ANT 373 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Ethnocentrism, Fetus, Femininity
Document Summary
The sambia are an example of a how a society uses ritual to override nature. Not only are their religious perspectives different, but also their biological view of the world. Sambians believe that females and males have different internal organs than each other. For example: women have organ inside them that produces menstrual blood. Men have organ that allows them to produce semen. How they organize space in their tribe stems from their beliefs on gender roles and pollution. Men"s house is geographically above women"s because they believe women pollute from their vaginas. If men are above the women (and their vaginas), they can avoid this pollution. There are separate paths for men and women. Menstrual house is geographically the lowest point in their society. Women always have to keep their head and body below the mans. Sexual relations can only occur in the forest, to keep from polluting the society. Biological view of men & women in the sambians.
