Nisa essay
For Westerners, especially Americans, comprehending and appreciating a culture almost completely opposite their own is a large challenge. Majorie Shostak wanted to paint a portrait of the !Kung Bushman of Africa so that her readers could gain the same understanding of their people as she had by living with them. As an artist would, she went to see and experience the !Kung lifestyle in person. You can't paint a true representation of a landscape from a picture or description of it, you have to be there and absorb it first hand. One of the more difficult aspects of African tribal culture to understand is often the role of women. Gender roles in family life, marriage, and daily responsibilities sharply contrast those we are used to. However, through her interviews and day-to-day interaction Shostak paints us a picture that is so vivid and true, it is impossible to put her book down and still hold on to the same prejudices and geocentric attitudes we often carry with us. The most important responsibilities of a !Kung woman are caring for the children and providing food for the family. In an average day women will gather between fifteen and thirty pounds of vegetables. They carry the food and their children with them as the
The behavior of a young boy does not correlate to how he will behave in situations as a man (84). There is a rather remarkable standard of equality among the !Kung men and women. Maybe if our lives were a little more simplified we could let nature run its course and truly enjoy what life has to offer. However, this does not lessen the importance of the men's job of hunting. There aren't even word in their language for the terms "tomboy" and "sissy". I feel our society could learn from the !Kung. When they reach adolescence they begin to accompany the men on hunts, but are kept out of unnecessary danger. Boys are not looked down upon for being afraid when they are young. The novel allowed me to put myself in the shoes of a !Kung woman and imagine my life and role as they would be. Hunting skills are developed early on as a child, sometimes as early as toddler age. Our idea of gender roles and how boys and girls should play versus that of the !Kung is also very different. As for the issue where the power resides, the !Kung differ from most cultures in the world. If the bird was caught, I'd bring it home and my older brother would take the feathers off" (91).
Common topics in this essay:
Bushman Africa,
Kung Maybe,
Besa Nisa,
Kung Kung,
,
Majorie Shostak,
opposite own,
gender roles,
kung culture,
women gather,
culture understand,
kung woman,
|
Acceptance Essays
