The language of gender: Problems and counter-problems in anthropological description

Abstract: 

This is a work in progress paper, imagined as a kind of clearing ground.  What has to be cleared up, or out of the way, are formulations of gender and sexuality that at one stage seemed to be solutions to problems in the conceptualization of Melanesian social life.  Certain renderings of the ‘partible person’ or ‘androgyne’ are among are among those I have propagated, and they have since become problems too.  Perhaps the fineness of the line between maintaining responsibility for one’s words and recognizing when they have had their day justifies the personal nature of this account.

Professor Dame Marilyn Strathern FBA | The British Academy

Prof. Dame Marilyn Strathern is Emeritus Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge. Her work on kinship, gender, audit culture, reproductive technologies, ecological crises, and temporalities has expanded our understanding by juxtaposing indigenous and modern practices and thought styles. Her interdisciplinary approach has enriched dialogues across various fields, fostering a holistic understanding of social phenomena. 

Her seminal works on kinship and gender challenge conventional paradigms and offer new frameworks for understanding social relations. Her concept of the "partible person" in Melanesian societies, where individuals are composites of multiple relationships, contrasts sharply with Western notions of individualism, becoming central to anthropological theory. In "The Gender of the Gift" (1988), Strathern critiques Western feminist frameworks, suggesting that gender relations in Melanesia are more fluid and multifaceted. "After Nature: English Kinship in the Late Twentieth Century" (1992) highlights the interplay between intimacy, scientific developments, and social practices. "Relations: An Anthropological Account" (2020) explores the complexities of social relations. "Partial Connections" (1991) shows how societies have unique ways of making connections, stressing contextual analysis over universalism.

Strathern's work influences gender studies, sociology, law, theology, and science and technology studies. In "Audit Cultures: Anthropological Studies in Accountability, Ethics, and the Academy" (2000), she examines audit culture's impact on institutions, shaping acting and expectations. "Commons and Borderlands: Working Papers on Interdisciplinarity, Accountability and the Flow of Knowledge" (2004) continues this inquiry. 

Prof. Dame Strathern has held numerous leadership positions, advancing anthropology and the broader academic community. Honoured with many prestigious awards, she actively participates in public forums, media, and expert teams.