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Sex, Gender, and Status: Human Images from the Classic Mimbres

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Marit K. Munson
Marit K. Munson*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131
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Abstract

Prehistoric imagery is a valuable source of information on relations between people of different social identities. Analysis of a large sample of human figures depicted on Classic period Mimbres ceramics illustrates facets of that society's gender system, including the traits individuals used to indicate their gender and the possible presence of third or fourth genders. The imagery indicates that hunting large game and participating in ceremonies were considered men's activities. Men also are portrayed in a wide range of activities and in active postures. This suggests that men had the potential for achieving high status through their activities. Images of women are more static and show fewer activities than men. Women are associated with activities that are low in prestige cross-culturally: child care and carrying burdens. At the same time, women are depicted more often with valuables, such as jewelry, and constitute the majority of people handling parrots, which were used in ritual. This, combined with other evidence, suggests that some women may have achieved relatively high status through their membership in certain families, their association with ritually important parrots, and their possession of esoteric knowledge.

Resumen

Resumen

Las imágenes prehistóricas son una fuente valiosa de la información sobre relaciones entre la gente de diversas identidades sociales. El análisis de una muestra grande de las figuras humanas en la cerámica del período clásico Mimbres ilustra facetas del sistema del género esa sociedad, incluyendo los rasgos usados para indicar el gónero de los individuous y la posible presencia de los terceros o cuartos generos. Las imágenes indican que la caza de animates grandes y la participación en ceremonias eran consideradas actividades masculinas. Retratan a los hombres tambián en una amplia gama de actividades y en posturas activas. Esto sugiere que los hombres tuvieran el potencial para alcanzar alto estatus con sus actividades. Las imágenes de mujeres son más estaticas y muestran menos actividades que las de los hombres. Las mujeres están asociadas a las actividades que son de menor prestigio: cuidado de niños y transporte de llevan las cargas. Al mismo tiempo, representan a las mujeres más a menudo con los objetos de valor, como joyería, y ellas son quienes manejan los papagayos, quefueron utilizados en ritual. Esto, combinado con otra evidencia, sugiere que algunas mujeres pudieron haber alcanzado estatus relativamente alto con su calidad de miembro en ciertas familias, su asociacion con los papagayos ritualmente importantes, y su posesión del conocimiento esotérico.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 65 , Issue 1 , January 2000 , pp. 127 - 143
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2000

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