Our Women Are Free

by Maggi, Wynne

• ISBN13: 9780472067831
• ISBN10: 0472067834
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-11-01
• Publisher: Univ of Michigan Pr

Summary

The Kalasha are a dynamic community of about three thousand people living in three tiny finger valleys near Chitral, Pakistan. A tumultuous history has left them the only remaining practitioners of cultural and religious traditions that once extended across the Hindukush into Afghanistan. The Kalasha differ in many ways from the conservative Muslim communities now surrounding them. Yet despite their obvious religious differences with nearby communities, when asked what makes the Kalasha unique, both men and women often reply, "Our women are free"(homa istrizia azat asan). The concept that Kalasha women are "free"(azat),that they have "choice"(chit),is a topic of spirited conversation among the Kalasha. It touches at the heart of both individual women's identities and the collective identity of the community. Our Women are Freeintroduces the historical and cultural landscape of the Kalasha and describes the role that "women's freedom" plays as an ethnic marker for the entire community. Throughout the narrative, Wynne Maggi stays close to conversations and events that illustrate the daily life of the community, focusing particularly on the Kalasha people's sense of humor; on the pleasure they take in work, children, ritual, and relationships; as well as on the complexity and seriousness of their social lives. Accessible and thought-provoking,Our Women are Freewill be of interest to professional anthropologists, area scholars, and other social scientists. Wynne Maggi teaches anthropology and women's studies at the University of Colorado.

Table of Contents

List Of IIlustrucations	ix
List Of Tables	xi
Pronunciation Guide	xiii
Acknowledgments	xix
Introduction: A Women 's March	1	(10)
Getting There	11	(33)
The Invisible landscape	44	(29)
Women's Work	73	(21)
Fashion	94	(23)
The Kalasha Bashali	117	(50)
Marrying	167	(46)
Conclusion:Brining Back the Sun	213	(8)
Glossary	221	(8)
Notes	229	(16)
Referances	245	(18)
Index	263