Explore an anthropological glossary featuring key terms starting with the letter “U,” from underemployment to urbanization. Enhance your knowledge of anthropological concepts.
Underemployment: A condition in which individuals are employed in jobs that are below their skill or education level, often leading to social and economic disparities.
Uniform Civil Code: A legal framework that seeks to replace religious personal laws with a common set of civil laws for all citizens, irrespective of their religion.
Uniformitarianism: Uniformitarianism is a concept in anthropology and geology that suggests that the same natural processes that operate today have also operated in the past. It is a fundamental principle in the study of Earth’s history and processes.
Unilateral descent: The person’s descent is traced through either father’s or mother’s line.
Unilinear Cultural Evolution: Unilinear cultural evolution is a now outdated theory that once dominated early anthropology. It posited that all human societies progress through a series of predictable stages from savagery to civilization. This theory is largely discredited today.
Unilineal Descent: A system of tracing kinship through only one line, either the maternal (matrilineal) or paternal (patrilineal) line.
Universalism: In anthropology, universalism refers to the idea that certain social or cultural phenomena can be found in all societies, regardless of their cultural or geographical differences.
Universalization: An upward evolution from little tradition to great tradition.
Read- Little Traditions and Great Traditions
Urban Anthropology: The study of human societies and cultures in urban or metropolitan environments, focusing on the impact of urbanization on social, economic, and cultural aspects of life.
Urban Ethnography: Urban ethnography is a research method in anthropology that involves immersive fieldwork and participant observation in urban environments. It aims to understand the social and cultural dynamics of city life.
Urbanization: The process of increasing population concentration in urban areas, resulting in the growth of cities and the transformation of rural societies into urban ones.
Urban Legend: While not a traditional anthropological term, urban legends are stories or folklore that are often urban in nature. They can reveal insights into the fears, beliefs, and anxieties of urban communities.
Urban Renewal: Urban renewal is a term used in urban anthropology to describe the process of revitalizing and improving the infrastructure, housing, and overall quality of life in urban areas. It often involves redevelopment projects, renovation, and efforts to combat urban decay.
Utensil: In anthropological contexts, utensils refer to tools or objects used by humans for various purposes, such as cooking, eating, and other daily activities. The design and use of utensils can be culturally significant.
Uterine kins: Refer to those related through the maternal line.
Utilitarianism: An ethical and philosophical framework that assesses the morality of actions based on their utility or practicality in promoting the greatest overall happiness or well-being.
Uxorilocal: A marital residence pattern where a newly married couple resides with or near the wife’s family or clan.
