Dani domestic organization is established
around strict spatial separation of the genders. Most adult men spend their
time sleeping and hanging out in a common men’s house. Their wives and other
older women have singular huts around the perimeter of their area. Men visit
their wives during the night; however intercourse is regulated by an extended
after birth taboo.
Work obligations
are allocated through gender differences. Men are expected to do more labor
intensive work such as clearing farmland and maintaining irrigation ditches.
Women help out by planting, weeding, and harvesting the crops. They also have
to take care of their children, feed the farm animals, and help with the
production of salt. Salt is important in the tribe and for trade. While these
task look to be rather simple, they require more regular labor and longer
hours. Women can have a hard time preforming these tasks because of the
practice of finger amputation. This is a part of Danu mourning rites.
Men spend a large amount of time involved in
public operations like warfare, ceremony, and trade. Women have little
participation in these activities. Yet, wives can have power over their
husbands by threatening to abandon the marriage. It is an easy process to
separate from your partner and requires the man to retract his major source of
agricultural labor.
Schwimmer, Brian
1997 Dani Gender Roles, Electronic Document,
http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/anthropology/tutor/case_studies/dani/gender.html
accessed November 4.
1997 Dani Gender Roles, Electronic Document,
http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/anthropology/tutor/case_studies/dani/gender.html
accessed November 4.
Through ethnography, I could see some similarities and differences between the Dani’s gender roles and American roles. The Dani gender roles resemble the lifestyle in rural America. For example, the men would work in fields harvesting the crops and then make plans for the transactions. The farmers’ wives would care for their kids, feed the livestock, and oversee the house. A main difference between the two groups would be their marriage viewpoint. In the Dani tribe, the husband can sleep with other women right after his wife has a baby. I was surprised to learn this and I had to accept that this was their norm. Another difference would be the importance of women. Women in the Dani tribe are not involved in any public gatherings and do not help make decisions for the group. However, in America women are viewed as equal, so they can help with decision-making and voice their opinions on issues. Although I wish women had more voice in the tribe, the Dani people live a simple and common lifestyle.
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