Birthing practices of the Raramuri of Northern Mexico Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Miller, Janneli Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 07/10/2021 07:54:48 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/289917 BIRTHING PRACTICES OF THE RARAMURI OF NORTHERN MEXICO By Janneli Fee Miller Copyright © Janneli Fee Miller 2 0 0 3 A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In The Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2003 UMI Number: 3090035 Copyright 2003 by Miller, Janneli Fee All rights reserved. UMI UMI Microform 3090035 Copyright 2003 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA ® GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Final Examination Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by JANNELI FEE MILLER entitled BIRTHING PRACTICES OF THE RARAMURI OF NORTHERN MEXICO and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of nnr.fnr nf Philnsnphy PlyQ-yCti T/30 /T-OO 2 Dif.i Mark A. N "late Dr. Thomas Weaver Date ^ ^ '2- Dr. Jane Hill Date") ^ Date Date Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate's submission of the final copy of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement. >001 Dissertation Director Date Dr. Mark A. Nichter 3 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgement of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the copyright holder. 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research was made possible through a Fulbright Garcia-Robles dissertation grant, as well as Spicer-Comins and Riecker research awards from the Department of Anthropology, University of Arizona, and a Summer Research Grant from the Social and Behavioral Research Sciences Institute, University of Arizona. In Chihuahua City I acknowledge the assistance of individuals from the following organizations: at ENAH, Francisco Mendiola, Juan Luis Sariego, Alfonso Blake, Eugenio Porras, Rodolfo Coronado, and Francoise Brouzes; at INAH, Augusto Urteaga, and Jose Luis Perea; at CET, Lorenzo Natera, Lupita, Cuca and Mayra; at INI, Horacio Lagunas, Alfredo Ramirez, and Victor Martinez. Randy Gingrich of Sierra Madre Alliance, and Luis Urias and Bill Merrill of Mexico-Norte offered generous support. My work at Hospital General could not have been accomplished without the generous assistance of Dr. Charro, Araceli, and the Nursing staff in TOCO. Colleagues and friends offered inspiration and refuge during trying times in Littledogtown. Thanks to Ingrid Kummels and Manfred Shaefer, Raul and Gabriela, Esperanza, Andy Miller, Julia Cummings, Ben Brown and Enrique Servin. In Mexico City, lacofradia at DEAS kindly welcomed me, thanks to Sylvia Ortiz Echaniz, Elsa Maldavido, Carmen Anzures y Bolanos and Isabel Lagarriga. At COMEXUS Fay Henderson, Teresa, Maria and Sarah Levy were kind and efficient. In the Sierra, I acknowledge the kindness' of Dr. Yudit Zazueta, Dr. Roque Hernandez, Ing. Omar Salcido, Dr. Bernardo Ortiz and Eduwiges at IMSS, the PROGRESA Team Socorro and Jorge, Dr. Balleza, and the IMSS midwives. Thanks go to Leobigilda, Dona Tere, Reyes Caraveo, Luli, Dr. Bryce Trigo, and Astolfo and family in Laguna. I am grateful for insights, conversations, tesguino and travels shared with Danny Noveck, Felice Wyndham, Deborah Carroll and Joe Armstrong. The women and families of the urban asentimientos and Basigochi welcomed me into their midst and shared their daily lives with me. Gara ju ko. Ganili. Matetele bd. My committee consists of three individuals who continue to be great source of inspiration: Dr. Thomas A. Weaver, Dr. Jane Hill and Dr. MarkNichter. Special thanks to Phyllis Hogan, Mahina Drees and Barney T. Bums for their generous and unflagging support. Last but not least, deep gratitude is due family and friends, who each know how much I leaned on them. Now you can lean back. Abrazospara todos. 5 DEDICATION This dissertation is humbly dedicated to Caroline Charters Miller. 