Matriarchal Societies: Studies on Indigenous Cultures Across the Globe

Description

This book presents the results of Heide Goettner-Abendroth’s pioneering research in the field of modern matriarchal studies, based on a new definition of «matriarchy» as true gender-egalitarian societies. Accordingly, matriarchal societies should not be regarded as mirror images of patriarchal ones, as they have never needed patriarchy’s hierarchical structures of domination. On the contrary, matriarchal patterns are socially egalitarian, economically balanced, and politically based on consensus decisions. They have been created by women and are founded on maternal values. This new perspective on matriarchal societies is developed step by step by the analysis of extant indigenous cultures in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Contents Acknowledgments xiii A Word on Matriarchy xv General Introduction: Philosophy and Methodology of Modern Matriarchal Studies xvii Chapter 1. A Critical History of Perspectives on Matriarchy 1 1.1 The pioneers 1.2 The Marxist discussion 1.3 The anthropological-ethnological branch 1.4 The prehistory branch 1.5 The religious studies branch 1.6 The branch of study of oral traditions 1.7 The archaeological branch 1.8 Feminist and indigenous Matriarchal Studies PART I: INDIGENOUS MATRIARCHAL SOCIETIES IN EASTERN ASIA, INDONESIA, AND OCEANIA Chapter 2: Matriarchy in Northeast India 45 2.1 Khasi: the land and the people 2.2 Social structure 2.3 Political patterns 2.4 Belief and sacred ceremony 2.5 The current situation 2.6 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies Chapter 3: Matriarchal Cults in Nepal 68 3.1 The Newar of the Katmandu Valley 3.2 The cult of the goddess Kali 3.3 Pashupatinath: the cult of death and life 3.4 Kumari, the living goddess 3.5 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation) Chapter 4: Ancient Queens Realms and Group Marriage in Tibet 87 4.1 Planting and herding cultures 4.2 The Bon Religion 4.3 Ancient Tibetans queens’ realms 4.4 Polyandry as well-organised group marriage 4.5 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation) Chapter 5: Matriarchal Mountain Peoples of China 105 5.1 Indigenous peoples in China 5.2 The Mosuo in Southwest China 5.3 The Chiang People in Northwest China 5.4 Yao, Miao and other indigenous peoples 5.5 The peoples of the Yueh Culture in Southeast China 5.6 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation) Chapter 6: Women Shamans in Korea 131 6.1 Megalith cultures in East Asia and the Pacific Rim 6.2 Women in the history of Korea 6.3 Contemporary women shamans 6.4 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation) Chapter 7: The Islands of Japan: Women’s Cultures of the South and North 143 7.1 Japan’s Shinto Religion 7.2 Sister and brother in the Ryukyu Islands 7.3 Matriarchal mythology 7.4 The Ainu in Northern Japan 7.5 Paleolithic worldview 7.6 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation) Chapter 8: “Alam Minangkabau”: The world of the Minangkabau in Indonesia 163 8.1 Matriarchal cultural patterns in Indonesia 8.2 Minangkabau social order and culture 8.3 “Darek” and “Rantau”: two ways to keep patriarchy out 8.4 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation) Chapter 9: Matriarchal Patterns in Melanesia 177 9.1 The Trobriand Islanders 9.2 Ancestor children in Trobriand Islands society 9.3 The Kula ring and chieftainship in the Trobriand Islands 9.4 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation) Chapter 10: Pacific Ocean Cultures 189 10.1 Of ships, stars, and stones 10.2 Women in Polynesian society 10.3 Pele’s clan 10.4 Warrior chiefs in Oceania 10.4 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation) PART II: INDIGENOUS MATRIARCHAL SOCIETIES IN THE AMERICAS, INDIA, AND AFRICA Chapter 11: Matriarchal Cultures in South America 211 11.1 The Arawak 11.2 The Amazons of the Amazon 11.3 The seaway to South America 11.4 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation) Chapter 12: The Spread of Matriarchy to Central America 241 12.1 The Kuna, the “Golden People” 12.2 Kuna beliefs and religious ceremony 12.3 The strong, beautiful women of Juchitàn 12.4 The life cycle of Juchitecan women 12.5 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation) Chapter 13: North America: Matriarchal Immigrants from the South 269 13.1 The Hopi, the “Peaceful People” 13.2 Life-cycle feasts and agricultural ceremonies 13.3 Pueblo deities and mythology 13.4 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation) Chapter 14: North America: At the Cultural Crossroads of South and North 296 14.1 History of the Iroquois 14.2 Creation of the Iroquois Confederation 14.3 The Constitution and political structures 14.4 Iroquois society 14.5 Iroquois economy 14.6 Iroquois medicine societies and mythology 14.7 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation) Chapter 15: Matriarchy in South India 329 15.1 Matriarchy within the caste system: South India 15.2 Nayar women and men 15.3 Nayar, Pulayan and Parayan 15.4 Nayar social organization 15.5 Nayar festivals and religion 15.6 Patriarchal Brahmins and matriarchal Nayar: a problematic relationship 15.7 The downfall of the Nayar matriarchal structures 15.8 The outcasts: Adivasi and Sinti-Roma 15.9 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation) Chapter 16: Ancient Matriarchy in Central Africa 365 16.1 The Bantu 16.2 The unmanageable Bemba women 16.3 Bemba religion 16.4 The dual social organization of the Luapula 16.5 Patriarchal and matriarchal animal-breeding peoples 16.6 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation) Chapter 17: Matriarchal Queen-Kingship in West Africa 393 17.1 The history of the Akan 17.2 The Queen Mother and the earliest form of the Akan realms 17.3 Matriarchal Akan kings 17.4 Akan religion and the sacred function of the queen mother and king 17.5 Development of patriarchal tendencies in Akan realms 17.6 The Ashanti 17.7 Extension of matriarchal queen-kingship in Sub-Saharan Africa 17.8 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation) Chapter 18: Matriarchal Pastoral Peoples in North Africa 429 18.1 The Targi woman: mistress of the tent 18.2 Tuareg social and economic power 18.3 Tuareg political organization 18.4 The history: exodus into the desert 18.5 The ancient Berber religion 18.6 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation) Glossary 461 List of Permissions for Illustrations 475 Bibliography 477 Index 505