ABSTRACT
In the literature on the peoples of lowland South America, it is hard to find a clear account of matters of gender. It is sometimes assumed that relations between men and women in lowland South America are basically antagonistic and predicated on actual or threatened violence by men against women. Proponents of this view characterize the small-scale societies there as 'patriarchal', based upon male control of women. The charter for this control - or alternatively its psychological expression - is said to be 'myths of matriarchy' - stories of a time of female 'rule' that was overturned by men - and the ultimate male sanction against women is said to be the threat of ritual gang rape.
