Ethnography Project - Amish

Ethnography of the Amish

by Andi Garrison

Environment

    There are Old Amish communities in North America, specifically 27 US state mostly located in the Mid-West and North East and also in Canadian province of Ontario. Ohio Pennsylvania and Indiana has the largest population. The largest concentration of Amish west of the Mississippi River is in Missouri, with other settlements in eastern Iowa and Southeast Minnesota. In addition, there is a population of approximately 10,000 Old Order Amish in West Central Wisconsin. In 2010 it was estimated that there were 249,000 Amish people living in the US and Canada.

    The summer climate for the Amish is fairly mild with temperatures ranging from 69-72 degrees Fahrenheit. Whereas the winter climate for the Amish is generally below freezing ranging 17-30 degrees Fahrenheit with average snowfall in the US at 28 inches and 64 inches in Canada. The Amish do deal with environmental stresses such as season changes from hot humid summers to cold snowy winters. The Amish do not use electricity to be able to regulate temperatures in extreme weather.

    The natural environment of this region is rich in the plant and animal life. Pennsylvania has plants such as maple, red cedar, cranberry and smooth alders and animal like bald eagles, skunk, lying squirrel, bats, woodrat and soft-shell turtle. Ohio and Indiana has similar plant and animal life such as hazelnut, red & black raspberry, crab-apple, plum, artichoke, birch, moose, deer, fox, raccoon, mink, muskrat, black bear and coyote. Ontario with it’s colder climate is home to different plants and animals like arctic fox, beaver, caribou, flying squirrel, polar bear, walrus, wolverine, wolf, swan, apple, ash, birch, gooseberry, honeysuckle, maple, oak, raspberry, serviceberry and willow.

Adaptations

    There are no apparent physical adaptations to the environment that the Amish are exposed to. They eat a healthy high fat diet that aids them in the physical and manual labor required for everyday activities.

    The Amish intentionally make as few as possible cultural adaptations to their environment and he outside world. The biggest change is the Amish have made is seeking job opportunities outside the community in order to earn money and provide for their families. Ideally the Amish would live off their land and provide for them seleves at home and not leave their homes for work. Because of the high level of inbreeding the Amish have allowed doctors to test and research the society in order to weed out potential genetic disorders. Another cultural adaptation the use of outside sources such as web designers and sales people, even though the Amish do not believe in using any type of electricity they have permitted hiring outside the community in order to survive.

Language

    The Amish speak “Pennsylvania Dutch” or “Pennsylvania German” a dialect of European German. Pennsylvania Dutch is a combination of High German and some English Words. Accents and manners of speaking Pennsylvania Dutch can vary between communities. There is a second less common dialect known as “Swiss Dutch” primarily found in Indiana. Swiss Dutch differs greatly from the more common Pennsylvania Dutch to the point that it can cause difficulties communicating between communities. Pennsylvania Dutch is the primary language spoken in the home of the Amish and the first language all children learn. English is first learned at school in the first grade. Amish have a tendency to switch to English when non-Amish enter within earshot, out of respect and to involve the others.

    Although Pennsylvania Dutch is the primary speaking language there is no written version, letters are written in English with occasional use of German when possible. High German is spoken is the language of Church and worship. Bibles and all religious literature like the Amish Songbook the Ausbund, is also written in High German. The Amish are widely considered to be bi-lingual, fluent in English and High German.

Gender Roles

    The Amish recognize two specific genders in their society, male and female. Amish men and women usually assume traditional and well-defined gender roles. Men, more specifically husbands, are the head of the household. Men are primarily responsible for the financial well-being of the family and for the family farm. Men also assume the religious head of the family leading prayers and hosting church ceremonies and the outside world. Although the man serves as the spiritual head of the home, mothers are very active in nurturing the spiritual life of children. Some woman, or wives, work or own small home based businesses but this is not the norm. Woman with young children almost never have a full time job outside the home, although some manage at-home stores, greenhouses, or bakeries. Typically women devote themselves to raising the children, housekeeping, feeding the family and some farm work. 

    Although gender roles are strictly defined in the Amish communities there can be exceptions without any negative repercussions. Woman who are single mothers or whose children are adults are likely to assume the Male responsibilities in the home, such as the primary source of income and religious head. There are few cases where the woman owns her own business and can be the breadwinner in the family.

    Children attend school from the first grade to the eighth grade. For the most part children are not treated or seen to differently until after schooling is finished. Children are expected to help with house chores and with the farm. Once schooling is finished the children are at home or on their family farms learning the tasks and skills needed as adults by working with parents. Children actually want to help with work and chores as a good work ethic is instilled in them from a young age and is a common Amish value. A young man or couple will usually find a job and save to buy a farm or house for their future family. In some cases farms are passed down through generations and the parents will live on the land in a separate home one all of the children are grown.

