Ethnographic observation methods and applications

Ethnographic Study

The purpose of this study is to discover new knowledge by studying a defined group's way of life using the native point-of-view, as stated in the text. Using ethnography the researcher can make inferences about a given environment, interaction and situation. Questions to ask include what people are thinking and believing outside of the context of verbal language only. For this ethnographic study, a 10 minute clip of a scene in the Movie, "The 40-year-old Virgin" is used. In this scene, the lead character accompanies his girlfriend's daughter to a clinic where she can acquire birth control. The subject of virginity comes up. The people in the group laugh when the girl raises her hand to state she is a virgin, when no other young adults in the group do. The group in this case consists of several young teen boys, their fathers, and one or two girls including the main character and his girlfriend's daughter.

To compensate for the initial ridicule offered to the virgin girl, the lead character, a 40-year-old virgin, claims he too is a virgin, which is a fact (however the group members do not believe this). He thus also becomes the subject of much ridicule. The environment in which these characters act is sterile; the pre-birth control meeting is conducted in a clinical setting, suggesting the topic of youth sex is a medical object rather than something connected and rooted deeply in human emotion and relationships. The setting for example, does not recognize the notion that humans need to touch and feel one another even at a young age. The brief clip also suggests that such meetings are commonplace, suggesting the culture is one that promotes education of teens before they acquire birth control to protect their best interests, and the interests of the people they interact with. Another aspect of culture demonstrated on the surface is one where virginity is no longer commonplace, and one where people that are virgins are considered at best, abnormal and out of place.

This sentiment is echoed primarily by the vocal outcries of the male father-figures present attending the meeting, with the exception of the lead character. The lead character in futility attempts to show virginity is normal.

Despite this, one may infer by observing the characters in the movie that the subject of virginity is not something everyone is comfortable with. During the sequence followed, many of the younger males put on a "machismo" like attitude in an attempt to assert they were very familiar with sex and sexuality. This is due largely to the pressures observed in the environment throughout the movie, an environment that suggests virginity is something that should be lost as soon as possible. Thus, if one has not lost their virginity, they may become an outcast or subject of ridicule. This in turn may lead to embarrassment, as is the case with the young girl in this scene.

On careful examination however of the participants in the pre-birth control meeting, there is much in the way of nonverbal evidence that the people engaged in the conversation are insecure. While male fathers proudly demonstrate using their words, mannerisms and gestures that they are "all man" and incapable of remaining virgins, as are their sons, you can see the discomfort in the young boys that such proclamation brings. Many of the characters in the circle, despite outward vocalizations, appear to slouch or divert their eyes so as to hide their true feelings from the other group members.

Other members laugh off the idea they are virgins, but do so timidly, suggesting people put on a front to fit in with a crowd, rather than act in honest ways in this culture when the subject of teen sex and virginity arise. Many of the young adult males attending the meeting seemed to take cues from their adult parent present. If the parent seemed to think the idea of virginity ridiculous, the child adopted a similar attitude, whether they truly felt the same way or not.