Human Sexuality and Arranged Marriage - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Human Sexuality and Arranged Marriage

By: Dimple Sharma, Uthman Ali, Enrique Nadarajah, and Jasveen K. Singh Slide2

Trobriand IslandersSlide3

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 IslandersSlide4

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.Slide5

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

adulthoodself 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)Slide6

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 Slide7

Human Sexuality Slide8

Human Sexuality

Fairly recent interest of anthropologistsMargret 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)Slide9

Human Sexuality cont.

However, cross-cultural studies of human sexuality have become more common since the 1980’sThere 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. Slide10

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 Slide11

Homosexuality

Seen in a global perspective Slide12

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. Slide13

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:HuntersWarriors Chiefs.Slide14

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 19

th

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.Slide15

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. Slide16

Arranged Marriage (Indian Subcontinent)

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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?Slide18

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 Slide19

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)Slide20

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 marriageIf a woman is too educated it may be seen as a negative featureThe 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 familySlide21

Statistics

90 % of Indian marriages are arranged55 % of worldwide marriages are arranged1.1 % 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: 8.16.2012Slide22
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