DOCSLIB.ORG

Exploration Into Human Polyandry: an Evolutionary Examination of the Non-Classical Cases

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Exploration Into Human Polyandry: an Evolutionary Examination of the Non-Classical Cases University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Anthropology Department Theses and Dissertations Anthropology, Department of Summer 7-30-2010 Exploration into Human Polyandry: An Evolutionary Examination of the Non-Classical Cases Kathrine E. Starkweather University of Nebraska at Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/anthrotheses Part of the Anthropology Commons Starkweather, Kathrine E., "Exploration into Human Polyandry: An Evolutionary Examination of the Non- Classical Cases" (2010). Anthropology Department Theses and Dissertations. 6. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/anthrotheses/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Anthropology, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Anthropology Department Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. EXPLORATION INTO HUMAN POLYANDRY: AN EVOLUTIONARY EXAMINATION OF THE NON-CLASSICAL CASES By Kathrine E. Starkweather Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts Major: Anthropology Under the Supervision of Professor Raymond B. Hames Lincoln, Nebraska August, 2010 EXPLORATION INTO HUMAN POLYANDRY: AN EVOLUTIONARY EXAMINATION OF THE NON-CLASSICAL CASES Kathrine Elizabeth Starkweather, M.A. University of Nebraska, 2010 Adviser: Raymond B. Hames Polyandry has occurred all over the world, among human societies at all levels of social stratification, employing all types of economic strategies. While the classical cases that appear in Southeast Asia among stratified, agricultural societies have been thoroughly studied, very little has been written on the non-classical cases. This thesis surveys fifty-two non-classical cases of polyandry and investigates the conditions under which non-classical polyandry most often occurs. This thesis also tests the following five sets of hypotheses, which were derived from theories related to both classical and non-classical polyandry: the Imbalanced Sex Ratio Hypotheses; the Prolonged Male Absence Hypotheses; the Adult Male Mortality Hypothesis; the Male Economic Production Hypothesis; and the Father Effect Hypothesis. Based on the results of these tests, a few trends seem to be descriptive of the non-classical polyandrous groups in this sample. First, the majority of the societies are egalitarian bands or tribes, practicing hunting and gathering and slash-and-burn horticulture. The presence of polyandry among these groups suggests that polyandry likely existed throughout human evolutionary history. Also, it seems that a skewed sex ratio in favor of males is an important factor contributing to the practice of non-classical polyandry, as are prolonged male absence, high adult male mortality, and high male economic production. Although prolonged male absence and adult male mortality seem to pose similar problems, the data and the case studies in this thesis suggest otherwise. It appears that non-classical formal polyandry is employed as a male reproductive strategy when instances of prolonged male absences occur, in that polyandry may function as a form of mate guarding while the primary husband is away. On the other hand, when adult male mortality is high, it seems that non-classical informal polyandry is a female reproductive strategy, utilized to ensure an investing father for children if the primary father should die. In all cases, however, it appears that non-classical polyandry is one possible solution for men to make the best of a bad situation. i Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction p. 1 Chapter 2: Methods p. 41 Chapter 3: Results p. 99 Chapter 4: Discussion p. 106 Chapter 5: Conclusions p. 117 Appendix p. 126 References p. 133 ii Figures and Tables Figure 1: Types of Polyandry p. 4 Figure 2: Polyandrous Classifications p. 7 Figure 3: Formal and Informal Polyandrous Groups p. 98 Table 1: Data on all variables for all fifty-two non-classical polyandrous societies p. 126 Table 2: Summary of Type of Polyandry, Social Stratification, Partible Paternity, Type of Economy, Male Relationship, Prolonged Male Absence, and Stability of Unions p. 129 Table 3: Relationship between Stability of Unions and Adult Sex Ratio p. 130 Table 4: Relationship between Prolonged Male Absence and Male Relationship p. 130 Table 5: Relationship between Prolonged Male Absence and Male Relationship among Formal Polyandrous groups p. 130 Table 6: Relationship between Prolonged Male Absence and Male Relationship for Egalitarian Bands or Tribes p. 131 iii Table 7: Relationship between Prolonged Male Absence and Male Relationship among Groups That Do Not Practice Partible Paternity p. 131 Table 8: Relationship between Adult Male Mortality and Male Relationship p. 131 Table 9: Relationship between Father Effect and Male Economic Contribution p. 132 Table 10: Relationship between Father Effect and Stability of Unions p. 132 Table 11: Relationship Between Stability of Unions and Male Relationship p. 132 1 Chapter 1 Introduction Polyandry is more common than the literature for the last eighty years has suggested. George P. Murdock’s Ethnographic Atlas (1967) classifies only four societies, out of 1167, as polyandrous: the Tibetans, the Toda of India, the Sherpa of Nepal, and the Marquesans of Polynesia. Despite other mentions of polyandry throughout the literature (Westermarck 1926, Prince Peter 1963, Berreman 1962, and many others), over the last six decades these four groups have been touted countless times in