What are the Nacirema?

The term "Nacirema" is used to examine the cultural practices of Americans through a sociological or anthropological lens. Nacirema is American spelled backwards. The term was first used by Horace Mitchell Miner in the article "Body Ritual among the Nacirema," published in the American Anthropologist in June 1956.

The paper "Body Ritual among the Nacirema" is often used in introductory courses in sociology and anthropology. It describes American practices in oral hygiene and medical care using the language and framework of the social sciences. The idea is further expanded upon in the 1975 book "The Nacirema: Readings on American Culture."