Ritual Chapter 3- Week 5 Miner- Body Ritual Among the Nacirema Gordon- Female Circumcision in Egypt …

Ritual Rituals involve: Turner’s definition Durkheim’s definition Predictability Some times change Turner’s definition “Ritual is a stereotyped sequence of activities involving gestures, words & objects, performed in a sequestered place & designed to influence magical forces on behalf of actor’s goals & interests.” Durkheim’s definition “True nature of religion is ritual participation.” Wallace’s definition “Ritual is the primary phenomenon of religion, religion in action; the cutting edge of the tool.”

Types of Rituals Rites of passage: passage from one state of life to a new state of life Involves recognition of change 3 stages involving separating, luminal space, outside normal, aggregation to normal. Separation Liminal Aggregation Rites of intensification continuously reoccur Recognition of the continuality of life

Wallace’s five ritual categories Technological ritual- control nature Therapy & anti-therapy rituals- control health Ideological rituals- try to control behavior Rites of passage Rites of intensification Taboos Rites of rebellion Salvation rituals- control one’s fate/destiny, control one’s identity Revitalization rituals- control community’s fate, identity.

Rituals as Performance Ritual as a theater Acting but not “just pretending” Games, sports, theater and rituals share basic qualities Efficacy Entertainment Performance

Rites of Passage Mark the transition from one stage of life, season, or event to another. “Life cycle” or “Life Crisis” rituals i.e. birth, initiation, marriage & death. Threefold structure Separation transition incorporation Preliminal liminal postliminal

Body Ritual Among the Nacirema Chapter 3 Lehman & Myer By Horace Miner

Body Rituals Among the Nacirema Nacirema Culture -poorly understood -background -ritual activity -focus on the physical body

Body Ritual Among the Nacirema -underlying approach to the body -daily ceremonies and rites -shrines -charms and magical potions -specialized practitioners -rites of ablution

Body Ritual Among the Nacirema “Holy-Mouth-Men” -Nacirema oral fixation -social impact -mouth-rites -specialist ceremonial treatment -masochistic tendencies?

Body Ritual Among the Nacirema Latipso -temples of the medicine men -ritual purification -gifts and payment -exposing the body -temple ceremonies -faith

Body Ritual Among the Nacirema The “Listener” -witch doctor -susceptibility of children -curses and “counter-magic” Conclusions -practices based on an aversion to the body -functions ritualized and distorted -magic-ridden culture -self-imposed burdens -position of insight?

Article by Daniel Gordon Chapter 3- Ritual Female Circumcision in Egypt and Sudan: A Controversial Rite of Passage Article by Daniel Gordon Chapter 3- Ritual

Outline Female Circumcision in the Arab World -limited literature -growing awareness/activism of “female genital mutilation” -concerns about passivity

Female Genitalia Operations Literal circumcision, sunna, “duty” in Arabic Excision or clitoridectomy & “intermediate circumcision” Pharaonic circumcision, tahara forowniyya, “infibulation” Rural and urban approaches to operation Geographic prevalence info Egypt less survey info lower prevalence/more moderate procedures except Nubian south

El Dareer’s Survey -extensive statistical survey (1977-81) -Northern Sudan -type prevalence -education level as a factor -dayas

Recognized Women’s Health Concern Egyptian and Sudanese statutes against radical forms El Dareer’s work to educate difficult to assess extent of health problems culture specific issues complications described (not quantified) immediate and chronic concerns childbirth, sex medical and psychological sequelae

Endurance of the Practice -public resistance to enforcement -religion and tradition-based rationales -evidence of religious validation? -interplay between doctrine and cultural sense of propriety -rite of passage?

Cultural Issues Arabic Code of Modesty Women Advocates separation and seclusion for women culturally conceived idea of female sexuality genital operations as substitutes for total seclusion issues of patrilineal purity and changing conditions Women Advocates role of the daya focus on fertility and de-emphasizing sexuality “enclosedness” assertive and symbolic act controlled by women

Other Issues Issues for Opponents Changing Conditions culturally embedded solutions peripheral incorporation into health care system WHO “passive stance” Changing Conditions mothers as a barometer for change effects of Westernization/urbanization

Cross-Cultural Ethics -integrating concerns and methods -position of advocacy -anthropological perpetuation of a “cover-up” -female genital operations as a test case -a new integrative model? -advocating a positioned approach