Pregnancy magic: a study of food taboos and sex avoidances

Cross-Cultural Approaches: Readings in Comparative Research • HRAF Press • New Haven • Published In • Pages: 111-125 •
By Ayres, Barbara

Abstract

This chapter attempts to explain why the number, importance, and duration of food and sex taboos during pregnancy vary cross-culturally. The author hypothesizes that differences in child socialization will be associated with differences in food taboos, and differences in sexual behavior and sanctions will be associated with sex taboos. Results support the hypotheses.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
HRAF Collection of Ethnography (paper/fiche)
OtherOther Researchers
Ethnographic Reports

Hypotheses (6)

HypothesisSupported
"The largest number of food taboos [in pregnancy] should be observed in societies where there is a high reward of dependency in childhood" (115)Supported
"The severity of the sanctions associated with violation of food taboos [in pregnancy] will be positively related to the severity of punishment for dependent behavior in childhood" (117)Supported
"There is . . . a positive relationship between severity of punishment for sexual behavior and the duration of the sex taboo but [it] does not quite reach the acceptable 5 percent level of significance" (119)Partially supported
"A long sex taboo [during pregnancy] does in fact occur more frequently in polygynous than in monogamous societies" (121)Supported
"[There is] no relationship between punishment for sexual behavior and length of sex taboo in societies with monogamy and limited polygyny, but it does show a rather strong positive relationship between the two variables in societies with general polygyny" (121)Supported
"[There is] a relationship between norms of premarital sex behavior [as a measure of sex anxiety] and duration of the sex taboo during pregnancy. [Strict norms tend to result in long duration]" (122)Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: mas  Megan Farrer