5 Ways Cultural Anthropology Shapes Your Life Today

1. Food Choices & Diets

When you walk into a grocery store, you immediately see labels such as fair trade, organic, or locally sourced. These labels reflect anthropological concerns about culture, labor, and inequality. This is evident in contexts ranging from government agencies to large corporations. Anthropologists address food deserts, study diet-related health disparities across cultural groups to design culturally tailored nutrition programs, and analyze global supply chains and consumer ethics to create systems and products for diverse communities worldwide.

2. Fashion & Identity

With increased globalization and migration, clothing has become a central way cultures are expressed. Anthropologists work with fashion companies to understand how people use styles to communicate identity, values, and belonging. In response to eco-friendly and slow fashion movements, they study traditional practices such as Indian handlooms and African natural dyes. This is especially relevant today as major fashion houses have been accused of copying South Asian clothing. Many South Asians and influencers argue that while representation in Western brands is welcome, it is only positive when proper credit is given.

3. Workplace Management & Communication

Anthropologists contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. For instance, understanding different aspects of the lifestyle in immigrant communities helps companies design more family-friendly policies. Furthermore, during COVID, tech companies worked with anthropologists to study and understand how employees from different cultural backgrounds adapt to remote meetings, which influenced Zoom etiquette, and hybrid work policies.

4. Healthcare & Wellness

In the healthcare sector, hospitals have introduced cultural competency programs to help doctors better treat immigrant patients. Adaptations include awareness of diet restrictions, traditional healing practices, and providing prayer spaces for Muslims. In research, anthropologists study health disparities, such as higher rates of diabetes among South Asian and Native American populations, and advise governments on culturally tailored diet programs. Their work is also seen in mental health services through counseling groups for South Asians and mindfulness apps adapted from Buddhist traditions. One of the most relevant applications has been in public health campaigns during COVID-19, which targeted religious groups, multilingual communities, and rural versus urban populations.

5. Cultural Awareness in Media

Streaming platforms and the Hollywood industry increasingly hire cultural consultants to ensure authentic depictions and avoid stereotypes. The attention to detail, often guided by anthropologists, allows audiences to engage with communities different from their own. This is evident in movies and shows like Black Panther, Moana, and Ms. Marvel. Cultural awareness also extends to social media platforms, where anthropological input has shaped features such as diverse skin tones in emojis, cultural symbols in stickers, and inclusive GIFs.