Cultural Anthropology Report: Globalization and Organ Trade Analysis

This report examines Scheper-Hughes' research on the global organ trade, focusing on her ethnographic methods, the influence of globalization, and the concept of structural violence. The report explores how Scheper-Hughes conducts her research, including participant observation, interviews, and textual analysis. It discusses the impact of globalization on her studies, enabling research across multiple countries and highlighting the involvement of various professionals in the organ trade. The report defines structural violence as unequal treatment and human rights violations, particularly affecting the urban poor. It also addresses the secrecy surrounding the organ trade due to its illegal and unethical nature. The author provides their perspective on organ donation and discusses rumors related to the topic. The report concludes with references to relevant scholarly works.

Running head: CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Cultural Anthropology
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Literature review
Describe the strategies Scheper-Hughes uses to conduct her research. How has globalization
affected her research strategies? (100)
Scheper-Hughes in her study of illegal and immoral organ trading, engages in
ethnographic fieldwork by gathering data regarding the issue. She uses participant
observation, in-depth interviews with victims and sellers, focus groups as well as textual
analysis. She performs global flow analysis, network, and processes related to the issue
Due to globalization, Scheper-Hughes study could be conducted through several
countries. She started her study with a Brazilian shanty town and covering the places such as
South Africa, India, and even North America. Globalization has opened the organ market
widely and medical practitioners all over the world as well as law enforcement and other
handy men are involved in the process.
What does Scheper-Hughes mean by "structural violence," the violence of everyday life that
affects the bodies and minds of the urban poor? (100)
Structural violence refers to such scenarios where a particular social class or division
is victimized with unequal treatment and human rights violation. These kinds of violence are
well planned and a large number of people are generally involved in the proceedings. In the
study conducted by Scheper-Hughes, the people living in the small towns of South America,
South Africa and India have become large scale victims of organ trading. In most cases their
dead bodies are valued more than their lives thus violating their basic rights as humans.
Incidents like this systematically destroys the existence of a particular group and created
segregation.

2CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Why does Scheper-Hughes suggest that the global trade in human organs is shrouded in
secrecy? (100)
Scheper-Hughes in sinuates that the global trade of organ is full of secrecy. The
reason behind that is the illegal and immoral nature of the trade itself. Organ donation has
been practiced long, where the deceased makes a fully informed and conscious decision of
donating their body including all organs for making the lives of other human beings better.
The organ trading, in most cases take presumed consent as well as deceive family members
for their profit. Many medical practitioners, doctors, hospital staffs, morgue staffs, ambulance
service as well as middle men are involved in the process which begs the need of secrecy.
Are you an organ donor? Why or why not? Have you heard rumors like those heard by the
urban poor in Scheper-Hughes study? (100)
I am not an organ donor. Though, I plan to make arrangements so that I can donate
my organs in future. The reason they I have not done so yet are because of the lack of
knowledge and channel that will ensure that needy people receive their chance.
I have certainly heard rumors related to the issue that has been discussed here. People
all over the world talk about the organ related business and the plight that the poor has to face
for this. There have been many movies and documentaries made in thi topic to impress upon
the mind the likelihood of this malpractice being true.

3CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
References
Scheper-Hughes, N. Min(d)ing the Body: on the Trail of Organ-Stealing Rumours.
Scheper-Hughes, N. Neo-Cannibalism, Organ Theft, and Military-Biomedical Necropolitics.