Rural Anthropology and Why It Matters

Bahman Rahimi, a researcher at the Anthropology Research Institute of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Research Institute, wrote in a note on the occasion of the National Day of Villages and Nomads in Iran: Rural anthropology studies should not be limited to collecting information and describing cultural characteristics, but it is necessary to provide the context for the conscious participation of people in identifying problems and providing solutions.

Rural anthropology is one of the specialized branches that has undergone extensive changes since its formation. This branch of anthropological knowledge, with a focus on knowing the cultural, social and economic characteristics of rural communities, examines the ways of life, customs, beliefs, social relations and cultural developments of villages. In Iran, rural anthropology studies mainly started with monographs (rural monographs) and gradually expanded.

Regarding the necessity of the study, it should be noted that in the last few decades, rural communities have faced significant changes all over the world, and the villages of Iran have not been unaffected by these changes. The widespread migration of villagers to cities, the depopulation of some villages, the change of land use and the transformation of production and livelihood patterns are among the factors that have changed the economic structure of villages. These developments, in turn, have left a deep impact on the social and cultural structures, family relationships, consumption patterns and life patterns of the villagers.

Changing the consumption pattern is one of the significant manifestations of these transformations. The spread of industrial and imported goods, including products made in China, in rural homes and replacing them with some local products and handicrafts has not only changed household consumption patterns, but also affected traditional production methods, local skills, and the transfer of local knowledge and techniques. Therefore, investigating these changes and their consequences is necessary to understand the current situation of rural communities and how their cultural heritage continues or declines.

Due to the speed of the aforementioned developments, conducting anthropological field studies in villages that have distinct cultural and social characteristics has become doubly important. These studies should take advantage of the scientific methods of ethnography and monograph, while accurately recording the local culture, investigate the issues, needs and problems of the rural community and identify the factors affecting social and cultural changes.

Meanwhile, the active participation of rural women and men in the research process is essential. Men and women are the most important key informants in field studies due to their lived experience, local knowledge and awareness of environmental and social conditions. In particular, paying attention to the views and experiences of rural women through in-depth interviews and continuous dialogues can provide a more accurate understanding of their living conditions, existing issues and limitations, and suggested solutions to improve conditions. For example, in some studies, rural women have considered the formation and expansion of rural cooperatives as an effective measure to improve economic conditions and increase social cooperation; A point of view that shows the necessity of paying attention to the suggestions and capacities of the local community.

Based on this, rural anthropology studies should not be limited to collecting information and describing cultural characteristics, but it is also necessary to provide the context for the conscious participation of people in identifying problems and providing solutions. Empowering rural communities, by emphasizing the effective presence of women, men and underprivileged groups in all stages of planning, decision-making, implementation and evaluation, can lead to strengthening local capacities and achieving solutions that suit the needs and realities of rural life. In such an approach, the village people will not only be the subject of study, but active participants in knowing and improving their living conditions.