Growing Up Sexually

URARINA (Peru)

Index → Americas → South America → Peru → Urarina

Also featured: Sharanahua, Machiguenga, Amahuaca, Cashinahua, Shipibo; ®Aymara)

Dean[1]:

“The Urarina’s preference for local endogamy is conducive to a pattern of marriage uniting persons across generations. I have seen girls as young as 10 marry men more than 30 years their senior, as well as pubescentboys marrying women 20 years their senior. Age differences between partners is a critical factor determining their respective affinal obligations. The achievement of the ideal 'tranquil marriage' (rautujiyáka ijtáña) is a complex process fraught with many difficulties and indeterminacies”.

Janssen, D. F., Growing Up Sexually. VolumeI. World Reference Atlas. 0.2 ed. 2004. Berlin: Magnus Hirschfeld Archive for Sexology

Last revised: Sept 2004