PERSONALS ASSIGNMENT

Select one or more personal advertisements from the classified section of any newspaper. In a two-page (double-spaced) essay perform an anthropological analysis that attempts to tease out some of the cultural meanings and implications regarding sexual, intimate, and/or conjugal relationships in the United States. Read between the lines in order to perform a cultural analysis and formulate meaningful generalizations. Look for social distinctions, including the obvious–sex, gender–but going beyond these as well to look for other social distinctions that are explicitly or implicitly marked in the ad (race, ethnicity, age, class, religion, education, location, body type, etc.). How important are these social distinctions? Look for the type of relationship sought as well. What is stated explicitly and what might be implicit?

Include the ad(s) that you analyze or, if that is not possible, copy and include the entire text of the ad(s). 

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Thanks to Sarah Hautzinger for the explicit formulation of much of this assignment and to Andrew Causey for the original idea!