Informationen zum Autor Esther Hicks Klappentext Infibulation is the most extreme form of female circumcision. It plays an important role in the Islamic societies of northeastern Africa. Until now, the social significance and function of this practice has been poorly understood. This has been no less true of Western commentators who have condemned the practice than of relevant governments that have attempted to curb it. In Infibulation, Esther K. Hicks analyzes female circumcision as a cultural trait embedded in a historically traditional milieu and shows why it cannot be treated in isolation as a single issue destined for elimination. In its brief history it has been recognized as a pioneering piece of research with enormous consequences.As Hicks demonstrates, much of the popular resistance to official efforts to eradicate infibulation has actually come from women. Circumcision constitutes a rite of passage for female children. It initiates them into womanhood and makes them eligible for marriage. Often, this is the only positive status position available to women in traditional Islamic societies. Hicks points out that although female circumcision predates the introduction of Islam into the region, the religious culture has successfully codified infibulation into the structural nexus of marriage, family, and social honor at all socioeconomic levels. Zusammenfassung Infibulation is the most extreme form of female circumcision Inhaltsverzeichnis Figures, Maps, Plots, and Tables Preface xi Introduction 1. Infibulation: Description, Function, and Diffusion Function: Indigenous and Academic Perspectives Diffusion 2. The Socioeconomic Distribution of Infibulation Pastoralism in Northeastern Africa and the Sudan Pastoral-Rural-Urban Interaction and Infibulation 3. Infibulation in the Social Nexus Closed Cultural Systems Islam: A Closed Cultural System Social Space in Islamic Societies Gender Identification and Differentiation in Open and Closed Cultural Systems The Status Position of Women in Infibulation-Practicing Societies Marriage Customs and Laws: An Overview Male Absenteeism, Sexual Abstinence, Sleeping Arrangements, and Infibulation Fertility Levels and Patterns, Mortality and Birthrates, Sex Ratio Distribution, and Infibulation 4. Methodological Approach and Research Strategy The Problem of Sources Sample Selection and Statistical Analysis Statistical Analysis The HOMALS-technique 5. Infibulation and the Composite Variables The Variables Considered Marriage, Status, and the Practice of Infibulation Early Marriage and Infibulation The Composite Variables 6. The Future of Infibulation ...

Autorentext

Esther Hicks

Klappentext

Infibulation is the most extreme form of female circumcision. It plays an important role in the Islamic societies of northeastern Africa. Until now, the social significance and function of this practice has been poorly understood. This has been no less true of Western commentators who have condemned the practice than of relevant governments that have attempted to curb it. In Infibulation, Esther K. Hicks analyzes female circumcision as a cultural trait embedded in a historically traditional milieu and shows why it cannot be treated in isolation as a single issue destined for elimination. In its brief history it has been recognized as a pioneering piece of research with enormous consequences. As Hicks demonstrates, much of the popular resistance to official efforts to eradicate infibulation has actually come from women. Circumcision constitutes a rite of passage for female children. It initiates them into womanhood and makes them eligible for marriage. Often, this is the only positive status position available to women in traditional Islamic societies. Hicks points out that although female circumcision predates the introduction of Islam into the region, the religious culture has successfully codified infibulation into the structural nexus of marriage, family, and social honor at all socioeconomic levels.

Zusammenfassung
Infibulation is the most extreme form of female circumcision

Inhalt

Figures, Maps, Plots, and Tables

Preface xi

Introduction

1. Infibulation: Description, Function, and Diffusion
   Function: Indigenous and Academic Perspectives
   Diffusion

2. The Socioeconomic Distribution of Infibulation
   Pastoralism in Northeastern Africa and the Sudan
   Pastoral-Rural-Urban Interaction and Infibulation

3. Infibulation in the Social Nexus
   Closed Cultural Systems
   Islam: A Closed Cultural System
   Social Space in Islamic Societies
   Gender Identification and Differentiation in Open
   and Closed Cultural Systems
   The Status Position of Women in Infibulation-Practicing
   Societies
   Marriage Customs and Laws: An Overview
   Male Absenteeism, Sexual Abstinence, Sleeping
   Arrangements, and Infibulation
   Fertility Levels and Patterns, Mortality and Birthrates,
   Sex Ratio Distribution, and Infibulation

4. Methodological Approach and Research Strategy
   The Problem of Sources
   Sample Selection and Statistical Analysis
   Statistical Analysis
   The HOMALS-technique

5. Infibulation and the Composite Variables
   The Variables Considered
   Marriage, Status, and the Practice of Infibulation
   Early Marriage and Infibulation
   The Composite Variables

6. The Future of Infibulation