Much of the creativity of anthropology derives from the tension between two sets of demands: that we explain human universals, and that we explain cultural particulars…The secondary status of woman in society is one of the true universals a pan-cultural fact, yet within that universal fact, the specific cultural conceptions and symbolizations of woman are extraordinarily diverse and even mutually contradictory (Ortner, 1974: 67).

What is the relationship between feminism and anthropology?

On australian Aboriginal Women Male ethnograp… Profane Economically unimportant Excluded Marginal Female ethnograp… Central role Important in ritual Respected Non-marginal

Three layers of the male bias The bias imported by the ethnographer into his research The bias inherent in the society being studied The bias inherent in Western culture

Gender Symbols and Gender Stereotypes Woman’s physiology and her reproductive functions= appear closer to nature Women’s social roles are seen as closer to nature The Kaulong of new Britain (Goodale, 1980)

Deconstructing the structure of male bias by Focusing on women Building data: about women by women Reworking and redefining anthropological theory

Ardener (1975) and the theory of “Muted Groups” control over modes of expression Male dominated structures --ways of communicating (linguistic concepts) --ways of writing (mankind for humankind) --dominant ideology --different world views

Problems with the assumption of a privileged status (women studying women)) Ghettoization of feminist anthropology --too specialized --image problem The assumption of a universal category of “women” --not the same in all cultures Perception of ethnocentrism --a bias in favor of one culture9 that of the woman anthrop

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a feminist anthropology?