essay

Gender and Navajo music: unanswered questions

women in north american indian music : six essays • (6) • Published In 1989 • Pages: 22-38

By: Frisbie, Charlotte Johnson.

Abstract

In this paper, Frisbie examines the relationship between gender and music, including traditional and 'new music.' She first looks at idealized constructions of gender and the sexual division of labor as conveyed in myths. The Navajo conceive a dualistic universe of good and evil, day and night, male and female, etc. The motion of the universe is caused by imbalance in these relational pairs--not necessarily a bad thing, the alternative being static. Gender relations are conceived as complimentary, not polarized. The Holy People brought the world into existence and ordered it through singing. The Navajo have many different kinds of songs. Both men and women are free to sing songs, although traditionally women were not allowed to perform at ceremonies and when menstruating. Because of these taboos, early ethnographers considered them 'songless.' Both sexes perform the 'new music' at fairs, festivals, powwows, etc. Frisbie further examines the different kinds of songs men and women sing and the differences in their style of singing.

HRAF PubDate

2004

Region

North America

Sub Region

Southwest and Basin

Document Type

essay

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Ian Skoggard; 2003

Field Date

1963-1984

Coverage Date

1909-1989

Coverage Place

Navajo Reservation, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, United States

Notes

Charlotte J. Frisbie

Includes bibliographical references (p. 35-38)

LCCN

89021669

LCSH

Navajo Indians