Full Description
The ideal of "gender equality" seems forever elusive, always tantalizingly over the horizon. Shanshan Du suggests that by shifting our attention away from the various utopian ideals embedded in mainstream feminism, we may be surprised to learn that gender-egalitarian societies do exist. Based on extensive fieldwork, this book explores the Lahu society in Southwest China where practical gender equality has become the byproduct of a potent ideology of gender unity, vividly expressed by the proverb, "chopsticks only work in pairs."
Contents
1. INTRODUCTION Is There Any Gender-Egalitarian Society on Earth? The Lahu People Fieldwork Sites Project Development and Methods The Structure of the Book Part I: MYTHOLOGY AND IDEOLOGY 2. "EVERYTHING COMES IN PAIRS": A DYADIC WORLDVIEW "Both One and Two": Pairs as Dyads Twin-Dyads in Origin Myths Blending Femininity and Masculinity in Gendered Ideals The Preeminence of Dyads Conclusion 3. HUSBAND-WIFE DYADS IN THE LIFE CYCLE Wedding as the Rite of Passage to Adulthood The Joint Journey of Married Couples in Life The Reunion of Accomplished Couples in Afterlife Marginalizing Lone Souls Conclusion Part II: Joint Gender Roles 4."HUSBAND AND WIFE DO IT TOGETHER": UNIFYING GENDER IN LABOR Procreation Ideologies Pregnancy and Childbirth Child Rearing "Work Hard to Eat" Conclusion 5. "MALE-FEMALE CO-HEADS": UNIFYING GENDER IN LEADERSHIP "Male-Female Masters of the Household" Dyadic Leadership in Village and Village Cluster Conclusion Part III: Structure and anti-Structure 6. UNIFYING GENDER IN KINSHIP AND INTERHOUSEHOLD ORGANIZATION Dyadic Ego in Kinship Terminology Household Co-heads and Inter-household Interactions Conclusion 7. THE DISFUNCTION AND COLLAPSE OF GENDER DYADS: DIVORCE, ELOPEPMENT, AND LOVE-PACT SUICIDE Major Threats to Husband-Wife Dyads The Collapse of Marriages Conclusion 8. CONCLUSION: RETHINKING GENDER EQUALITY Gender Equality as Social Reality The Cultural Particularity of Gender Equality The Diversity of Gender Equality REFERENCES CITED
