Rituals of Manhood: Male Initiation in Papua New Guinea

by Gilbert Herdt

Rituals of Manhood provides some of the most dramatic and richly textured accounts of ritual passages known to anthropologists of the late twentieth century. When in an earlier time anthropologists and sociologists described collective initiation rituals, the political and gender aspects of these practices were seldom underscored. Today, the power relationships of the body and domination, and the social arena of gender politics are widely regarded as critical to the cultural meaning and interpretation.

Genres: Anthropology

408 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Gilbert Herdt is a cultural anthropologist, Director of the Program in Human Sexuality Studies at San Francisco State University, where he is also Professor of Human Sexuality Studies and Anthropology. His publications include nearly 30 single and edited books, and more than 100 scientific papers.