Bringing Anthropology to their Peers

Each year, high schoolers interested in anthropology intern virtually at the American Anthropological Association to help bring anthropology to their peers. During their virtual internship, students work closely with staff to adapt anthropological articles to appeal to a younger audience who is new to anthropology or unfamiliar with how disciplinary knowledge can be applied to understand complex topics such as migration and displacement. In the past, students have adapted this work into research summaries, infographics, and informational videos. From 2020 to 2022, interns focused on the topic of migration, and their work can be found below.

Research Summaries

Impacts of Culture and Social Structures on Marshallese Health

Adapted by Hamna Shafiq

For the Marshallese, the U.S.’s ongoing military presence in the Marshall Islands has severely comprised the health of the local population and caused high rates of emigration to the mainland United States. This article explores how incongruous ideas of kinship and cultural perceptions of health impact Marshallese access to health care, their community status, and treatment in healthcare facilities.

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Adapted by Jenna Dispenziere

The dangers and fears of border-crossing are something that most of us know about, but how do migrants do it? Using contemporary archaeological research methods and surveys, anthropologist Jason De León shares insights on the tools and techniques migrants use to cross the border.

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Adapted by Riya Mukherjee  

Are you familiar with the concept of return migration? From 2013 to 2018, researchers Hoechner and Abotsi investigated “return migration” patterns of Ghanans and Senegalese in the U.S. and U.K. who sent their children to their home country for education. Learn more about return migration through this infographic.

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Adapted by Alysha Lee

Through her research, anthropologist Marthe Achtnich explores lived experiences of migrants in Libya, specifically focusing on the relationship between mobility and affect. Intern Alysha Lee reenvision’s Marthe Achtnich’s original article as a newspaper interview.

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Adapted by Gitali Teckchandani

Mesoamericans and their descendants have been migrating across the world for 1000+ years now, partly to escape violence and partly in hopes to find a better life. Immigration is therefore deeply part of who the Mesoamericans are, and they have used this identity to fight for better treatment for immigrants today. This infographic explores Mesoamerican migration beginning in 200 BCE.

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Adapted by Sheryl Chen

Can well-meaning efforts to “save endangered languages” put them at a greater risk for language loss? Through an exploration of the work of Jane Hill and Britta Ingebretson, this infographic examines the concept of language endangerment.

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Adapted by Arun Brahma

The idea that mass deportation boosts the U.S. economy has become a political talking point. This infographic challenges this assumption through an exploration of the U.S. economic impact of mass deportation, as well as the mental and financial costs resulting from family separation.

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Adapted by Henry Wilkerson  

Inspired by the work of anthropologist Aaron Leo, Henry Wilkerson interviews his peers to better understand how family expectations shape their experiences as first-gen immigrant youth in the United States. This piece provides insight on the use of the critical ethnographic approach within applied anthropology.

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Adapted by Dana Blatte  

What is a gift? Are there expectations that come with gift giving? View the full video, adapted from the work of Hilal Alkan, to explore the concepts of hospitality, power dynamics, and reciprocity.

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Adapted by Sophia Futrell

Working-class immigrants, particularly those who work in the growing domestic care industry, have always been the backbone of New York City’s job economy. Building on the work of anthropologist Lee Glaser, this article aims to reveal how immigrant women are discriminated against, both in their work environments and in day-to-day life, because of their intersectional identities.

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