The Sambia Ritual, Sexuality, and Change in Papua New Guinea

by Herdt, Gilbert

• ISBN13: 9780534643836
• ISBN10: 0534643833
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-12-15
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

This cultural and psychological study of gender identity and sexual development in a New Guinea Highlands society includes rich material on initiation rites and socialization studies, and contrasts the Sambia with other societies, including the United States. For example, Sambia boys experience ritualized homosexuality before puberty and continue this practice until marriage, after which homosexual activity is prohibited. The implications are developed cross-culturally and contextualized in gender literature.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Preface	xi
Introduction	xv
Chapter 1 The Mountain Setting	1	(20)
The Landscape	2	(2)
Population Groupings	4	(3)
Hamlet Security Circle	7	(5)
Social Structure	12	(4)
Religion	16	(5)
Chapter 2 Warfare and Cultural Life	21	(21)
"A War Is Going On"	21	(2)
Jerungdu and the Men's World	23	(1)
Marriage and Sexual Antagonism	24	(4)
Masculine Values and Gender Stereotypes	28	(4)
How War Was Waged	32	(8)
The Sambia Pacified	40	(2)
Chapter 3 Sambia Social Individuals	42	(13)
Moondi	43	(2)
Kanteilo	45	(1)
Kaiyunango	46	(2)
Sakulambei	48	(1)
Penjukwi	49	(2)
Weiyu	51	(2)
Danny	53	(2)
Chapter 4 The Men's Secret Society	55	(68)
Initiation for Strength	56	(2)
The Ecology of Initiation	58	(2)
The Initiation Cycle	60	(2)
Boys' Subjectivity at Initiation	62	(1)
Organizers and Spectators	63	(3)
The Initiations Begin	66	(2)
The Cult House Scene	68	(3)
Moondi's Decision	71	(4)
Third-Stage Initiation	75	(1)
Second-Stage Initiation	76	(1)
First-Stage Initiation	77	(17)
The Flute Ceremony	94	(10)
The Sexual Transition—The Boys' Initiation	104	(4)
The Remaining Festivities	108	(4)
The War Raid	112	(2)
Final Initiations: Marriage and Fatherhood	114	(9)
Chapter 5 The Magical Age of 10, or Why Sambia Initiate Boys So Young	123	(14)
When It Begins	125	(1)
Hormones and Sexual Attraction	126	(4)
Development of Sexual Attraction in Sambia	130	(3)
Sexual Lifeways, Not Sexual Orientations	133	(2)
A Note on the Ancient Greeks	135	(2)
Chapter 6 Sex/Gender, Power, and Social Inequality	137	(17)
Men Are the Sexual Objects	139	(2)
Categories of Hierarchy	141	(1)
Ritual Secrecy	142	(2)
Marriage and Social Inequality	144	(2)
Cultural Forms of Sexual Relationships	146	(2)
Women's Power and Sexual Agency	148	(3)
Boys' Sexual Agency and Social Oppression	151	(3)
Chapter 7 Sexuality and Revolutionary Change	154	(13)
Post-Colonial Change	157	(5)
"Luv" Marriage—The Sexual Revolution	162	(5)
Glossary	167	(2)
Bibliography	169	(5)
Index	174