essay

The social position of the woman among the Eastern Bororo

Ensaios de etnologia Brasileira, by Herbert Baldus • 101 • Published In 1937 • Pages: 112-162, 323-330 , 16 plates (9-24)

By: Baldus, Herbert, Lillios, Ivana.

Abstract

This essay has two purposes. In terms of the data, it seeks to demonstrate the social equality of Bororo women. In terms of method, it attempts to point out that our interpretation of a situation may be faulty if it does not include how the natives understand it and their reasons for behaving as they do. Baldus discusses infanticide, sexual behavior, sexual division of labor, and mythology to demonstrate the falsity of the European conclusion of a slavelike female status. Using brief comparisons with other cultures, he points out for instance, that female infanticide may be interpreted in two ways. It may show that males are more valued (and hence increases their proportion) or that females are (the fewer there are, the greater their value). So the reasons must be understood. He also mentions that contrary to other statements, female infanticide is not a Bororo institution. Thus his essay is both a description of social relations among the Bororo bolstered by evidence from a number of areas (values, sex, labor and myth) and a cautionary essay on interpretation.

HRAF PubDate

1996

Region

South America

Sub Region

Eastern South America

Document Type

essay

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Martin Malone ; 1975

Field Date

1934-1935

Coverage Date

not specified

Coverage Place

Eastern Bororo; Sao José, Sangradouro, Coraçao de Jésus, and Meruri, Mato Grosso Province, Brazil

Notes

by Herbert Baldus

Male-female relations have been indexed for Gender Status (562).

Translation of: A posiçao social da mulher entre os Bororo orientais.

The original Portuguese text is not included.

Translated from the original Portuguese for the HRAF files by Ivana Lillios

LCSH

Bororo Indians