anthropological textbooks and other publications as the only four societies in the world to allow polyandry. This thesis will dispel these misconceptions and show that although “rare” remains an appropriate description for the occurrence of polyandry, it is a form of marriage and pair bonding that has been found on every continent and among peoples with varying levels of social stratification. It will do so by showing that these rather neglected cases of polyandry may occur under circumstances such as resource scarcity, imbalances of operational sex ratios, and in cases in which at least one father is necessary to enhance the likelihood of child survival. Murdock (1949) suggests that the extreme rarity of polyandry is nearly enough to regard it as an “ethnological curiosity” (p. 25), stating that only families in which the female is engaged in a socially sanctioned, culturally patterned marriage, which involves economic cooperation, residential cohabitation, and sexual rights with more than one man simultaneously may be considered polyandrous. Thus was the basis for his classification of only four societies in the Ethnographic Atlas (1967), as well as his exclusion of other 2 groups, such as the Pawnee (Murdock 1949). These four societies have been studied in- depth and share many social structural similarities, including agriculture, state-level political systems, stratified caste systems, and similar cultural expectations and rules about land and property inheritance. Also, aside from the Marquesans, these societies are geographically proximate and share similar ecologies. Berreman (1962) and Prince Peter (1963) have recorded an additional twenty- eight polyandrous societies that are similar to Murdock’s four societies on nearly all of the above accounts, in that they are state-level agriculturalists, living in the Southeast Asian regions in and around India, Tibet, and Nepal. The thirty-two total societies that share these characteristics will be referred to as “classical” polyandrous societies. This thesis will show that there are at least fifty-two societies not included in the scope of Murdock, Prince Peter, or Berreman’s studies that allow polyandry and that have at least one instance of polyandrous marriage or pair bonding, according to my definition, recorded in the literature. Westermarck (1926) mentions around fifteen groups or peoples that have been known to practice polyandry, and numerous other anthropologists recount cases as well. Although the stratification of these fifty-two groups varies somewhat, the majority of them live in small, egalitarian, band-level societies, practice foraging and slash-and-burn horticulture. These groups can be found all over the world in vastly different ecological conditions. Murdock (1949) said, “ … polyandry is so infrequent a phenomenon that there is no justification for assigning to it … an important place in the evolution of social organization.” The occurrence of polyandry among these egalitarian groups suggests that, in fact, it does hold an important place in human evolutionary history, making it crucial to understand as many aspects as 3 possible of polyandry in general, but especially the “non-classical” cases, to be examined and better understood. As of yet, a thorough account of non-classical polyandry has not been written. The purposes of this thesis are to do a complete investigation of all known cases of polyandry, drawing attention to the non-classical cases, to test some of the current theories that were developed to attempt to help explain classical polyandry. New theories, that were developed based on all known cases, will also be suggested and tested. These theories will lead to a more in-depth understanding of the conditions under which non-classical polyandry is likely to occur and will attempt to give a better understanding of the practice of polyandry as a
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Polyandrous Society in Transition: a CASE STUDY of JAUNSAR-BAWAR
    10/31/2014 A Polyandrous Society in transition: A CASE STUDY OF JAUNSAR-BAWAR SUBMITTED BY: Nargis Jahan IndraniTalukdar ShrutiChoudhary (Department of Sociology) (Delhi School of Economics) Abstract Man being a social animal cannot survive alone and has therefore been livingin groups or communities called families for ages. How these ‘families’ come about through the institution of marriage or any other way is rather an elaborate and an arduous notion. India along with its diverse people and societies offers innumerable ways by which people unite to come together as a family. Polyandry is one such way that has been prevalent in various regions of the sub-continent evidently among the Paharis of Himachal Pradesh, the Todas of Nilgiris, Nairs of Travancore and the Ezhavas of Malabar. While polyandrous unions have disappeared from the traditions of many of the groups and tribes, it is still practiced by some Jaunsaris—an ethnic group living in the lower Himalayan range—especially in the JaunsarBawar region of Uttarakhand.The concept of polyandry is so vast and mystifying that people who have just heard of the practice or the people who even did an in- depth study of it are confused in certain matters regarding it. This thesis aims at providing answers to many questions arising in the minds of people who have little or no knowledge of this subject. In this paper we have tried to find out why people follow this tradition and whether or not it has undergone transition. Also its various characteristics along with its socio-economic issues like the state and position of women in such a society and how the economic balance in a polyandrous family is maintained has been looked into.
