Download Human Sexuality and Arranged Marriage

Human Sexuality and
Arranged Marriage
By: Dimple Sharma, Uthman Ali, Enrique Nadarajah,
and Jasveen K. Singh
Trobriand Islanders
Trobriand Islanders
Children who have reached ages 7-8,
begin playing erotic (tending to arouse sexual desire or
excitement) games with one another
start to imitate adult seductive attitudes
Children who have reached ages 11-12,
pursuit in finding sexual partners
extensively promiscuous (having multiple short lasting sexual
relationships)
experimenting sexually with partners
Mid teens who have reached ages 15-17
begin to meet up with lovers all night
if person is suitable to recommendation, they meet often
Trobriand Islanders cont.
When the couple is ready to announce their proposal of marriage,
they appear in front of the young man’s house early in the
morning to let everyone know of their intentions
Young Trobriander’s spend a great amount of time making
themselves look attractive and seductive as possible
very serious part of young adolescents life
Engage themselves into very youthful conversations to entice
partner with
filled with sexual innuendos (sly sexual implications)
magical spells
small gifts
Youthful males and females sleep apart from their parents on
beaches and other designated areas
considerably equal freedom for both genders
Trobriand Islanders cont.
Anthropologist, Annette Weiner claims that this sexual practice is
not a frivolous (not having any serious purpose or value)
adolescent pastime, but serious matter
an important step into adulthood
self control is gained
sexual liaisons (communication in a relationship between
people/ organizations) give adolescents to experiment all the
possibilities and problems
creating strong eternal bonds
exemplifies individual will, patience, hard work and
determination to attain partner
display dangers, disillusionments (a feeling of disappointment
resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as
one believed it to be)
Trobriand vs. North American
Society
North American’s not supposed to be engaging in
sexual relations outside of wedlock (state of being
married)
North American society not as open to the approval of
such relations
social pressure
consequences
Human Sexuality
Human Sexuality
Fairly recent interest of anthropologists
Margret Mead (1935) and Bronsilaw Malinowski (1929) are the
first two anthropologists to study humans as sexual beings
Since their original work very few anthropological studies have been
done
It is difficult as many people are private about their sexual lives
Especially if they fall out of the norms
Eg. Gay or lesbian or teen premarital sexual activity
Some anthropologists may also face difficulties because they feel
uncomfortable because of their own feelings or gender barriers
(females refusing to discuss their sexuality with strange males)
Human Sexuality cont.
However, cross-cultural studies of human sexuality have become
more common since the 1980’s
There is a great deal of variation about how sexuality is viewed,
controlled and practiced
To define sexuality would take as many definitions as there are
relationships
Eg. A woman in a lesbian relationship views it different from a
woman in a heterosexual relationship etc.
Human Sexuality cont.
Though human sexuality is rooted in our biological
nature, it is also influenced by our culture
Mukkuvar people in south India see female sexuality
inseparable from fertility
Christian societies believe in chastity
The Ju/’hoansi view sexuality amongst the children as
natural (still have rules)
Sexual human relationships are dealt in every culture
in a different way
Homosexuality
Seen in a global perspective
Homosexuality is seen across the globe
and has been for a very long time.
Homosexuality (Western Culture): The
desire to have sexual relations with
someone of the same sex.
The Navajo of the United States believes
that homosexuality has more to do with
gender and gender roles than one’s sex.
In many cultures homosexuality is
socially accepted and natural (eg.
Ancient Greece & Papua New Guinea).
Papua New Guinea – initiation into
manhood included an element of
homosexuality.
The Etero believe that heterosexual
intercourse actually weakens males, and
should only take place for reproduction.
Transgenders or Alternative
Genders
Transgenders are people who believe that their sex does not
fit into their male or female gender.
Transgenders or “Two-Spirits” are recognized by at 113
aboriginal groups in North America (eg. Ingalik of Alaska &
the Mojave of California).
Two-Spirits may for sexual and emotional bonds with those of
the same sex.
When one decides to change genders they can enjoy special
status in the community and also take on new social, religious
and economic roles:
Hunters
Warriors
Chiefs.
Anthropological Studies of
Homosexuality
The field of homosexuality has taken some time to develop into a
legitimate field of study.
One of the most studied institutionalized same-sex communities
amongst women was the 19th century Chinese sisterhood of
Guangdon.
Those in these sisterhoods who had sexual relations with women
vowed to their Goddess Guan Yin that they would never marry a
man.
These sisterhoods acted as a support network for women, living in
cooperative houses and helped one another.
Along with the victory of the Red Army (1949), these sisterhoods
were banned and many members fled the country.
These studies focused more on the employment aspects of the
sisterhood, avoiding its lesbian nature.
What’s Next?
Avoidance of homosexuality is anthropology is changing.
There are more ethnographers studying the topic now such as Gloria
Wekker.
Investigated the female mati of Paramaribo, Suriname who has sexual
relations with both men and women, either simultaneously or
consecutively.
Studies from ethnographers such as Wekker are raising interesting
questions in regards to cultures in relation to homosexual behavior and
homosexual identity.
Arranged Marriage (Indian
Subcontinent)
Arranged Marriage (Indian
Subcontinent)
Arranged Marriage - Type of marital unification where
a bride and groom are chosen by a third party, rather
than each other.
Question to consider - Are arranged marriages happier
than traditional North American style marriages?
In an Arranged Marriage …
A families reputation is very important
Matches are arranged mostly between the same caste
and social class (Some exceptions)
A dowry is common among many arranged marriages
But Wait …
Dowry- Is the payment of cash or gifts from the brides
family to the bridegrooms family
Although the Dowry is illegal, extensive gift exchange
produce a smooth relation between the new in-laws
Many Economic, Social and Political reasons for the Dowry
Ex. The dowry reflects the economic status of the brides
family)
If the Grooms family is not satisfied with the Dowry, it
may result in harassment of brides… in some cases murder
(Dowry Death)
In an Arranged Marriage cont.
A girls looks are key, however a good character is the single
most important quality
Ex. Bride may think of herself too “good” for her new family)
Families with history of gossip and drama find it difficult to
get a marriage
If a woman is too educated it may be seen as a negative
feature
The burden of adjustment, is more prevalent in the bride
than the groom
Ex. The bride usually moves in with new family, sometimes
she may move very far from her family
Statistics
90 % of Indian marriages are arranged
55 % of worldwide marriages are arranged
1.1 % of Indian marriages end up in a divorce
Global divorce rate of arranged marriages is 4%
Statistic Verification
Source: UNICEF, Human Rights Council, ABC News
Research Date: 8.16.2012