Em/Etic like Diabetic?

Em/Etic...like Diabetic? No as it turns out, not like Diabetic at all. Emic and Etic are the two primary lenses with which an anthropologist uses to examine a culture. Both perspectives have a considerable effect on how observation and study is conducted.

Both views are necessary when understanding a culture holistically, as is the aim in anthropology. Each of them represents the end points of a spectrum, that of the outsider-observer and the inner-participant. The Etic perspective represents that of the outsider-observer while the Emic perspective represents that of the inner - participant.

The Etic Perspective, which is that used by outside-observers of a culture, is easily referred to simply as the perspective of an outsider. The Etic perspective tries to understand a culture through two primary means. The first is in how that culture relates to others and in what ways they are comparable. The second is with scientific and historic justifications for behaviors, rituals and practices.

The Emic Perspective, which is that used by inner-participants in a culture, is easily referred to as the perspective of an insider. The Emic perspective tries to understand a culture through it's own lens. Viewing each behavior, ritual and practice independently of other cultures viewpoints. Through an Emic lens what other cultures would view as superstition or false belief is seen as appropriate justification for behavior, as such things would be considered if the anthropologist was native to the culture.

Both perspective are necessary to the study of anthropology, and both equally important. It is impossible to completely understand a culture using only one perspective, neither the outsider nor insider perspectives alone provide enough depth of information. Taken together though they can provide a fuller, complete view on the behaviors within a culture both as it relates to others and independently of them.

Sources
Introducing Cultural Anthropology (4th Edition) by Roberta Edwards Lenkeit

The Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft (2nd Edition) by Rebecca L. Stein and Philip L. Stein