    [Show full text]
  • Marriages by Non-Religious Belief Organisations: Summary of Written Responses to the Consultation and Government Response
    Marriages by Non-Religious Belief Organisations: Summary of Written Responses to the Consultation and Government Response This response is published on 18 December 2014 Marriages by Non-Religious Belief Organisations Summary of Written Responses to the Consultation and Government Response Response to consultation carried out by the Ministry of Justice. This information is also available at https://consult.justice.gov.uk/ Marriages by Non-Religious Belief Organisations: Summary of responses Contents Executive Summary 3 Introduction 6 Background 7 Types and number of responses 12 The Government’s Response 13 Consultation principles 16 Annex A – consultation on non-religious belief marriages: summary of responses 17 Annex B – List of group respondents 36 1 Marriages by Non-Religious Belief Organisations: Summary of responses 2 Marriages by Non-Religious Belief Organisations: Summary of responses Executive Summary Introduction 1. The consultation paper, Marriages by non-religious belief organisations, was published on 26 June 2014 in accordance with section 14 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (“the 2013 Act”). Section 14 requires the Secretary of State to arrange for a review of whether the law should be changed to permit non-religious belief organisations1 to solemnize marriages in England and Wales. 2. The aim of the consultation was to seek views on whether there is a substantial case for permitting legally valid marriage ceremonies for those of humanist belief and potentially other non-religious belief, or whether the current approach should remain. We also sought views on which organisations would be captured by a change in the law and how such a change should be implemented.
    [Show full text]
  • Civil Consequences of Marriage Within Statutory Prohibition: Effect of a Removal of the Impediment Donald J
    Notre Dame Law Review Volume 29 | Issue 1 Article 6 10-1-1953 Civil Consequences of Marriage within Statutory Prohibition: Effect of a Removal of the Impediment Donald J. Prebenda Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.law.nd.edu/ndlr Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Donald J. Prebenda, Civil Consequences of Marriage within Statutory Prohibition: Effect of a Removal of the Impediment, 29 Notre Dame L. Rev. 80 (1953). Available at: http://scholarship.law.nd.edu/ndlr/vol29/iss1/6 This Note is brought to you for free and open access by NDLScholarship. It has been accepted for inclusion in Notre Dame Law Review by an authorized administrator of NDLScholarship. For more information, please contact [email protected]. NOTRE DAME LAWYER The writer favors the opposite position, namely, that no abrogation should be grarited, in cases where the basis for the petition is pecuniary interests, such as title to property, heirship, and the like. Either on the grounds of estoppel, or simply in principles of equity, adoptive parents should not be permitted to alter the status of the child as it best suits their financial interests for the moment. Joseph T. Helling. Domestic Relations CIVIL CONSEQUENCES OF MARRIAGE WITHIN STATUTORY PROHIBITION: EFFECT OF A REMOVAL OF THE IMPEDIMENT In the United States statutory provisions concerning marriage are multiple and diversified. The legislatures of each state, empowered by constitutional authority to protect and safeguard public morals, have enacted what may be termed protective standards in regard to classes of people who may legally enter into a marital relationship.
