SOC 502 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Indian Register, Matrilocal Residence, Nuclear Family
20 Mar 2016
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Document Summary
Communiies were matriarchal: female heads of families, women controlled allocaions of work and distribuion of all goods and foods produced by family members. Followed matrilineal descent: children belonged to mother"s tribe. Families matrilocal- live with woman"s relaives: gave women power, could rely on other women for help with household duies, gathering, childcare and childbirth. Division of labour in aboriginal communiies and families. Women"s producive and reproducive labour vital to subsistence and survival of society. Women were gatherers- provided majority of food. Gender division of labour was not synonymous with gender inequality. Food hunted by men, turned over to women for distribuion. Right to divorce husband, sexual freedom outside marriage, own and control land and produce. Female elders held equally high posiions of respect, wisdom and power as elder males. Non-existence of family violence in pre-colonial aboriginal families. Culture and religion based on ideals of respect for all members, nature and the environment.
