Beng

First published in 1988, this volume redefined the anthropological study of menstrual customs. Examining cultures as diverse as long-house dwellers in North Borneo, African farmers, Welsh housewives, and postindustrial American workers, it challenged the previously widespread image of a universal "menstrual taboo" as well as the common assumption of universal female subordination that underlay it. Offering feminist perspectives on comparative gender politics and symbolism, the book has interested students and scholars in anthropology, women's studies, religion, and comparative health systems. Originally listed as a “Notable” book in Choice, it later won the first Most Enduring Edited Collection Prize, awarded by the Council for the Anthropology of Reproduction (a unit of the American Anthropological Association.). The book continues to be taught regularly around the world.

Anthropologists have neglected a significant dimension to religion by ignoring the spiritual lives of a society's youngest members. In Côte d'lvoire, Beng infants are said to lead a profoundly spiritual existence. Indeed, until the age of five or so, Beng children are said to live at least part of the time in the spiritual other world (wrugbe) that they inhabited before being reincarnated. Exploring both ideology and praxis, the article probes the consequences for the daily experiences and care of Bang babies, including umbilical cord care, enemas, crying, adornment, naming, personality development, and infant disease and death. The article concludes by considering the implications of a full-blown treatment of infants for the practice of anthropology.

This companion volume to "Parallel Worlds" explores ideology and social practices among the Beng people of Cote d'Ivoire. Deploying interpretive and postmodern perspectives, the book highlights the dynamically paired notions of identity and difference as symbolized by the kapok tree planted at the center of every Beng village.

This article presents an anthropological study of menstruation among the Beng of Ivory Coast. (Côte d’Ivoire). Taking a feminist perspective to challenge classic theories of menstrual taboos, which focus on essential notions of female pollution, the essay argues that Beng views of menstrual pollution and Beng practices regarding menstrual blood are best understood in relation to fertility on the one hand, and to wider notions of pollution--not just by women—on the other hand.


Cet article explore les dimensions symboliques des croyances rattachées à la menstruation chez les Beng de la Côte d'Ivoire. On a trouvé trois règles qui restreignent les activités sexuelles des femmes qui ont leurs règles ou les activités des hommes en contact avec ces femmes. Normalement les anthropologues se servent de telles règles pour indiquer le caractère contaminant du flot menstruel ou des femmes qui ont leurs règles, et déduisent de cela la condition inférieure de la femme en général. Cependant, dans le cas des Beng, ces règles et croyances ne justifient pas une telle interprétation. Plutôt, elles correspondent à une vue du monde fondée sur la séparation symbolique du village, de la forêt, qui est associée avec la Terre. Spécialement, la fertilité humaine qui est symbolisée par le flot menstruel, ne doit pas être confondue avec la fertilité de la forêt ou de la Terre, et l'ensemble de ces trois règles est révélé être associé avec ce principe. Cet essai par conséquent analyse les croyances se rattachant à la menstruation du point de vue indigène et les trouve inconsistantes avec cette interprétation des croyances qui indiquent la contamination intrinsèque de la femme, explication commune dans la littérature.