Anthropology (ANTH) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The notion that spirit possession among female factory workers can be viewed as an unconscious protest against working conditions has solid grounding in anthropological discussions. Aihwa Ong's work often highlights how marginalized groups express their discontent and negotiate their identities in the face of oppressive labor environments. Spirit possession can serve as a mechanism for these workers to voice their frustrations and grievances indirectly when direct protest may not be feasible or safe.

In the context of factory life, where economic pressures and harsh working conditions prevail, the phenomenon of spirit possession can emerge as a coping strategy. It allows workers to articulate their suffering and assert agency in a way that transcends the constraints imposed by their labor conditions. This type of expression is particularly salient in cultures where spiritual and religious practices provide a framework for understanding and confronting daily hardships, thus weaving together the personal experience of exploitation with a broader social commentary.

The other options do not capture the complexity of this phenomenon as effectively. Gratitude for employment would suggest a positive acceptance of conditions, while negative reciprocity typically refers to exploitative exchanges that do not align with the intricate dynamics of spirit possession as a form of expression or protest. Although some might interpret the relationship between religion and economy in a broader sense, it doesn't specifically highlight the protest element inherent in