2. Sex and the Anthropologist Sexuality in the field was treated as a joke, brushed aside with funny anecdotes about how to avoid “romantic encounters” or embarrassment (Ashkenazi and Markowitz 1999: 1). …every fieldwork situation will include numerous circumstances in which sexual relations between anthropologists and individuals in the field would be unethical and exploitative (Kullick 1995: 22).

3. Sexuality and anthropology: Marriage, kinship, exchange, power relations, etc Malinowski: “The sexual life of savages” 1929 Mead: “Coming of Age in Samoa: A Psychological Study of Primitive Youth for Western Civilization” 1928, “Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies’ 1935, “Male and Female: A Study of the Sexes in a Changing World” 1949

4. anthropology was reluctant to direct attention to their own sexuality Depersonalized objective behavior The ethnographer “free” of pre-conceived notions: empty vessel, “ethnocentric epoche” Self-negation of subjectivity Objectivity at all time: asexual anthropologist

5. Historical and institutional contexts: USA: emphasis on scientific objectivism required to record cultures UK: functionalist emphasis on ontology as opposed to epistemology Passive anthropologist was required free from subjective interference and contamination

6. This notion that the ethnographer was a detached gatherer of facts imposed constraints on the importance of personal behaviour and desires of both the locals and the anthropologist relations

7. 12.19.17. Got up at 7. Yesterday, under the mosquito net, dirty thoughts: Mrs.. (H.P); Mrs. C. and even Mrs. W…. I thought that even if E. R. M. had been here, this would not have satisfied me. Dirty thoughts about C. R. The doctrine of this man that you’re doing a woman a favour if you deflower her…(1967: 156).

8. Can ignoring the importance of sex in field research be theoretically and methodologically problematic?

9. *** Silence could obstruct the process of understanding the theoretical, methodological and personal consequences of sexual encounters, and desires, in the field

10. (Ashkenazi and Markowitz) Sexuality issues have become important because: Research on women, sex roles, gender ideology and sexuality became important subject matter of anthropology. The recognition of the centrality of subjectivity in understanding cultural meanings including sexual behaviour. By recognising subjectivity we have also recognised the imbalance of power in personal relationships

11. It becomes clear that: People do not accept the notion that the anthropologists in the field is mentally and cultural asexual Silencing of sexuality became a reflection of other types of silencing; shaping people into a mould Illuminates the politics of anthropology

12. Lack of attention of sexual matters involving researchers and informants reflects not only on societal avoidance of public discussion of issues surrounding sexual relations but also it reflects on the history of anthropology

13. Sexual drives have powerful influences on social behaviour (Winkelman 1999) Sexual intimacy: can help you manage your drives in particular contexts: Understand mores about sexual behaviour Problems: loosing objectivity going native Escape challenges in the new culture Find a safe identity Rapid language learning

14. By considering sexuality we learn that: Sexual relationships can play an important role in helping anthropologist adapt to and learn about another culture With time the priorities of the discipline are changing The main issue in anthropological understandings is experience: sexuality differ from culture to culture, from context to context and from person to person

15. Why is the discussion of sexuality and the anthropologists still considered risky? Fear of exposing people to activities still considered taboo Writing on a genre that blurs the boundaries between ethnography and autobiography invites criticism of self indulging, navel gazing, and lack of credibility May endanger carefully cultivated relationships with informants

16. Discussion questions Do sexual matters in field research have an impact in all types of anthropological understandings? What kind of an impact does sexuality have in anthropology today?