    [Show full text]
  • Hjar 41 (1) 2015
    HIMACHAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH Vol. 41 (1), June 2015 DIRECTORATE OF RESEARCH CSK HIMACHAL PRADESH KRISHI VISHVAVIDYALAYA PALAMPUR-176 062, INDIA Regd. No. 8270-74 dated 13.12.1973 HIMACHAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH Vol. 41 No. 1 June 2015 Page No. Contents Vegetable grafting: a boon to vegetable growers to combat biotic and abiotic stresses 1-5 Pardeep Kumar, Shivani Rana, Parveen Sharma and Viplove Negi Impact of rainfall on area and production of rabi oilseed crops in Himachal Pradesh 6-12 Rajendra Prasad and Vedna Kumari Impact of National Agricultural Innovation Project on socio-economic analysis of pashmina goat 13-19 keepers in Himachal Pradesh M.S. Pathania Production potential of rice-based cropping sequences on farmers’ fields in low hills of Kangra 20-24 district of Himachal Pradesh S.K. Sharma, S.S. Rana, S. K. Subehia and S.C. Negi Economics of post-emergence weed control in garden pea ( Pisum sativum L.) under mid hill 25-29 condition of Himachal Pradesh Anil Kumar Mawalia, Suresh Kumar and S.S. Rana Studies on the preparation and evaluation of value added products from giloy ( Tinospora cordi- 30-35 folia ) Sangeeta Sood and Shilpa Factors affecting socio-economic status of farm workers of tea industry in Himachal Pradesh 36-41 Parmod Verma and Sonika Gupta Assessment of yield and nutrient losses due to weeds in maize based cropping systems 42-48 Suresha, Ashish Kumar, S.S. Rana, S.C. Negi and Suresh Kumar Analysis of yield gaps in black gram ( Vigna mungo ) in district Bilaspur of Himachal Pradesh 49-54 Subhash Kumar, A.K.
    [Show full text]
  • Tibetan Fraternal Polyandry: a Review of Its Advantages and Breakdown
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Nebraska Anthropologist Anthropology, Department of 1997 Tibetan Fraternal Polyandry: A Review of its Advantages and Breakdown Jeff Willett Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebanthro Part of the Anthropology Commons Willett, Jeff, "Tibetan Fraternal Polyandry: A Review of its Advantages and Breakdown" (1997). Nebraska Anthropologist. 113. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebanthro/113 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Anthropology, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Anthropologist by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Tibetan Fraternal Polyandry: A Review of its Advantages and Breakdown Jeff Willett ·Polyandry is primarily selected caused by the younger brothers of the not for bread and butter motives - household, because of unhappiness fear of starvation in a difficult with their spouse, their lower environment - but rather primarily reproductive success than older for the Tibetan equivalent of brothers, a desire for personal oysters, champagne, and social autonomy, and difficulty in maintaining a esteem.- Melvyn C. Goldstein (1978). large household. Goldstein (1981) also finds that brothers are more likely to The fraternal polyandry marriage leave polyandrous marriages when relationship of Tibet is widely considered unexpected economic opportunities to be a means of preventing the division arise. of a family's resources among its male heirs. As a family resource preservation Tibetan Fraternal Polyandry strategy, Tibetan polyandry Fraternal polyandry is the accomplishes the same goal of the preferred form of marriage among the European stem family system, but in a culturally Tibetan villages where Levine very different way.
    [Show full text]
  • Mini-Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of The
    A Multidisciplinary Analysis of Prevalence of Polygamous Marriages in the Gambia MINI-DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY HUMAN RIGHTS LAW CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, FACULTY OF LAW UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA SUBMITTED BY NUHA SAIDY STUDENT NO: 15265545 SUPERVISOR PROFESSOR M HANSUNGULE May 2017 1 © University of Pretoria Declaration I declare that this mini dissertation is my original work. Where other peoples work has been used either from print or internet, this has been properly acknowledged and referenced in accordance with the requirements of the department. I have not used work previously produced by another student or any other person to hand in as my own. I have not allowed, and will not allow, anyone to copy my work with the intention of passing it off as his or her own work. Signature of student…………………………… Date………………………… 2 © University of Pretoria ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Firstly, author would like to express loving gratitude to her finance, Margrieta Jansen and her husband, Meinte, who all inspired the author to continue with the study, motivated and stood by the author in times of distress. I would also like to thank Prof. Michelo Hansugule, my thesis advisor, for his patience, guidance, wisdom, support and understanding in the formulation and completion of this paper. His kindness and understanding allowed this research to be conducted from beginning to end. I am also grateful to following people: Cristiano D’orsi, Peter Mendy (human rights activist in the Gambia) and Sherrif Kumba Jobe (Barrister and Solicitor) for their diligently and carefully reviewed all the drafts and provided insightful comments to make this mini-dissertation more meaningful, coherent and of the highest possible quality.
