Background
Wikan, Unni was born on November 18, 1944 in Ibestad, Norway. Daughter of Hans-Ulve and Bibbi Wikan.
( How do Balinese manage to present to the world the clea...)
How do Balinese manage to present to the world the clear, bright face, the grace and poise, that they regard as crucial to self-respect and social esteem? How can the anthropologist pass behind the conventions of such a complex culture to recognize what is going on between people, in terms that convey their own experience? Wikan's study of the Indonesian island of Bali is an absorbing debate with previous anthropological interpretations as well as an innovative development of the anthropology of experience. "This is indeed an important book, a landmark in studies of Bali and one surely destined to have major theoretical impact on anthropological research well beyond that famous Indonesian island."—Anthony R. Walker, Journal of Asian and African Studies
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0226896803/?tag=2022091-20
( Through photographs and detailed case histories, Unni W...)
Through photographs and detailed case histories, Unni Wikan explores the strict segregation of women, the wearing of the burqa mask, the elaborate nuptial rituals, and the graceful quality of Oman's social relations. "Wikan does provide insights into the real position of these secluded and segregated women. . . . All this is interesting and valuable."—Ahdaf Soueif, Times Literary Supplement "The book is detailed, insightful, and . . . engrossing. Anyone interested in the day-to-day triumphs and sorrows of women who live 'behind the veil' will want to read this account."—Arab Book World "Wikan, a fine ethnographer, has an eye for everything that is distinctive about the culture and . . . builds up a wholly convincing picture. Above all, there is a sustained attempt to penetrate the inner lives of these strangely serene people."—Frank H. Stewart, Wilson Quarterly "This book will certainly be of interest to all scholars concerned with sexual identity in the Islamic world."—Henry Munson, American Anthropologist
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0226896838/?tag=2022091-20
( "I, without earning a penny, have to be the provider!" ...)
"I, without earning a penny, have to be the provider!" Thus Umm Ali sums up the nearly impossible challenge of her daily existence. Living in a poor neighborhood of Cairo, she has raised eight children with almost no help from her husband or the Egyptian government and through hardships from domestic violence to constant quarrels over material possessions. Umm Ali's story is amazing not only for what it reveals about her resourcefulness but for the light it sheds on the resilience of Cairo's poor in the face of disastrous poverty. Like countless other poor people in Cairo, she has developed a personal buoyancy to cope with relentless economic need. It stems from a belief in the ability of people to shape their own destiny and helps explain why Cairo remains virtually free of the social ills—violent street crime and homelessness—that have eroded the lives of poor people in other major cities. Unni Wikan first met Umm Ali and her family twenty-five years ago and has returned almost every year. She draws on her firsthand experience of their lives to create an intimate portrait of Cairo's back streets and the people who live there. Wikan's innovative approach to ethnographic writing reads like a novel that presents the experiences of Umm Ali's family and neighbors in their own words. As Umm Ali recounts triumphs and defeats—from forming a savings club with neighbors to the gradual drifting away and eventual return of her husband—she unveils a deeply reflective attitude and her unwavering belief that she can improve her situation. Showing how Egyptian culture interprets poverty and family, this book attests to the capacity of an individual's self-worth to withstand incredible adversity.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0226898350/?tag=2022091-20
( All over Western Europe, the lot of many non-Western im...)
All over Western Europe, the lot of many non-Western immigrants is one of marginalization, discrimination, and increasing segregation. In this bold and controversial book, Unni Wikan shows how an excessive respect for "their culture" has been part of the problem. Culture has become a new concept of race, sustaining ethnic identity politics that subvert human rights—especially for women and children. Fearful of being considered racist, state agencies have sacrificed freedom and equality in the name of culture. Comparing her native Norway to Western Europe and the United States, Wikan focuses on people caught in turmoil, how institutions function, and the ways in which public opinion is shaped and state policies determined. Contradictions arise between policies of respect for minority cultures, welfare, and freedom, but the goal is the same: to create a society committed to both social justice and respect for human rights. Writing with power and grace, Wikan makes a plea for a renewed moral vitality and human empathy that can pave the way for more effective social policies and create change.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0226896854/?tag=2022091-20
Wikan, Unni was born on November 18, 1944 in Ibestad, Norway. Daughter of Hans-Ulve and Bibbi Wikan.
Undergraduate degree, University Bergen, 1970. Doctor of Philosophy, Oslo University, 1979.
Research assistant department anthropology University Bergen, 1970-1973. Research associate Norwegian Science Council, 1974-1979. Associate professor Ethnographic Museum, Oslo, 1980-1985, chair, 1985-1986.
Professor department and Museum Anthropology Oslo University, 1987—1999, professor department social anthropology, since 2000. Consultant United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, Bhutan, 1989—1992, Department of Power, Bhutan, 1992—1993, World Food Program, Bhutan, 1993—1993, United Nations Development Programme, 2004. Visiting assistant professor Johns Hopkins University, 1977.
Guest lecturer department social medicine Harvard University, 1987, visiting scholar anthropology, 95, visiting professor department social medicine, 99. Visiting professor School Higher Studies in Social Sciences, Paris, 1996, Frobenius Institute, Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Mainz, Germany, 2000. Visiting professor anthropology London School of Economics and Political Science, 1997.
( How do Balinese manage to present to the world the clea...)
( Through photographs and detailed case histories, Unni W...)
( All over Western Europe, the lot of many non-Western im...)
( "I, without earning a penny, have to be the provider!" ...)
(Tomorrow God Willing (Arabic Edition) Self-made Destinies...)
Member American Anthropol. Association, Society Psychological Anthropology (former board directors ), Association European Anthropologists.
Married Fredrik Barth, January 30, 1973. 1 child, Kim Farhad Wikan Barth.