Davies (anthropology, Auckland U. of Technology) describes gender diversity among the Bugis, the largest ethnic group in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. After exploring the concept of gender in general and whether it is considered important in their society, she explains that there are five genders in their culture, including masculine man, feminine woman, masculine female, feminine male, and androgynous shamans. Certain characteristics define them, such as lifestyle, behavior, clothing, social and ritual roles, sexual practices, and erotic desires. Her ethnographic research consists of interviews, conversations, and observations. In addition, she considers gender and biological sex, bodies, identity, sexuality, and marriage. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
See how gender identities are constructed in a rapidly changing cultural milieu with CHALLENGING GENDER NORMS: THE FIVE GENDERS OF INDONESIA! This case study in cultural anthropology explores the Bugis ethnic group, native to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, which recognizes five gender categories rather than the two acknowledged in most societies. This ethnography presents individuals' stories, opinions, and deliberations and proposes a new theory of gender which incorporates appreciation of variously gendered subjectivities.
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