Autonomy: Life Cycle, Gender, and Status among Himalayan Pastoralists / Edition 1

by Aparna Rao

Overview

The question of individuality in non-European, and especially South Asian societies is a controversial one. Studies in anthropology and psychology undertaken in recent years on concepts of person and self approach the problem by concentrating on ideologies; the question of practice remains largely neglected. This is the first study to examine the individual-dividual debate empirically from the - emic - perspective of decision making, observed over a two-year period among the Bakkarwal, Himalayan Muslim pastoralists. Of particular significance is the fact that the author bases her approach on the life cycle and on gender and status differences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781571819031
Publisher:	Berghahn Books
Publication date:	06/01/1998
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)
Lexile:	1310L (what's this?)

About the Author

Aparna Rao (1950-2005) spent many years doing ethnographic fieldwork among numerous rural and semi-rural communities in Afghanistan, Kashmir and in western India, and published several books and papers based on her research.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Individuals and Dividuals

Chapter 1. Coming into Being
Chapter 2. Growing into Society
Chapter 3. Practicing Norms
Chapter 4. Perpetuating Life and Producing Values
Chapter 5. Reproducing Norms and Values
Chapter 6. Waiting for the Life Beyond

Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

Contributes to the debate on individuality in non-European, and especially southern Asian societies with an empirical study on the interplay between cultural ideals and context-specific social practice, based on over two years of field work among the Bakkarwal Muslim nomadic pastoralists in Jammy and Kashmir. Finds that the existence of individuals is recognized in both theory and practice, and that a certain demonstration of individuality, defined as the assertion of difference and even uniqueness in a given context, is appreciated and is justified by the context- specific manipulation of ideology. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

CHOICE OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC BOOK OF THE YEAR 1999

From the Publisher