2. Background
As a beach lifeguard on the resort island of Kiawah, my
coworkers and I are in a unique position to observe people of
many cultures. We are constantly judging and giving people a
stereotype of where they are from, the north or the south.
The judgments are primarily based on their appearance, their
interactions with the sand and water and their activities.
I know how I stereotype, but I wanted to investigate what my
coworkers thought of people on the beach and how we form
our judgments.
The problem investigated in this research was how we stereotype
where people are from: the north or the south (in the
US). Comparing and compiling the way we judge others comprises
my research. Based on our sometimes humorous observations, the
hypothesis is that our judgments of the tourists’ origins are most
accurate.
4. Methodologies
After a coworker and I made assumptions on their
home region, I interviewed patrons on the beach to
ask where they were from. As well, I interviewed
lifeguards to ascertain their thoughts about a group
of people or a certain person. Interpretation of the
material is the comparison between the two.
I compiled a questionnaire for the beach lifeguards
of Kiawah Island and asked, via email, what some of
their main ways of judging people, if they are from
the north or south.
I used photography and studied the pictures to
compare them to the notes I took by observing.
No major challenges or problems incurred.
6. Lifeguard Assumptions for
Southerners
Tan Skin
Only wearing a swimsuit
Visiting the beach alone or with their dog
Sedentary
Sitting on the water’s edge in a chair with
their feet in the water
Not playing in the dunes
Not feeding the birds
7. Where are They from?
By looking at these
three teenagers, you
can assume they are
from the south
because they
are tan and surfing.
All of them are from the South Carolina coast.
8. Where is she from?
This girl is laying out by
herself and reading
for a while on the beach.
Therefore, the assumption
is that she is from
the south.
This girl is from the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
9. Lifeguards Assumptions for
Northerners
Pale skin or sunburned skin
Renting equipment such as umbrellas, chairs,
and bikes
Wearing goggles or street clothes in the water
Adults building sandcastles or digging holes in
the sand
Sitting in the shade
Feeding the birds
Asking uneducated questions to the guards
10. Where is He From?
The lifeguards all
assumed that this
boy was from the
north because he
was wearing
goggles in the
ocean.
We were right! This
little boy is from
Pennsylvania.
11. Where are They from?
Both patrons are
pale and the boy is
wearing a life
jacket, and by
looking more into
detail, you notice
that the man had
built a “drip castle”
and dug a hole.
Therefore, the
lifeguards assumed
they are from the
north.
The lifeguard assumptions were right! This father and son
are from Wisconsin.
12. Where are They From?
The pale skin,
the burned
cheeks, and the
thick
application of
sunscreen leads
the lifeguards to
assume that this
child is from the
north.
The guards were once again CORRECT! She is
from Vermont.
13. Who is From Where?
By just looking
at skin tone,
you can
assume that
the girl buried
in the sand is
from the north
and the girl
beside her is
from the south.
Assumptions were right! The girl on the left is from
Canada, and the girl on the right is from South
Carolina.
14. Who is From Where?
By looking at this
picture, the guards
assumed that the
man in the shade
with a t shirt on is
from the north and
the man in the sun
with no shirt on is
from the south.
However our
assumptions were
incorrect. This is
one of the few
misses I had in my
Left: From Michigan, Right: From South Carolina project.
15. “Silly” Questions asked to
Lifeguards
“Can you turn the wind off?”
“Can you turn the waves off/down?”
“Where did the beach go?” (tides)
“Can you get all the jellyfish out of the water, they are
stinging my kids?”
“Why is the water salty?”
100% of the patrons who asked these questions were from the north.
16. Patterns in Data Observation
90% of lifeguard assumptions regarding
patron origin (north vs. south) were
correct.
Of the previous slides, the one break in
pattern was the two men.
Although the lifeguards were confident in
our assumptions, we expressed some
surprise in the high rate of accuracy.
17.
18. Representation/ Reflections
My involvement is the fact that I am one
of the lifeguards in the study.
My experience as a beach lifeguard
placed me in the middle of the study.
My ideas regarding the topic did not
change throughout the course of the
study.
No problems identified during the
observation and data collection.
19. Interpretation
The 90% accuracy rate of the lifeguards supports
the cultural differences that the lifeguards
identified at the beginning of the study.
The data supports the conclusion that northerners
and southerners look, dress, and act in different
manners while at the beach.
My research supported the ethnocentrism of the
southern beach guards.
A potential significance of this study is the guards
can closely monitor those unfamiliar with the
beach.
20. Anthropologic Interpretation
Thisstudy focused on the field of cultural
anthropology.
The following aspects of behavior and
customs were observed and interpreted:
Behavior
Communication
Social Origin
21. Closing Reflections
The problem investigated in this research was how we
stereotype where people are from: the north or the south
(in the US). Based on our sometimes humorous
observations, the hypothesis is that our judgments of the
tourists’ origins are most accurate.
The hypothesis was supported by a 90% accuracy rate.
The conclusion is significant because it illustrates cultural
anthropologic differences.
I found that research and observation of a culture does not
have to be boring or tedious, as I enjoyed the process.
Despite cultural differences most beach goers enjoyed their
experience regardless of their appearance or activities.