    The Amish have very traditional values and as much the woman on generally at home with the children and men are work providing for the family. Their culture and religion is the main force behind these traditions. The Amish do not believe in divorce or separation so children have both parents as role models and to learn appropriate behavior for the community. All members of the Amish congregation come together to build new homes and barns. 

    The “The Blessed Curse” Williamson describes her struggles with intersexuality. The Native Americans view an intersexual as a person with dual spirits, as someone whom the spirits deem special and important to society. Euramerican and Christians view intersexuality extremely different, that not having a distinct male or female gender means that you are cursed with a demon inside you or that there is something wrong with you. I was unable to find any research to conclude a decisive opinion on how on the Amish view an intersexual person. Because of their strong Anabaptist beliefs I assume that the Amish would view an intersexual baby as a negative, but because they do not believe in any corrective surgery that child would likely feel like an outsider or outcast.

Subsistence

    The Amish have a strong agriculture background. Most Amish family’s have farms complete with livestock and horticulture. In more recent times because of the high cost of land some Amish have gone outside of the community to find work, usually in factories or in manufacturing. Farming in still the more desired occupation of the Amish, all family members are integrated into an agricultural way of life. Farms are small only focusing on the needs of the family and community not to turn a profit. Amish farmers' choose to concentrate on raising livestock in small numbers and on growing a variety of crops. Farm size is limited not only by the amount of land that can be managed by one family but also use of electricity id forbidden.

    Most of the Amish diet is based on foods that can be grown or raised on the farm. Most homes have sizable gardens tended by the woman and children. Vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, beets, corn, tomatoes and peas are typical. You can also find a variety of fruit trees and grapes vines in the gardens.  Amish eat a lot of fresh foods in the growing and harvest months, and can large quantities of fruits and vegetables for the winter. Amish also have hen houses and livestock that produce eggs and meat year round. Guns are permitted for hunting which brings in deer and other animals for the purpose of food. Amish food is generally very fatty and filling although their food is usually fresh and organic. On occasion the Amish do eat out in restaurants for special occasions. Amish have a reputation for good food.  Numerous tourist restaurants feature “Pennsylvania Dutch” and “Amish-style” cooking. 

    Men and woman are responsible for providing subsistence for their families. Men work out in the fields plowing and bringing in food from the farm. Woman and children work in the gardens. Women also work in the home preparing and storing food.

    The Amish are known for their hearty and filling meals. They also have a diet high in dairy products; most families have at least one dairy cow and drink large amounts of raw milk. Even though the Amish typically have a high fat diet they do not seem to struggle with problems of obesity like the rest of the country. Hard manual labor likely accounts for healthy body mass and weight. Amish are not usually vegetarian or vegan, and eat meats such as pork, chicken, and beef.  Some meals may lack meat and have cheese or eggs as primary sources of protein. Alcohol consumption varies between communities. New Order Amish strictly prohibit the use of alcohol among members and youth. On the other hand Old Order Amish use alcohol and make their own vine from fruits like blackberries, raspberries, grapes and even beets. Amish drink water, milk, garden tea and sometimes juice. Coffee is popular among Amish, and is typically taken unsweetened and without cream.

Economic Systems

    Most Amish have family farms and gardens, and any surplus goes to the community. Farming is not meant to be used as a means of income; it is to provide food for the family. Since the Amish do not believe in owning materialistic and worldly items they do not feel the need to make extra money off of farming. Not all Amish are farmers, some hold jobs outside of the community or make products in the home to be sold elsewhere. They earn money, shop in markets, eat out in restaurants and sometimes even have credit cards. In addition to interacting with the economy as consumers, Amish also provide products and services to both their own Amish markets and non-Amish, or English, markets.  The scope of their businesses can even reach far beyond their local communities to the nation as a whole, and even overseas.

    Even though the Amish economy has traditionally consisted of farming, many have branched out to into rural businesses. They interact and deal with non-Amish people easily and understand the competitive market-driven profit system. However the Amish cannot grow their business to large for year of being accused of abandoning their traditional values. Other than sharing goods the Amish do not practice any form of redistribution of goods or wealth. The Amish use American or Canadian currency, check or credit card. Nearly all Amish adults have a bank checking account and married couples have joint accounts. Most Amish have family farms and gardens, surplus goes to the community.

Marriage

    The Amish only practice monogamy and divorce or separation is forbidden. Partners are chosen by the individual but must be Amish. The Amish church depends on the biological reproduction of its members rather than on acquiring new members through proselytization. Since the population is quite small there have been some issues with inbreeding, young adults are encouraged to choose mates outside of their direct community for this reason. The high inbreeding of the Amish population results not from marriages between first cousins but from the intermarriages that have occurred over generations within an isolated group.

