and how anthropology's four fields expose it.
In this topic
- Whose normal?
- Old stereotypes in new forms
- The ladder of progress
- Boas and the many histories
- Developed and undeveloped
- Connected histories
- The WEIRD problem
- Bias in the science of ourselves
- Worked example: a universal claim
- Worked example: a museum timeline
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
This topic is part of Wuanberri Pro. Checking your access…