Gender and Power in Prehispanic Mesoamerica (Paperback, New)

"This is a tremendously significant contribution to the field. . . . It provides a new model of how social inequality first emerged in ancient societies. It provides an accessible, convincing demonstration of Judith Butler's performance theory. And it resolves some quandaries about gender construction and the female body that have plagued feminist theory. This is a huge, important book." -- Elizabeth M. Brumfiel, John S. Ludington Trustees' Professor of Anthropology, Albion College

Gender was a fluid potential, not a fixed category, before the Spaniards came to Mesoamerica. Childhood training and ritual shaped, but did not set, adult gender, which could encompass third genders and alternative sexualities as well as "male" and "female." At the height of the Classic period, Maya rulers presented themselves as embodying the entire range of gender possibilities, from male through female, by wearing blended costumes and playing male and female roles in state ceremonies.

This landmark book offers the first comprehensive description and analysis of gender and power relations in prehispanic Mesoamerica from the Formative Period Olmec world (ca. 1500-500 BC) through the Postclassic Maya and Aztec societies of the sixteenth century AD. Using approaches from contemporary gender theory, Rosemary Joyce explores how Mesoamericans created human images to represent idealized notions of what it meant to be male and female and to depict proper gender roles. She then juxtaposes these images with archaeological evidence from burials, house sites, and body ornaments, which reveals that real gender roles were more fluid and variable than the stereotyped images suggest.

General

Imprint:	University Of Texas Press
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	2001
First published:	2001
Authors:	Rosemary A. Joyce
Dimensions:	229 x 152 x 20mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - Trade / Trade
Pages:	287
Edition:	New
ISBN-13:	978-0-292-74065-5
Categories:	Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Gender studies > General Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Ethnic studies > Indigenous peoples Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Anthropology > General
LSN:	0-292-74065-4
Barcode:	9780292740655

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!