ABSTRACT

This chapter looks at relations between sexual arenas in a village in Iran through aspects of the social and physical space of women which are not stressed by informants. In the village of a partially settled section of Doshman Ziari division of the Mamasani tribal group it was emphasised that women were physically and conceptually excluded from the male arena of discussion and decision-making, and should observe restraint in movement and behaviour. The women’s arena, no less public than the men’s, was during daylight; the men’s was after dark. Success in preventing a relationship from becoming one of subordination depended on the continued support of close kin. The balance between solidarity with close agnates and links with distant kin became especially important when activities of the male domain involved negotiation and co-operation between several groups of patrikin. The importance of the residence pattern for the men was seen in 1976.