https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnthropology/comments/1iaizle/am_i_studying_the_wrong_subject/
created by madeinheaven2004 on 26/01/2025 at 16:32 UTC
33 upvotes, 5 top-level comments (showing 5)
[removed]
Comment by Leather_Lawfulness12 at 26/01/2025 at 17:13 UTC
15 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I'm an anthropologist and I don't always enjoy talking to people.
Over time my research has become more historical in nature so I do more research in archives. Another way to avoid face-to-face contact with people is to do qualitative surveys. There are some good articles by Virginia Braun and colleagues about these.
Qualitative surveys also have a number of methodological advantages over interviews, depending on the population you are studying - it is not only about avoiding people :)
It would hard to, say, get a PhD in social anthropology without hanging out and interviewing people, so you could consider a neighboring discipline like history or European ethnology. If you're more comfortable interacting with people online, you could also do more digital ethnography/netnography where you are studying online communities.
Comment by copious-cats at 26/01/2025 at 17:41 UTC
7 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I'm autistic and majored in anthropology. I previously tried working in a very community-engaged direct service role related to my subfield and did not love it, but now work in federal policy. I get to use my research skills to compile data, draft rules and recommendations, and create trainings to help people understand confusing technicalities about different programs related to my subfield. My work feels a lot like all the parts I enjoyed in university (research, writing, identifying needs and next-steps). Feel free to chat me if more info about policy work is helpful. :)
Comment by allltogethernow at 26/01/2025 at 17:21 UTC
6 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I think you are in the right field. The fact that you are facing your fears in the first place just to learn about things you care about proves this. The social aspect will get better over time as you become more comfortable, but don't worry about the nerves. When you get older you will wonder what the big deal was, and you will even wish to go back to the time when everything was wild and new. The only reason it is uncomfortable is because you are learning.
Comment by MilesTegTechRepair at 26/01/2025 at 23:53 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Also autistic, with strong rsd; never studied anthropology at uni but have done a lot of jobs requiring customer contact.
I'd guess there's something very similar to our own lives to the need for an anthropologist to be scientific with their subjects as a sales rep is to be professional, and our own need to mask around certain types of people in certain scenarios. Practice such a professional, scientific mask and this can become a good amount smoother.
Comment by ambikaguanyin at 27/01/2025 at 14:23 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
First, if you have this anxiety, then here is a terrific way to get over it. Imaging how much more terrifying without the excuse of "hey, I'm a student and I have to do this."
So, there are two ways to approach approaching others: (1) focus on who you are approaching and (2) preparing yourself for the approach.
Scope out the place you are going to approach someone in, say a coffee house. Maybe sit there a while. Since you are a student, sit and study there for a few days if it takes that long. Now you are comfortable in the setting (at least a little more than walking in cold). Now, (as you are starting out) think about the type of person who would respond well to someone approaching them and specifically You approaching them. For example, if you are a very gnarly looking man, maybe don't approach women or find some way to tone down the gnarliness. Eventually you should be able to approach anyone, but for now look for low hanging fruit.
To prepare yourself, think of this as an acting job or improv game. "Fake it till you make it" is reasonable advice. Now imagine what would make you more receptive to communication if someone approached you. You could practice on friends, classmates, your professor (who should be invested in your success), relatives. Seeming warm, friendly, slightly supplicant helps.