Dr Stanley Ann Dunham Soetoro's Career Illustrates the Usefulness of Anthropology

question 46

Essay

Dr. Stanley Ann Dunham Soetoro's career illustrates the usefulness of anthropology in addressing contemporary world problems. Her role as a mother to Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, and his half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, also pays tribute to anthropology's relevance in the world today. How so? More generally, how do you think anthropology might be of value not just to political leaders but to all of us as active members in our society, when understanding and solving shared pressing challenges such as environmental degradation, poverty, and violence?

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Definitions:

Base Year

A specific year against which economic growth is measured, serving as a standard comparison for other years in index calculations and real values.

Real GDP

Gross Domestic Product adjusted for inflation, reflecting the value of all goods and services produced by an economy in a given year.

Inflation

A measure of the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising, leading to a decrease in purchasing power.

National Income

The total value of all goods and services produced by a country's residents and businesses, including income from abroad, over a specified period.