Final answer:
Scheper-Hughes's ethnography links local lives to broader systems through the study of resource allocation in Brazilian communities, revealing the power dynamics that cause social inequality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nancy Scheper-Hughes's ethnography connects local lives to broader systems through her study of the everyday life of impoverished citizens in Brazil and how they deal with issues like the scarcity of medical resources and infant mortality. She demonstrates the interplay between personal distress and broader social structures, such as economic systems and healthcare policies, which are shaped by power dynamics and influence the availability of resources to different communities.
Power is at play in how these resources are allocated and who receives them, highlighting issues of social inequality. For example, Scheper-Hughes's work reveals how wealth and lack thereof can determine access to healthcare, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and illness within marginalized populations. Additionally, power manifests in the ability of local elites to control and influence the distribution of resources, often prioritizing their interests over the needs of the poorer population.