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES 12 LIST OF TABLES 13 ABSTRACT 15 CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION 17 Vignette: Veronica's story 17 1. A Strategy For Explaining Solitary and Kin Based Birth Among The Raramuri 20 2. The Anthropology of Birth: Midwives Predominate 28 2.1 Unassisted Birth 32 3. Research Settings: Chihuahua City and Basigochi 33 4. Methods 38 4.1 A Note on Participant Observation, Interviews, and Paper 45 NOTES TO CHAPTER I 49 CHAPTER IL ENVIRONMENT, HISTORY, AND CULTURE CHANGE 51 Vignette: Lumholz and Zing Birth Stories 51 1. Environment and Climate of the Sierra Madre 53 2. Historical Perspectives 55 2.1 Prehistory: Archaeological and Linguistic Records 55 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS - Continued 2.2 Protohisotrical Period: Spanish Missionizing Activities 1607-1900 58 2.3 Late Mission Period: 1900 to the Present 65 2.4 Mining, Revolution and the Mexican Government 67 3. Regional Historical Contexts Create Multiple and Specific Power Dynamics 73 3.1 Cultural Variation and Basigochi 78 3.2 Will the "Real" Raramuri Please Stand Up? 83 NOTES TO CHAPTER II 93 CHAPTER III: CULTURAL CONTEXT OF SERRANO RARAMURI 99 Vignette: Jesusita's story 99 1. Material Culture and Subsistence Economics in Basigochi 103 2. Social Organization in Basigochi 108 3. Political Organization and Social Control in Basigochi 115 4. Religious Organization: Cosmology, Ceremonies, and "Beliefs" 123 NOTES TO CHAPTER m 127 CHAPTER IV: RARAMURI LIFEWORLDS 128 Vignette: Isabel's story 128 1. Women's'Perspective Ignored 134 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS - Continued 1.1. Women'sWork And Daily Rhythms Of Life 138 2. Kin Relations and Individuality 150 3. Shared Values, Moral Norms and the Subjective Nature of Analysis 155 3.1 Nawesari 158 3.2 ATdrz/wa Networks: Reciprocity and Hard Work 159 3.3 Norawa: Trust and Trade 167 3.4 Joking as Play and Brief Mention of Racing 169 3.5 'We Riwerame M: Modesty, Shame and Morality 173 3.6 Non Violent Norms and Aggressive Realities 178 3.7 Functional Diversity and Variety In Material Items and Social Roles .... 186 4. Raramuri "BeHefs" About Life 191 4.1 Danger, Secrecy, and Outsiders 192 4.2 Oworwawe Wants The Raramuri To Be Happy 205 4.3 Giants, Bears and Little People 206 5. Witchcraft, Dreams and Curing 217 6. Raramuri Conception of Time 241 NOTES TO CHAPTER IV 251 9 TABLE OF CONTENTS - Continued CHAPTER V: BIRTH AMONG THE RARAMURI IN CHIHUAHUA CITY 256 Vignette: Susana's Story 256 1. Urban Rarmuri: Chihuahua City 1999 259 2. Alivian Solas, Como Las Chivas" (They Give Birth Alone Like The Goats) 274 3. Birth Among The Raramuri In Chihuahua City 281 3.1 Hospital Birth 285 3.2 'Bxrih.lnTheAsentimientos 295 3.3 Public Representation Of Tarahumara Birth 306 NOTES TO CHAPTER V 309 CHAPTER VI; BIRTH AMONG THE RARAMURI IN THE SIERRA 312 Vignette; Ofelia's story 312 1. Birth in Basigochi 314 1.1. Birth in Basigochi Compared with Birth as Depicted by Mull & Mull ... 333 2. Birth at the Clinics and Hospitals 345 3. Birth customs: Ceremonies and Taboo 354 3.1 Ko\q oiih& Owiruame 361 4. How Women Learn About Birth 363 10 TABLE OF CONTENTS - Continued NOTES TO CHAPTER VI 371 CHAPTER VII: DEATH AND BIRTH 374 Vignette: Maria's Story 374 1 Raramuri Ideas About Death and Birth 381 2. Infant Mortality 390 3. Maternal mortality 402 NOTES TO CHAPTER VII 420 CHAPTER VIII: BIRTH AND THE STATE 424 Vignette: Sofia's story 424 1. Mexican Government Health Service And Policy 424 2. Raramuri Health Care Seeking Behavior 433 3. Mestiza Midwives Role In Health Care Service Delivery In The Sierra 446 4. Family Planning Among The Raramuri 455 5. Health Care Interactions As Site Of Social Reproduction 468 NOTES TO CHAPTER Vin 479 CHAPTER IX: CONCLUDING REMARKS 481 Vignette: Silvia's story 481 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS - Continued 1. Raramuri Women's Agency Results in Pragmatic Choices 484 NOTES TO CHAPTER IX 503 APPENDIX A: PLANTS USED BY RARAMURI WOMEN DURING PREGNANCY AND BIRTH 504 A.i. Plant Use During Pregnancy and Birth 504 A.ii. The Plants 506 A.iii. Prior Research 512 APPENDIX B: KEY TO ACRONYMS USED IN TEXT 515 APPENDIX C: GLOSSARY 516 WORKS CITED 528 12 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1, Map of the Sierra Tarahumara 52 Figure 2, Graph of Tarahumara in Chihuahua City: 1954- 1999 262 Figure 3, Population Graph ofUxhm Asentimientos 272 Figure 4, Position at Birth; City Only 301 Figure 5, Attendant at Birth: City Only 302 Figure 6, Place of Birth: City Only 303 Figure 7, Features of Reproductive