Jacques1000 -> RE: for those of You with female subs (11/2/2005 7:08:48 PM)
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Yes. These practices are endemic in Melanesian, particularly amongst the tribes of the Papuan highlands. There are screeds of cultural relativist arguments about the merits of menstruation huts. One the one hand, some argue that it enshrines a omen's fertility and gives her an opportunity to learn sacred tribal knowledge about women/mother hood. One the other, some would argue that segregation and ostracism is a marker of their inferiority. From my reading (i.e the Samba and others) which is not extensive, there are elements of both that make sense to me. However, cultural attitudes to practices need to be made carefully. Fore example, if I was a senior in one of the Aboriginal tribes of Northern Australia, I could expect sub-incision as a rite de passage. I had an american colleague who spent some time amongst them and had this procedure (which is essentially a slit from the frenulum along the underside of the penis) but i'd be weary about judging it, except as you did, say "it is not for me"
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