[Air-L] Reid Cornwell - general related question

[Sam Ladner]

Of course this begs the question: what is the <redacted> text? I must know!

Your inquiry I think is one of professionalization. Academics in general
haven't been as successful at that process than, say, physicians (any of you
been called "not a 'real' doctor'"? Extra points if it was by family
member!). Physicians monopolized a set of knowledge and successfully
organized the socio-legal framework to their benefit. They have placed other
professionals below them in a hierarchy (nurses, physiotherapists, etc.) and
locked down that social convention by having exclusive legal control over
prescriptions.

Anthropologists have failed to do the same (as have sociologists, FWIW). The
only occupational control anthropologists have had thus far is guarding
entry into the academy as a professor. You can call yourself an
anthropologist as much as you want, but you just can't teach other
anthropologists. Heck, I've met several "economists" who "only" have an MA.

Now that said, I happen to think the PhD matters (under 25? irrelevant). It
suggests a certain level of expertise, and of course the ability to teach
that expertise.

But it makes me uncomfortable to relegate someone to "non anthropologist"
when there is no legal provision to certify that professional status, as
there are with engineers, physicians, and accountants.
~~~~~
Sam Ladner, PhD
Sociologist
Toronto
On Mon, Jan 4, 2010 at 3:21 PM, live <human.factor.one at gmail.com> wrote:

> I actually have an inquiry that is related, and I'm highly curious what the
> list response is:
>
> I've someone I know who is calling themselves a '<redacted term>
> anthropologist'.
> As such, they have been invited to speak and have been presenting at
> various conferences.
> They do not have a PhD and they're under the age of 25, having just
> graduated from college.
>
> Is this ethical? Can a term 'psychologist' or anthropologist' be used by
> someone not having attended graduate education?
> What say this list?
>
>
> On Jan 4, 2010, at 11:50 AM, Chris Hodge wrote:
>
>  I can understand people misrepresenting the nature of their personal
>> contacts for self-aggrandizement (FB body counts), and I can
>> understand people misrepresenting associations and affiliations for
>> professional gain (fictitious advisory boards). As sins go, I guess
>> I'm not sure this is much worse than resume-padding.
>>
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