    [Show full text]
  • Himachal Pradesh in the Indian Himalaya
    Mountain Livelihoods in Transition: Constraints and Opportunities in Kinnaur, Western Himalaya By Aghaghia Rahimzadeh A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science, Policy and Management in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Louise P. Fortmann, Chair Professor Nancy Lee Peluso Professor Isha Ray Professor Carolyn Finney Spring 2016 Mountain Livelihoods in Transition: Constraints and Opportunities in Kinnaur, Western Himalaya Copyright © 2016 By Aghaghia Rahimzadeh Abstract Mountain Livelihoods in Transition: Constraints and Opportunities in Kinnaur, Western Himalaya by Aghaghia Rahimzadeh Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science, Policy and Management University of California, Berkeley Professor Louise P. Fortmann, Chair This dissertation investigates the transformation of the district of Kinnaur in the state of Himachal Pradesh in the Indian Himalaya. I examine Kinnauri adaptation to political, economic, environmental, and social events of the last seven decades, including state intervention, market integration, and climate change. Broadly, I examine drivers of change in Kinnaur, and the implications of these changes on social, cultural, political, and environmental dynamics of the district. Based on findings from 11 months of ethnographic field work, I argue that Kinnaur’s transformation and current economic prosperity have been chiefly induced by outside forces, creating a temporary landscape of opportunity. State-led interventions including land reform and a push to supplement subsistence agriculture with commercial horticulture initiated a significant agrarian transition beginning with India’s Independence. I provide detailed examination of the Nautor Land Rules of 1968 and the 1972 Himachel Pradesh Ceiling of Land Holding Act, and their repercussion on land allocation to landless Kinnauris.
    [Show full text]
  • Marten Stol WOMEN in the ANCIENT NEAR EAST
    Marten Stol WOMEN IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST Marten Stol Women in the Ancient Near East Marten Stol Women in the Ancient Near East Translated by Helen and Mervyn Richardson ISBN 978-1-61451-323-0 e-ISBN (PDF) 978-1-61451-263-9 e-ISBN (EPUB) 978-1-5015-0021-3 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- NoDerivs 3.0 License. For details go to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-nc-nd/3.0/ Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A CIP catalog record for this book has been applied for at the Library of Congress. Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data are available on the Internet at http://dnb.dnb.de. Original edition: Vrouwen van Babylon. Prinsessen, priesteressen, prostituees in de bakermat van de cultuur. Uitgeverij Kok, Utrecht (2012). Translated by Helen and Mervyn Richardson © 2016 Walter de Gruyter Inc., Boston/Berlin Cover Image: Marten Stol Typesetting: Dörlemann Satz GmbH & Co. KG, Lemförde Printing and binding: cpi books GmbH, Leck ♾ Printed on acid-free paper Printed in Germany www.degruyter.com Table of Contents Introduction 1 Map 5 1 Her outward appearance 7 1.1 Phases of life 7 1.2 The girl 10 1.3 The virgin 13 1.4 Women’s clothing 17 1.5 Cosmetics and beauty 47 1.6 The language of women 56 1.7 Women’s names 58 2 Marriage 60 2.1 Preparations 62 2.2 Age for marrying 66 2.3 Regulations 67 2.4 The betrothal 72 2.5 The wedding 93 2.6
    [Show full text]
  • Family Law and Forced Marriage in NSW
    Factsheet 11 Family Law and Forced Marriage in NSW When can a person get married in Australia? Anyone over the age of 18 can get married provided they fully and freely consent to the marriage. The only people who can give their consent to be married are the two people getting married. A parent, family or cultural groups cannot decide that a person should be married. Forcing someone to get married, either in Australia or overseas is a crime. If a person is aged 16 or 17, they need special permission from a Judge and their parents to be legally married. In Australia no one under the age of 16 can get married in any circumstances. What is an arranged marriage and what is a forced marriage? Arranged marriages are common in many different cultures and can be valid under Australian law. An arranged marriage occurs when a partner is selected for a person to marry. The parties have an opportunity to meet one another and give their own consent before getting married. A forced marriage occurs if someone does not want to marry another person but gets married because of external pressure such as family, religious or cultural pressure. In these marriages one or both parties do not freely and fully consent to marry the other person but do so because of force, duress or threats. These types of marriages are illegal in Australia and carry a maximum sentence of seven to nine years in prison. Forced marriage can occur in both Australia and overseas. In Australia it is a crime for someone to officiate a marriage if they know that one or both parties do not consent, or if someone is underage.
