QUESTION
: The Earth’s population has increased exponentially since the beginning of the nineteenth century, and is expected to continue to do
so over the next 50 years, hitting a total of 9.5 billion people by the year 2050. Why do you think this is? Think about the anthropological
discussions of population, food systems, and social organization, and give an explanation for why the population has grown in such a way from an
anthropological perspective.
ANSWER
: Population growth is directly linked to cultural factors, food systems, and social organization. When examining population throughout
the course of history, we can see that population has increased due to advancements in the fields of agriculture, medicine, and technology. These
advancements, such as automated farming, have led to increased food production, which is a large proponent of population growth (Milner &
Boldsen, 2023). Things like better healthcare result in lower mortality rates. The societal shift to industrialization keeps birth rates higher and our
death rates lower, which in turn contributes to rapid growth (Bongaarts, 2009). Socially and culturally, diverse norms and values about family size
and social expectations continue to influence population growth.
QUESTION
: There are several consequences of global population growth. Pick one of these consequences, and drawing on the video and other
materials from the course, explain how you would study this problem as an anthropologist. What methods would you use? What do you think you
would find? What have other anthropologists found?
ANSWER
: One consequence of rapid population growth is the difficulty of achieving social and economic development. According to the United
Nations, rapid population growth is a direct factor in a country's ability to "eradicate poverty, end hunger and malnutrition, and ensure universal
access to healthcare, education, and other essential services."
(Wilmoth, Menozzi, & Bassarsky, 2022) In order to study this consequence and other
consequences of population growth, I would use employ a method such as ethnographic research. This method, which involves immense fieldwork
in the communities I would be studying, would provide context and insight into how communities adapt to and face the challenges caused by
increased population. Interviews, surveys, and participant observation would allow me to study the impacts of rapid population growth on cultural
practices, social structures, and distribution of resources. Analyses of demographic data can provide an understanding of migration patterns,
population trends, and resource consumption. As an anthropologist, our interdisciplinary approach can offer a comprehensive perspective on the
consequences of rapid population growth.
QUESTION
: The module resources provide suggestions made to curb population growth and the problems it is creating. Pick one of these
suggestions, and discuss what difficulties, if any, there would be in implementing these solutions cross-culturally. Are there any ethical
considerations to account for? What are they?
ANSWER
: The overexploitation of natural resources because of population growth has negative impacts on the environment and the planet, such
as environmental degradation and change, which in turn exacerbate existing challenges (Kolkowska, 2023). Reduced resource consumption, and
consumption in general, is one way to combat some of the consequences of rapid population growth (Population Education, 2015). Other solutions
include implementing sustainable ways of living, using environmentally friendly technologies, and using education and advocacy to address social,
economic, and cultural factors (Kolkowska, 2023). When implementing any solutions for global concerns like population growth, diverse cultural
perspectives always need to be considered. Solutions need to involve and center on the communities that are impacted, while being sensitive to
cultural values, practices, and ways of life.
