Why Should I Join?

Why should I join?

You’ve discovered the AAA because you are curious and passionate about people. Our community of anthropologists, students, and enthusiasts share a similar passion and are waiting to welcome you.

As a AAA member, you will join our active community of 9,000 members who are studying, thinking, and researching. They are working together in the areas of academia, business, government, and nonprofits to advance and support the field of anthropology as the science that studies humankind in all its aspects through archaeological, biological, cultural, and linguistic research.

When you join the AAA, your annual dues will help to strengthen our anthropological voice to ensure that we collectively:

• Assist in Solving Human Problems
  

  We want to assist you in exploring your passion, honing your research, and disseminating anthropological knowledge to help solve human problems. As a member, we will collectively lift our voices together to advocate for issues that directly affect our world such as disaster response, immigration policy, climate change, wilderness preservation, and federal funding for the social sciences.
  
  

• Build Your Community of Anthropologists
  

  We have a home for you and want to support you in building your network. We understand that the anthropological community is vast and we are here to assist you in navigating the terrain. No matter your areas of focus our 38 sections specialize in a multitude of anthropological approaches from medical anthropology to museum anthropology to practicing and applied anthropology to sections that promote the work of anthropologists from underrepresented groups.
  
  

• Advance Your Career
  

  Your fellow members are here to support you in all facets of your anthropological career. We will work to keep you informed about mentorships, internships, fellowships, and networking opportunities; assist with your publishing goals; and provide access to scholarly publications, career resources, and leadership development. The AAA has a place for you no matter where you are in your career or where you are currently practicing anthropology.
  
  Because your current and future research matters, you will be able to submit proposals to meetings and conferences and we encourage you to get published in our members-only magazine, Anthropology News as well as our 20+ scholarly journals.
  
  

•  Support and Promote the Field
  

  We want the world to love anthropology as much as we do. Your membership will help us to advocate and promote the understanding of anthropology through our public education initiatives on RACE and the World on the Move: 100,000 Years of Human Migration and community events including annual Anthropology Day celebrations, book readings, Anthropologists Goes Back to School, and our partnership with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
  
  As a member, you will add your anthropological voice to critical national discussions, in the policy arena, and help to maintain observer status credentials with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UNESCO Economic and Social Council. You will also assist us in strengthening our strategic partnerships with the Consortium of Social Science Associations, the National Humanities Alliance, the American Council of Learned Societies, the Coalition on National Science Funding, the Coalition on the Academic Workforce, the Cultural Heritage Partners Coalition, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science Coalition on Science and Human Rights.

• Access Exclusive Member-Only Benefits

  While AAA members are able to bond over their collective goal of solving human problems and supporting the field of anthropology, they also enjoy many exclusive benefits that include membership in one or more specialized sections, access to over 250,000 anthropology-related articles on AnthroSource, the ability to present at the annual meeting, discount on registration costs to attend the annual meeting, the ability to collaborate with anthropologists via the Communities platform, the ability to publish in Anthropology News, and  the opportunity to vote in AAA and section elections. Members also receive discounted access to additional benefits including insurance (health, life, home, auto, and travel), library subscriptions, dossier services, and car rentals.