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Female Initiation among the Maroni River Caribs 1
Author(s) -
Kloos Peter
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
american anthropologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1548-1433
pISSN - 0002-7294
DOI - 10.1525/aa.1969.71.5.02a00110
Subject(s) - residence , rite , menarche , subsistence agriculture , rite of passage , demography , geography , history , gender studies , sociology , ethnology , anthropology , archaeology , philosophy , theology , agriculture
Cross‐culturally it has been demonstrated that there is a relationship between female initiation rites on the one hand, and matri‐local residence and an important contribution of women to subsistence on the other. It is the purpose of this article to describe the initiation rite for girls among the Caribs of the Maroni River, Surinam, against this background. Matrilocal residence among the Caribs is pronounced, and the economic role of women is important. The rite, taking place about a week after the menarche, is in its symbolism almost completely concerned with the female economic role. The Caribs realize this, but they do not realize the effect of residence. [puberty rites, female matrilocal residence, Caribs, menarche, economic role of women]