article

Ladies, livestock, land and lucre: women's networks and social status on the western Navajo reservation

American Indian quarterly6 (1 & 2) • Published In 1982 • Pages: 105-124

By: Conte, Christine.

Abstract
This is an account of women's economic strategies in a remote part of the Navajo reservation. Black Mesa families are a mix of part-time and full-time residents, mostly all related through the female line. Conte found a high degree of cooperation among sisters living in different households, helping each other to manage livestock, garden, gather pine nuts, and transportation. She also discusses disputes over grazing rights between part-time and full-time residents and plans by the latter to fence off their property and charge grazing fees to outsiders. According to Conte, women's status is based on the kinship relations activated in the above activities and exchanges.
Subjects
Collecting
Production and supply
Division of labor by gender
Mutual aid
Household
Extended families
culture
Navajo
HRAF PubDate
2004
Region
North America
Sub Region
Southwest and Basin
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 2003
Field Date
1976, 1981
Coverage Date
1941-1981
Coverage Place
Black Mesa, Arizona, United States
Notes
Christine Conte
Includes bibliographical references (p. 123-124)
LCCN
74647596
LCSH
Navajo Indians