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Beyond the Bottle: Introducing Anthropological Debate to Research into Aboriginal Alcohol Use
Author(s) -
Moore David
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
australian journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1839-4655
pISSN - 0157-6321
DOI - 10.1002/j.1839-4655.1992.tb00904.x
Subject(s) - viewpoints , project commissioning , denial , sociology , value (mathematics) , publishing , conceptual framework , public relations , social science , engineering ethics , environmental ethics , political science , psychology , law , engineering , art , philosophy , machine learning , computer science , psychoanalysis , visual arts
This paper selectively identifies two recurring misconceptions of theory present in the existing research literature on Aboriginal alcohol use which may impede future research and prevention activities: the denial of contemporary Aboriginal cultures, particularly in urban areas, and the consequent failure to conceive of Aboriginal drinking as socially, culturally and politically meaningful behaviour; and an emphasis on rural/remote communities in research initiatives which reflects outdated conceptual paradigms which have been brought to bear on the prevention of alcohol‐related problems and has hindered innovation in program design for urban areas. Evidence from recent anthropological studies of both Aboriginal society and culture and Aboriginal alcohol use is presented which conflicts with the identified misconceptions and a case is made for the value of such analyses. Following an examination of these conflicting viewpoints, suggestions are made with respect to future research.