The Sambia : ritual and gender in New Guinea

Abstract

This is a cultural and psychological case study of gender identity and sexual development in a New Guinea Highlands society. The text shows the development of Sambia male heterosexual identity emerging from prolonged ritualised homosexuality. The author draws on initiation rites and socialisation studies and contrasts the Sambia with other societies including our own. Each chapter includes an introduction to key social problems as seen by both the anthropologist and the indigenous people, and the author offers psychological and interpretive understanding of his own perspective and role in the culture, bringing the subject to life by allowing students to see how the values and background of anthropologists influence their work.

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