Significance of the father for the son's masculine identity

Cross-Cultural Research • Vol/Iss. 10 • Published In • Pages: 1-17 •
By Kitahara, Michio

Abstract

The significance of the son's insufficient contact with his father during infancy in regard to circumcision and segregation is examined. This article suggests that it is not the long postpartum sexual taboo but the separation of each co-wife that is instrumental in bringing about circumcision and segregation. Expands on Kitahara 1974.

Note

Looked at living quarters for polygynous co-wives in both independent and extended family households, different from Kitahara 1974.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Ethnographic Atlas Summary (EASum)Other Researchers

Hypotheses (9)

HypothesisSupported
Separate living quarters for co-wives are positively associated with male segregation at puberty (6).Supported
Separate living quarters for co-wives are positively associated with male circumcision at puberty (7).Supported
Post-partum sex taboo length is positively associated with segregation of males at puberty (7).Supported
Controlling on living quarters for co-wives, length of postpartum sex taboo is not associated with segregation of males at puberty (9).Partially supported
Controlling on living quarters for co-wives, length of postpartum sex taboo is not associated with circumcision of males at puberty (9).Supported
Controlling on length of postpartum sex taboo, separate living quarters for co-wives are positively associated with segregation of males at puberty (9).Supported
Controlling on length of postpartum sex taboo, living quarter arrangements for co-wives are associated with circumcision of males at puberty (10).UNKNOWN
"The segregation of males at puberty is more closely correlated to the polygynous societies in which each co-wife lives with her children in a separate quarter than to a long postpartum sexual taboo" (7).UNKNOWN
"There is a significant correlation between living quarter arrangements for co-wives in polygynous societies and the frequency of circumcision of males at puberty when the factor of the length of the postpartum sexual taboo is controlled" (10).UNKNOWN
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Kate Cummings  Jessie Cohen