article

The Unequal brothers-in-law: Indonesia as a 'field of anthropological study' and the case of the Mentawai

Bijdragen tot de taal-, land-, en volkenkunde -- , [Anthropologica142 (1) • Published In 1986 • Pages: 69-86

By: Schefold, Reimar.

Abstract
This article opens with an introductory section on the concept of Indonesia as a "field of anthropological study" using concepts of construction based on the writings of J. P. B. de Josselin de Jong, P. E. de Josselin de Jong, and Claude Lévi-Strauss. After a brief outline of certain culture elements relevant to his study (e.g., marriage patterns, kinship, etc.), Shefold turns to the main theme of this essay, the role of the brother-in-law in Mentaweian society. This discussion involves not only the relationship between brothers-in-law, but also their significance in marriage and inheritance. Although most of the data presented in this work are derived from the island of Siberut, the largest island in the Mentawei archipelago, some comparative information is also provided on the North and South Pagai Islands of the same group.
Subjects
Theoretical orientation in research and its results
Cultural participation
Inheritance
Regulation of marriage
Mode of marriage
Parents-in-law and children-in-law
Siblings-in-law
Clans
Community structure
culture
Mentawaians
HRAF PubDate
2000
Region
Asia
Sub Region
Southeast Asia
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 2000
Field Date
1967-1969, 1974, 1978, 1982
Coverage Date
not specified
Coverage Place
Siberut, Mentawei Islands, west of Sumatra, Indonesia
Notes
Reimar Schefold
Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-86)
LCCN
sn86000287
LCSH
Mentawai (Indonesian people)