Spirit and the Flesh: Sexual Diversity in American Indian Culture
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.20 (710 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0807046159 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 368 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2017-06-17 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Walter L. . The word berdache applies almost exclusively to males, mainly because historical records only relate dealings with aboriginal males, but Williams also includes a chapter on female sexual diversity, using the word amazon to describe these often warriorlike women. Williams's excellent research has produced one of the most extensive studies of the berdache culture among Native Americans. Williams explains the berdache as a custom, its social roles, and the berdache history, including its introduction to the European concept of sin and intolerance of sexual diversity. Unlike the larger American society, Native Americans historically have respected, and in many tribal nations venerated, homosexuals
Nothing could be further from the truth. Winner of the: Gay Book of the Year Award, American Library Association; Ruth Benedict Award, Society of Lesbian and Gay Anthropologists; Award for Outstanding Scholarship, World Congress for SexologyAuthor’s note: Shortly after the second revised edition this book was published in 1992, the term "Two-Spirit Person" became more popular among native people than the older anthropological term "berdache." When I learned of this new term, I began strongly supporting the use of this newer term. -- Walter L. Unless continued sales of this book will justify the publication of a third revised edition in the future, it is not possible to rewrite what is already printed, Therefore, I urge readers of this book, as well as activists who are working to gain more respect for gender variance, mentally to substitute the term "Two-Spirit" in the place of "berdache" when reading this text. I went on record early on in convinc
Cathleen M. Walker said Troubling. This book is fascinating, yet troubling. I attribute what troubles me to the obvious bias of the author, and yet -- it certainly made me think. Not so much as to how much of what the author says is true (and the rest of what he speculates); but how I feel about such speculation seeing the light of day. At the same time, I am not an advocate of censorship in any way. Perhaps these thoughts need to be available in order to make us aware of how people can . Eye-opening, but reverse-biased Let's clear one thing up: Author Walter Williams is not advocating man/boy love simply by discussing it in this book. He goes out of his way, in fact, to distinguish between societies with man/boy love traditions and the role of the Berdache in various native american societies. He correctly notes that the man/boy cultures are generally "warrior" cultures where women have low status, whereas the Berdache role is both feminine and esteemed as such, and o. Mind-opening prespective on society's "Diversity-cide" A throughly documented and detailed historical and socialological account of American Indian society's andorgynous Benache, sex and sexual interactions. This book takes you back in history to understand how the Benache fit in the Indian culture and how that culture's sexual norms were very inclusive and accepting of what our society would label "diverse" people and actions.The historical prespective includes the invasion of european westerization and "D