article
Sematic slippage and moral fall: the rhetoric of chastity in rural Greek society
Journal of modern Greek studies • 1 (1) • Published In 1983 • Pages: 161-172
By: Herzfeld, Michael.
Abstract
In this paper, Herzfeld examines marriage and the rhetoric of chastity in rural society. Although brides are expected to be virgins this is often not the case, today or in the past. According to Herzfeld the believed rectitude of past generations is merely an ideological construction, an unattainable ideal that nevertheless serves as a measure for human action. Supposedly, the meaning of the word GáMOS has changed over time from 'marriage' to 'copulation.' However, Herzfeld argues that the word always contained both meanings, because marriage confers the right to engage in sexual relations. Whether the latter is achieved before or after the wedding ceremony is often overlooked, especially with concerns about a woman's fertility being paramount. The past in this case is an ideological construct, not an historical fact. Ethnographers beware!
- HRAF PubDate
- 2003
- Region
- Europe
- Sub Region
- Southeastern Europe
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard ; 2002
- Field Date
- 1974
- Coverage Place
- 'Pefko', Rhodes, and 'Glendi', Crete, Greece
- Notes
- Michael Herzfeld
- Special Issue: Women and men in Greece : a society in transition
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 172)
- LCCN
- 84642094
- LCSH
- Greece