Weiner conducted extensive fieldwork in the Trobriand Islands, producing rich ethnographic accounts and analyses that stand as her most enduring contributions to the field.
She demonstrated that women's contributions were highly significant but largely erased from record because the cultural focus was on the distribution and exchange of valuables rather than its production.
[2] During her early graduate studies, Annette Weiner participated in several archaeological expeditions to Guatemala, where she focused on cataloging potsherds recovered from excavation sites.
In nearby villages, she observed local "Indian"[3] (indigenous) women selecting cooking pots at markets, guided by extensive knowledge about their design and functionality.
This interdisciplinary approach underscored the importance of integrating ethnographic research with material culture studies to provide deeper insights into both historical and contemporary practices.
[7][2] In her final presidential address to the AAA, "Culture and Our Discontents," Weiner argued that "a commitment to a global comparative perspective can provide an innovative postmodern frame" for the discipline.