Duality, Gender, and Runes

From: John R. Snead <jsnead_at_netcom.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Jul 1995 12:43:29 -0700 (PDT)


Interesting discussion so far. Polar oppositions are quite common in human societies, however this is not the only option. For example, Celtic culture seemed to revolve around 3s.

On the subject of sex and gender it seems clear that many cultures go far beyond the basic designations of male and female. In _The Spirit in the the Flesh_ by Walter Williams (I think that's the correct title). Williams discusses the position of Berdache among many Native American cultures. Williams convincingly shows that Berdache (biological males who dress and act as females) and what he refers to as Amazons (biological females who dress and act as males) are not merely people who switch their gender role.

Berdache and Amazons form separate groups who exist in a position between male and female. Some such people become shamans and occupy so also occupy a position between the living world and the spirit world. However, many Berdache and Amazons occupy more ordinary positions in their cultures. Because of their special status Berdache and Amazons were often important advisors, war leaders or other people of note, but sometimes they were simply slightly unusual people. In cultures with both Berdache and Amazons there were in effect 4 fully separate gender categories.

Anthropologist Clifford Geertz also wrote a fascinating article on the position of intersexed people in several different cultures. In mainstream US culture interesexuality commonly produces avoidance or revulsion. In traditional Navajo culture the reaction is almost exactly opposite. Among the Navajo physically intersexed people and animals are highly prized. Every family is proud to have an intersexed member, and to own intersexed animals. The Navajo also have a unique way of categorizing gender. There are 4 categories, male, female physical intersex, and cultural intersex (Berdache and Amazon). The last category is unique, because they are the only North American culture to play Berdache and Amazons in the same gender category.

even something as "basic" as gender can be classified many different ways, so I doubt the dualistic male or female model would be the only one to be found on Glorantha.

I would expect there to be some phenomena like Berdache among some Hsunchen tribes (perhaps Hyena Hsunchen would have a special place in their culture for intersexed or "Amazon" females since female Hyenas appear to have penises). Also, the Praxians and Pentians are good candidates for similar categories.

On a related subject, I'm reminded of a practice I heard of in pre-modern China. The Chinese have always valued sons more than daughters. One common answer to a lack of sons or a surplus of daughters in a family was female infanticide. However, there was another, occasionally used, option. Sometimes a daughter would be raised as a son. Such a person was raised to fulfill male economic and cultural roles, and was excepted to take a wife and stay with the family, just like a son would.

Sounds like something interesting to introduce as local color in Kralorela.

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