Weaving_the_Past_ Two

Women in Mesoamerica and the Andes

Visual Imagery and Gender Ideologies

• Prehispanic representations: Female deities like Coyolxauhqui provide insights into indigenous women’s lives in Mesoamerica and the Andes before European arrival.

• Interpretative challenges: Scholars face difficulties in reconstructing women’s identities and agency from visual imagery.

• Gendered worlds explored: The visual materials highlight complex roles of women across different cultural contexts in prehispanic times.

Mesoamerican Societies

• Diverse gender arrangements: The Classic (CE 150-900) and Postclassic (CE 900-1521) periods present a continuum of gender roles, influenced by cultural factors ranging from egalitarian to hierarchical.

• Cultural variety: Societies included hunter-gatherer groups and more hierarchical urban groups like the Nahua, showing varied social valuations of women.

• Examples of gender patterns:

  • Maya: Displayed pronounced gender asymmetries.

  • Mixtecs (Ñudzahui): Exhibited some of the most egalitarian gender arrangements.

Andean Gender Relations

• Female Supernaturals: Andean cultures held a significant history of female deities, particularly before the rise of the Inka, suggesting early notions of gender complementarity.

• Cultural shifts with Inka rise: Gender roles became more pronounced, moving towards greater male authority.

Gender Structures Among Northern and Central Mexican Peoples

• Migration and cultural blending: After the fall of Tula, migrations influenced social identities and it is unclear from which northern peoples the central Mexican groups emerged.

• Social organization: Northern cultures exhibited relative gender egalitarianism in societal decision-making.

• Archaeological discoveries: Evidence from Teotihuacan, an important city, shows that it was home to significant female deities, with rituals reflecting complex spiritual dynamics.

• Teotihuacan governance: The existence of a powerful female deity suggests a more layered understanding of gender dynamics beyond simple male authority.

Gender Dynamics of the Mexica (Aztec) Empire

• Martialized polity: Emphasized warfare values, which shaped gender roles extensively.

• Cultural rites: Gender-specific birth and death rituals define roles; boys align with military valor, while girls with domesticity.

• Women’s participation in warfare: Rare instances of women fighting existed, but they were generally excluded from military ranks.

• Cultural symbols: Gender concepts were linked with strength for men and subjugation for women.

• Domains of work: Women partook in weaving, food preparation, and crafts; they had some control over their labor and associated authority.

• Marketplace roles: Engaged in trade, held positions within religious institutions, and supervised craft guilds.

• Kinship implications: Women contributed to and shaped kinship relations, with significance attributed to maternal lineage.

Ñudzahui Gender Complementarity

• Higher status of women: Visual depictions reflect a higher valuation of women compared to their Nahua counterparts; participation across social structures shows gender roles were more complementary.

• Complementarity in rituals and roles: Women played vital political, social, and religious roles within Ñudzahui societies.

Maya Gender Systems

• Visual culture of women: Present less frequently than men, mostly in secondary roles; however, their existence indicates a key part of family and social networks.

• Patrilineal descent: Predominantly male-centered, but also shows flexibility in women’s rights to property and dual parentage inupbringing.

• Everyday contributions: Maya women participated actively in economic activities, which paralleled those of men, though with more structured societal limitations.

Andean Cultures and Gender

• Cultural diversity: Highland societies like Moche and Tiwanaku detail a history of female supernatural figures alongside male counterparts.

• Egalitarian roles in early societies: Evidence suggests women fulfilled significant societal contributions pre-Inka, reflecting broader concepts of balance.

Conclusion

• Complexities of gender frameworks: Varied gender systems existed across different indigenous societies. The Mexica model was cognatic but leaned towards male dominance, while the Ñudzahui showed co-leadership practices. The Maya exhibited significant male authority while maintaining flexible contributions from women.

• Impact of Inka conquest: The Inka reinforced male authority while enabling women's leadership; roles evolved under colonial pressures, resulting in complicating gender dynamics previously established.

Comparison of Gender Roles in Inka and Mexica Societies

Inka Society:

• Gender Authority: The Inka reinforced male authority within social structures, aligning with a patriarchal system. Women's leadership roles evolved, especially under colonial pressures, but the primary structure remained male-dominated.

• Cultural Values: Although there were notable female deities suggesting an initial balance in gender roles, societal roles became more pronounced with the rise of the Inka.

• Complementarity: Women's participation existed alongside men in various roles, primarily in domestic and religious spheres, contributing significantly to their communities.

Mexica (Aztec) Society:

• Martialized Polity: Gender roles were heavily influenced by warfare values, which predominantly favored men. Women were often excluded from military ranks.

• Cultural Rites: Gender-specific rituals defined roles distinctly; men were associated with military valor, while women were tied to domestic responsibilities.

• Marketplace and Kinship Roles: Women engaged actively in trade, held positions in religious institutions, and had control over their labor. Women also shaped kinship relations, focusing on maternal lineage.

Similarities:

• Gender Division: Both societies had distinct roles for men and women, with men generally holding higher status and authority.

• Economic Participation: Women in both societies contributed to the economy, engaging in weaving, food preparation, and trade, though the extent of their involvement and recognition differed.

• Cultural Symbolism: Gender roles in both cultures were defined by cultural rites and rituals, reinforcing traditional values and societal expectations.

Conclusion:

While the Inka leaned towards reinforcing male authority and the Mexica emphasized a martialized society, both exhibited clear gender divisions and roles that engaged women in significant economic activities, highlighting the complexities of gender dynamics in Indigenous societies.

Similarities and Differences in Gender Status and Gender Complementarity in Inka versus Mexica Societies

Similarities:

• Gender Status: In both societies, men generally held higher status and authority compared to women.

• Economic Roles: Women in both cultures actively participated in economic activities, including weaving, food preparation, and trade.

• Cultural Rites: Both societies defined gender roles through cultural rites and rituals that reinforced traditional values and societal expectations.

Differences:

• Inka Society:

  • Gender Authority: The Inka reinforced a patriarchal system with pronounced male authority; women's leadership roles evolved but mostly remained subordinate.

  • Complementarity: Women had significant roles alongside men, particularly in domestic and religious spheres, contributing to the community's welfare, suggesting some degree of gender complementarity.

• Mexica (Aztec) Society:

  • Martialized Polity: Gender roles were heavily influenced by military values, confining women primarily to domestic responsibilities and excluding them from military ranks altogether.

  • Cultural Rites: Specific cultural rites delineated strict roles for men and women, emphasizing male combat and women's domestic duties more starkly compared to the Inka.

Conclusion:

While both societies shared similarities in economic participation and cultural reinforcement of gender roles, the Inka exhibited a more pronounced gender complementarity, especially within domestic and religious spheres, compared to the Mexica's rigid gender roles dictated by martial values.