article

Sheikhanzai women: sisters, mothers and wives

Ethnos52 • Published In 1987 • Pages: 180-199

By: Tavakolian, Bahram.

Abstract
This article focuses on the role of women as managers of resources in the goat-and-sheep-herding economy of the Sheikhanzai pastoralists of Afghanistan. The author first reviews the literature concerning women's contributions in pastoralist societies of the Middle East. A discussion of social organization of the Sheikhanzai camps follows. The number of animals owned determines the size of households which in turn are grouped together to form a camp. According to the author's thesis, women's power is derived from two aspects of their domestic roles. First, women have control over wool and hair by-products from which tents are made and they are particularly responsible for dairy production and household distribution. Second, even after women are married, they maintain close ties to their brothers thereby influencing the lives of both men and women in the camps.
Subjects
Gender status
Lineages
Household
Social relationships and groups
Mode of marriage
Arranging a marriage
Visiting and hospitality
Pastoral activities
Dairying
Kin relationships
culture
Pashtun
HRAF PubDate
2002
Region
Asia
Sub Region
Central Asia
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Delores Walters ; 1988
Field Date
1976-1977
Coverage Date
1976-1977
Coverage Place
Sheikhanzai Pashtun, western Afghanistan
Notes
Bahram Tavakolian
Includes bibliographical references (p. 198-199)
LCCN
45053696
LCSH
Pushtuns