    The women usually move to the husband’s community since the family farm is passed down to the son. Weddings are large public affair to celebrate the contributions this new family will bring to the community. Guests bring household items as gifts and parents often bring livestock, furniture or equipment for the young couple. Farms and property are passed down to sons, the couple doesn’t typically inherit anything from the wife’s side of the family. Endogamy and exogamy does not really play apart in the lives of the Amish, they do not have social classes, however they are not permitted to marry outside of their religion. The Amish have no incest taboos and homosexual relationships are forbidden.

Kinship

    The Amish decent line is through the male side of the family. Young woman often move to other communities after marriage since the male with inherited the family farm. After his parents retire they will live on the property in separate home and will be cared for by the son, his wife and family. Generally nothing is passed along the female descent line. Males possess the most authority in terms of kinship from inheritance and they are the religious head of the household. Naming patterns in the Amish society are similar to America, example; Wife, husband, son, daughter, grandparents, uncle, aunts and in laws. They have Pennsylvania Dutch versions of these terms but they are very similar.

Social Organization

    The Amish are generally egalitarian, or do not have social classes. All individuals have equal status and social power. Men are head of the household but do not have more power over another. Boys and girls all go to school until the 8th grade and then help the family with the farm or house chores. Amish men and woman are forbidden to run for or hold political office. The ministers are chosen by nomination and a drawing not by campaigning and voting. At the end of a communion service men and woman file past a deacon and whisper a name, and person who receives at least three nominations are entered into a drawing to become minister. Being chosen is a great honor and has a life-long added responsibility of service to the community.

Political Structure

    All Amish men and woman are forbidden to run for or hold political office. They have nothing to measure political power. For the most part informal techniques such as gossip are used to keep individuals in line. When more formal measures are required the deacon and minister will visit the individual to resolve the issue, if the problem is minor he or she will need repentance. For a more serious offence the deviant will be asked to confess publicly to the congregation. The most severe punishment in the Amish society is a six week ban and everyone is required to shun the individual. The most severe form of punishment is full excommunication. Most issues are taken care of within the community however all Amish people are expected to follow the laws of the country and state they reside in.

The Role of Violence

    Violence is forbidden, they believe, by Christ to participate in warfare or violence. Amish believe in praying for their enemies and never engage in revenge or violence to solve a problem. Young people sometimes get in trouble with the law, otherwise the Amish are free of violence and crimes. Amish do permit the use of guns for hunting.

    The Amish are forbidden, they believe, by Christ to become involved in any warfare or violence. They do not defend themselves if attacked, and when faced with hostile neighbors or governments they simply abandon their farms and move. Military service is an absolute contradiction to the spirit of Amish Gelassenheit.

    Young people sometimes get in trouble with the law, but otherwise the Amish experience almost no violence or crime. They live in a society, according to Donald Kraybill, “where harmony, passivity, and quiet discipline are the norm rather than aggression and hostility.”

Religion

    The Amish are devout Anabaptist, a form of Christianity. They believe in Jesus Christ and one monotheistic God. Amish religion and traditions grew out of the Anabaptist reformers who rejected to what they felt were corrupt practices in the Protestant and Catholic religions of the 1500's. The Anabaptists believed that formal theological training was not necessary since the members of the congregation were just as capable of interpreting the Scriptures as the priests.

    Amish religion is based upon the basic early Christianity and a desire to be faithful to God. They believe that the Bible is the Word of God and that the Church is the body of Christ fulfilling God's purposes on earth. The Amish stress the importance of keeping the body pure and spotless and free from the contaminating influences of the worldly aspects of life. The Amish would not exist without their religion, everything they do in their lives are deep seeded in the church.

    

    The Amish only practice adult baptism because they believe that only adults make informed decisions about their own salvation and commitment the faith. Amish teenagers are encouraged to explore the outside world in a tradition known as Rumspringa, Pennsylvania Dutch for “running around”. They are still bound by their beliefs but ignore a certain amount of behavior to allow for experimentation.

Art

    The Amish only use artwork to supplement their income not to use in home. They have been know to make furniture by hand as well as buildings, buggy's and cloths. Music is traditional and sang in High German, out of the Ausbund. My chosen culture does not fit into this category, the Amish don't believe in possessing worldly or materialistic items. The Amish don't have much use for artwork or frivolous items.

Cultural Change

    The Amish strive to be untouched by the outside world with their traditional style of dress and simple lives. However, with the rise of cost for land and goods the Amish have branched out to job opportunities outside of their communities in order to provide for their families. Despite more exposure and influence of the outside world Amish societies are actually growing and flourishing. The entire purpose of being Amish is to be true to the values of the community and the church, to break these rules or try to change them would be cause for excommunication. Every Amish person is allowed to venture out into the world and then choose to be baptized and join the congregation as adults. The Amish do not have a strong influence on the outside world, it is almost unheard of for an outsider to convert, however because of large families and the lack of people who choose to leave the Amish communities are doing well and thriving as a sub culture in the United States and Canada.

Bibliography 

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9. “The Blessed Curse” from Williamson, R. K. (1995)
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