Female Circumcision

Question

Discuss the practice of female circumcision in Mali.  What was Dettwyler’s interaction like with Agnes? What are some of the reasons given for the practice of female circumcision in Mali?  If you were an anthropologist working in Mali, how would you go about trying to curb the practice?  Do you think the U.S. practice of male circumcision is different?  Explain your answer and try to bring in the important concept of cultural relativism. 

Answer the following question based on the ethnography Dancing Skeletons.  Be sure to engage the question at a thoughtful level and include concrete examples from the ethnography.  

Question

Research has shown that the people often see a correlation between two events when one does not really exist. Why do you think this happens? Can you think of at least two situations in which this should not occur and at least two situations in which it is more likely to occur?

Psychology students often hear that correlation does not equal causation. Given that this is true, what are at least two ways in which knowing about a correlation between two variables/constructs can be helpful? How could knowing about a correlation between two variables lead to erroneous interpretations?