1. Based on the information included in Miner’s description, I would guess that the Nacirema could live virtually anywhere in the world, including any developed Western nation. While the author goes to great pains to strip various health and beauty rituals down to their most rudimentary foundation, most of the various “rituals” described are familiar when semantics are removed (applying makeup, piercing ones ears, going to a dentist, etc.). Naturally, it is very unsettling to hear Western health and beauty practices described in such a way that, of course, is the point of Miner’s thought experiment in the first place. The last ritual was the only one that I was confused regarding what the author was eluding to; in some ways, the “small battles” could resemble sports, but I would describe the Western attitude towards sports as more of a friendly competition rather than a battle.
2. List 10 adjectives to describe the tribe’s customs:
1. Unsettling
2. Indulgent
3. Redundant
4. Painful
5. Confusing
6. Unnecessary
7. Necessary
8. Helpful
9. Frivolous
10. Time consuming
Clearly, the vast majority of these adjectives are not positive in nature.
3. If I were a teacher dealing with children who were from the Nacerima culture, I would treat them the same way that I treat students from any culture; I would practice cultural sensitivity along with the best cross cultural communication practices I was aware of to help the children integrate with their classmates. I believe the role of a teacher in this circumstance in regards to adjusting or disciplining the cultural habits and beliefs is that of an externality regulator. I would try my best to allow the students to express their feelings and culture in ways that were familiar to them, as long as those feelings, culture, and habits do not negatively impact the other students in the class (thus, regulating externalities). Of course, this is a difficult line to identify and walk, but hopefully my education and training will help me recognize the best ways to integrate the Nacirema children into the classroom while ensuring that their behaviors do not case harm to any of the other students.
4. Nacirema spelled backwards – America.
5. Describe everyday events so that they do not sound like primitive customs.
Shaving: Using a lotion or cream and a sharp razor to remove unwanted hair from face or other body parts either for the purposes of health or as a fashion choice.
Ear piercing: Using a sterilized needle to create a small hole in ones ear for the purpose of inserting and displaying a decorative piece of jewelry.
Brushing teeth: Using a clean toothbrush to apply a cleansing paste to ones teeth for the purposes of removing plaque and bacteria.
