Ritual Etiquette

From Controlling to Complementing Life

Bibliographic Data

ID20042073
AuthorsHelen E Ullrich (Tulane University, corresponding author)
Year2017
Pages181-208
Publication date2017-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeCHAPTER
VenueThe Women of Totagadde (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan US (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1057/978-1-137-59969-8_8
OpenAlexW2594839490
ISBN9781137599698
LanguageEN
References cited9

In 1964, ritual pollution and purity were the organizing principles of Totagadde life. Caste hierarchy defined the social order. Within the household, elder respect regulated behavior. Another facet to social behavior was ritual etiquette regarding body fluids. Life passages, such as childbirth, marriage, and finally death, traditionally brought together blood relatives (consanguines) and relatives by marriage (affines). In providing a guide for appropriate behavior in a highly stratified, rigid society, ritual etiquette codified the subordination of women. As both men and women obtained employment, they selectively dispensed with behavior segregating social groups and subordinating women. With education, the Haviks of Totagadde are moving from a caste-based to a class-based society. To accommodate this, ritual etiquette has changed from controlling life to complementing life

Caste · Class (philosophy) · Epistemology · Etiquette · Hierarchy · Political science · Social life · Social science · Sociology · Subordination (linguistics) · Anthropological Studies and Insights · Gender Studies · Law · Philosophy · South Asian Studies and Conflicts · Southeast Asian Sociopolitical Studies