essay
Open body/closed space: the transformation of female sexuality
defining females : the nature of women in society • New York • Published In 1978 • Pages: 66-88
By: Hirschon, Renee.
Abstract
In this paper, Hirschon examines beliefs regarding the physical and symbolic attributes of women, which she argues together influence women's conduct and status. According to Hirschon, Greeks believe that women can control their sexual urges whereas men cannot and that sexuality should only be expressed heterosexually. Women's sexuality threatens family honor and social order. The control of a woman's sexuality is therefore a moral imperative, which is achieved through marriage and domestic life, with its imposed restrictions on women's movement, time, and speech. Sex is sanctified through children and women are redeemed through childbirth. The symbolic order contains the duality of auspicious 'open' and inauspicious 'closed' states. Openness for women only comes with marriage, domesticity, and childbearing; activities for which women depend on men.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2003
- Region
- Europe
- Sub Region
- Southeastern Europe
- Document Type
- essay
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard ; 2002
- Field Date
- 1969-1972
- Coverage Date
- 1970s
- Coverage Place
- Nea Ephesos, Piraeus, Greece
- Notes
- René Hirschon
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 88)
- LCCN
- 78016867
- LCSH
- Greece