The project of sensitive anthropology. Experience, narration and involvement in “The Rural Community” by K. Zawistowicz-Adamska

Kazimiera Zawistowicz-Adamskiej’s “Village Society” is a renown title in the Polish anthropological literature, its unprecedented character is especially evident to the contemporary reader. It fulfills all the requirements that we lay forward for modern anthropological treatise. “Village Society”, is a monography to some extent, not dissimilar to autoethnography and engaged anthropology. It employs an anthropological narration that’s been influenced by other literary genres and types of academic discourse. Having underline its merits and literary value, I’m posing two questions in regards to the piece’s particular character. Firstly, can it be used as a flagship example of what we refer to as ‘feminine’ field anthropology – that is field research which marked by emotionalism, empathy and sensitivity? Secondly, does the anthropologist’s ethical stance influence his/hers approach to the studied subject matter and to what extent has it an impact on his/hers willingness to alter the reality encountered? Ethnography according to Zawistowicz, a scholar formed by the academic ethos and scientific paradigm that was present in the polish interwar humanities, is understanding social phenomena across theory and practice, bonded with a strong public obligation to serve an educational role to the public.Udostępnienie publikacji Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego finansowane w ramach projektu „Doskonałość naukowa kluczem do doskonałości kształcenia”. Projekt realizowany jest ze środków Europejskiego Funduszu Społecznego w ramach Programu Operacyjnego Wiedza Edukacja Rozwój; nr umowy: POWER.03.05.00-00-Z092/17-00