    [Show full text]
  • Echoes of the Orient : the Writings of William Quan Judge / Compiled by Dara Eklund
    ECHOES ORIENTof the VOLUME III The Writings of William Quan Judge This volume is divided into five cutting right through rigid thinking sections, the first a series of articles and the nonsense of pseudo-occultism. introducing theosophical concepts It is refreshing to read clear, simply- which Judge wrote for Kate Field’s worded sentences free of the misty Washington, under the title “Echoes “sweetness and light” or clever but from the Orient.” Sections 2-4 con- vague language that characterizes tain tracts and pamphlets issued by much new-age literature today. As Judge — including his highly-esteemed straightforward as Judge is, his per- “Epitome of Theosophy” — as well spective is clearly rooted in a larger as articles in newspapers and jour- philosophic background, oriented nals other than those in the first two towards universal brotherhood, innate volumes, and miscellanea (extracts, hu man dignity, and the inestimable undated articles, etc.). The fifth and worth of altruistic motive and service. largest section, comprising nearly Never condescending, but always the half the volume, is devoted to “Sug- Esotericist, a student/teacher with gestions and Aids” issued to students whom we can easily relate, Judge of the Eastern School of Theosophy, transmits the perennial wisdom in a founded by H.P.B. with Judge’s assis- way that encourages us to broaden our tance in 1888. These papers deal with views and thus to see in everyone and matters more directly pertinent to everything vibrant expressions of the theosophists, as well as with the core divine force permeating the universe. purposes of the Theosophical Society and its founders, the Mahatmas.
    [Show full text]
  • Seymour on Bizzocchi, 'A Lady's Man: the Cicisbei, Private Morals and National Identity in Italy'
    H-Histsex Seymour on Bizzocchi, 'A Lady's Man: The Cicisbei, Private Morals and National Identity in Italy' Review published on Friday, November 6, 2015 Roberto Bizzocchi. A Lady's Man: The Cicisbei, Private Morals and National Identity in Italy. Translated by Noor Giovanni Mazhar. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014. 320 pp. $90.00 (cloth), ISBN 978-1-137-45092-0. Reviewed by Mark Seymour (University of Otago) Published on H-Histsex (November, 2015) Commissioned by Chiara Beccalossi Citation: H-Net Reviews. Seymour on Bizzocchi, 'A Lady's Man: The Cicisbei, Private Morals and National Identity in Italy'. H-Histsex. 11-10-2015. https://networks.h-net.org/node/6056/reviews/94549/seymour-bizzocchi-ladys-man-cicisbei-private-morals-and-national Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. 1 H-Histsex Let us throw common wisdom about judging books to the wind and begin with the cover (http://www.palgrave.com/page/detail/a-ladys-man-roberto-bizzocchi/?isb=9781137450920): a beguiling image by Giandomenico Tiepolo centers on an elegant lady in a long yellow dress, viewed entirely from behind. She is supported at each elbow by gentlemen in frock coats and knee breeches. The intimate trio are just embarking on a promenade, and one of the men throws back an ambiguous glance. Painted shortly after the French Revolution, the image poignantly captures not just the courtly formality of the age, but the intriguing social custom that forms this book’s subject. Cicisbei were fully sanctioned male companions of other men’s wives in eighteenth-century Italy.
    [Show full text]
  • Marriage Traditions, Preparation for Marriage Began at Puberty
    ALUT ii Q MA RR ia GE In Classical Alutiiq society, before the introduction of Christian marriage traditions, preparation for marriage began at puberty. At the onset of her menstrual period, a girl was secluded in special hut for at least 10 days. This prevented her new and powerful life-giving abilities from polluting hunting gear or diminishing the hunting luck of the men in her family. This ritual separation also marked her transition into womanhood. When she emerged from seclusion, she received chin tattoos, fine black lines that signaled her readiness for marriage. Marriages were either arranged or formed by mutual consent. A couple might approach their parents for permission to marry, or parents might plan their children’s engagement. Alutiiqs formalized marriages with valuable gifts. Prospective in-laws exchanged items to symbolize their acceptance of a union. With the gifts bestowed, the groom went to live with his bride, working to assist her family. There was no formal ceremony at the time of marriage, although some families recognized new unions with celebrations at winter festivals. After marriage, a woman might add additional tattoos to her body or hands as a sign of love for her husband. Marriages were usually monogamous - one man married one women. However, polyandry - marriage to multiple husbands - did occur. Wealthy women would sometimes marry a Sheratin wedding, second husband to assist with household chores. Afognak village, ca. 1914. Alutiiqs began adopting Some of the women have two husbands; the first is the real one western marriage and he selects the second with the consent of his wife.
    [Show full text]