Presented by Andrea Kemper

Mental Illness
Some Western Views Sambian Beliefs Some Real-life Stories

Some Western Thoughts on the Matter

Western Civilization would condemn this practice

Homosexuality is only accepted by some in the U.S. Pedophilia definitely not considered acceptable behavior (we have this term to describe it as a sexual disorder)
Western World More recently described as what someone is (i.e. gay lesbian homosexual) rather than how someone behaves Sambia Homosexuality is considered more of a behavior practiced by certain ages

Defining Homosexuality

The Scientific Viewpoint

Protein Theory (more of an evolutionary/biological theory)

Growing up with protein deficiencies creates a need for protein by new means = evolution of ingesting semen to gain this valuable resource

5-alpha reductase deficiency = Mistaken Gender

Causes Hermaphroditism Need to refocus on cultural analysis

And Freud would say

Oedipus complex

Son may fall in love with mother (possibility, more likely to be seduced by other woman though) Son hates father (is actually true, many boys hate their fathers for never being around and they are also very frightened of their father) All men believe that mothers will seduce boys once they hit the age of initiation (another reason to be separated from women)
Fear of losing manliness (through ejaculation, threats of castration, feminization by women, etc.)

Castration Anxiety

Attachment
At the age of initiation, boys are ripped out of their comfort zones
No more mother the only parent the child has had No more kid stuff Children fear all men Sent to male cult houses

Boys often suffer depression, loneliness, anxiety, etc. New attachment is formed with mentor or ritual guardian
This adult man teaches boy everything about masculinity Man will assist, decorate, carry, and feed boy throughout iniation period Man is not technically related by referred to as nyet-yangu (mothers brother) This pair will not engage is sex together (very strict taboo) This man replaces mother figure and boy is taught to live without her

Emotional stress dissipates as initiate grows accustomed to his new life

Actual Adult Homosexuality

Sambia: 100% of males practice homosexuality However, only 5% of adult males continue to practice homosexuality In the U.S., ??% of adult males practice homosexuality
No where on US Census does it ask sexual orientation 600,000 same-sex households (unreported and unattached?) Kinsey reported 4% of men as ONLY homosexual (1950s1960s!!) in the interviews he did

The Flute Connection

Freud = Phallic Symbol Sambia
Female flute spirit Represents boogeyman when young Males learn the power of the flute and can control the spirit (play the flute) after one is married

Sambian Mental Health:

Anger

Seen as normal and manly Anger is encouraged in boys during the initiation process Anger helps men to hunt and fight Cooperative, caring men seen as feminized and useless

Sambian Mental Health:

Creation Story
Started with Hermaphrodite (real hermaphrodites never hear this story because they do not reach that stage of initiation - never learn the appreciation the culture really has for them) Created two beings (male and female) Populated earth

Religious Commitment
Required!! All rules and beliefs strictly enforced

Female Flute Spirit

Said to be very manlike (helps strengthen men into warriors) (pseudo-hermaphroditic?) Worship this spirit by playing songs, performing ritual dances, costuming, etc.

Sambian Mental Health:

Women anything having to do with feminine nature is seen as wrong or unpure: caring for others, certain chores, crying, cooperation, bleeding (menstrual), children Hermaphrodites or Pseudohermaphrodites (have both genitalia, lack of both, or special features of both or one type of genitalia) Wanting to stay with mother and home Not wanting to become a man by means of initiation-denying cultural traditions
Initiation seen as honor, not abnormal sexuality This ritual is found in 30 other tribes in New Guinea

Masturbation seen as waste of precious male-strength fluid Homosexuality after consummating the marriage, homosexual acts are strictly forbidden
These males may only take part in the initiation by being a mentor or ritual guardian (nyet-yangu)

Sambian Mental Health:

Treatment?
Some medicinal and spiritual treatment can be given by shaman Housewife remediesonly shared with their daughters Most treatment: If it cant be fixed, kill it
Boys who do not accept their roles in initiation are punished (beaten, ridiculed, etc.), but if denying the initiation still occurs, the boy may be killed Hermaphrodites (kwolu-aatmwol): Men say that women will kill them after birth if left alone with the child
Women do check the baby for defects when born Some hermaphrodites are let to live, and are not frowned upon by society some members believe that they can serve a special purpose (shaman perhaps), while most tribe members believe that they can still function and contribute Those who are not killed when born may not have been identifited as hermaphrodites Parents will sometimes assign a sex if it is undeterminable Males: Only get to complete stages 1 through 3 of initiation (Never hear creation story) Females: Are found to be hermaphrodites after married, and then usually have to be saved by family members from an angry, vengeful husband who will typically want to kill the hermaphrodite

Other Cultures Practiced Homosexuality!!

10-20% of tribes in Melanesia practice boy-insemination Romans would brag about the newest piece of meat they found (male or female, young or old)
Practiced homosexuality openly (with boys too) Promiscuous culture Often a mentor/mentee role would have homosexual aspects to it as well

Greeks (as well as other cultures) practiced homosexuality during times of war
Often men would have sex together at nights in the tents This bonding would allow them to share male strength as well as enforce loyalties among each other

What the Sambia have to say

Herdt conducted numerous interviews with tribe members The males joke together while reminiscing about initiation Separation Anxiety
Discussion of flute provokes crying for loss of mother from all males in interview

Castration Anxiety
Four year old being teased by older male Im going to cut your penis off Boy replies You have a big nose Real fear during beginning stages of initiation

References
Pictures taken from google picture search engine as well as the following links:
http://people.stu.ca/~gszns/initiation.htm http://lrivera0327.tripod.com/ http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/Joepages/The%20Sambia.htm http://www.27designs.com/milena/

Elliston, D. A. (1995). Erotic anthropology: Ritualized homosexuality in Melanesia and beyond. American Ethnologist, 22(4), 848 867. Herdt, G. (1990). Mistaken gender: 5-alpha reductase hermaphroditism and biological reductionism in sexual identity reconsidered. American Anthropologist, 92, 433 446. Herdt, G. (2003). Secrecy and cultural reality: Utopian ideologies of the New Guinea mens house. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. Herdt, G. (1887) Transitional objects in Sambia initiation. Ethos, 15, 40 57. Langness, L. L. (1990). Oedipus in the New Guinea highlands? Ethos, 18, 189 212.