Power and sexual fear in primitive societies

Journal of Marriage and the Family • Published In • Pages: 917-926 •
By Eichler, Margrit

Abstract

This article examines correlates of sexual fear among men and women. The author concludes that the more authority men have over women, the more women will dread male genitals and vice versa.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
OtherOther ResearchersSimmons (1970) primitive societies sample
Ethnographic Atlas (EA)Other Researchers

Hypotheses (5)

HypothesisSupported
"In cultures in which women contribute above the median to subsistence, the postpartum sex taboo will be shorter than in societies in which women contribute below the median to the subsistence of society" (1.5).Not Supported
"In those cultures in which residence is patrilocal, virilocal, or avunculocal male genital mutilation will be more frequent than in cultures in which residence is matrilocal or uxorilocal" (922).Supported
"In those cultures in which residence is patrilocal the incidence of male genital mutilation will be more frequent than in those cultures in which residence is matrilocal" (922).Supported
"In those cultures in which the rules of inheritance favor the male heir or line over the female heir or line the incidence of male genital mutilation will be higher than when the reverse is the case" (922).Supported
"In those cultures in which the kin group is exclusively patrilineal the incidence of male genital mutilation will be higher than in those cultures in which the kin group is other than exclusively patrilineal" (922).Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Jessie Cohen  Megan Farrer