The !Kung San hold sex in very high regard, believing it is as important as food to a person; it is said that just as people cannot live without eating, so too can a person die from sexual hunger (Shostak, 1983, p.265). Sex is talked about in !Kung San culture extensively, often being discussed in great detail and for humorous purposes. It is common for !Kung San band members to discuss and joke to great length about each others body parts and sexual practices (Shostak, 1983, p.265). The !Kung San also understand that sex has the ability to ignite and release incredibly powerful feelings and emotions inside a person, sometimes leading to dangerous and deadly confrontations in the case of an affair occurring and being discovered.
Affairs among young, married women are fairly common. As most affairs, once discovered, tend to end in violence, so great care and caution is taken on the couple's part to not arouse any suspicion. Meetings and gift exchanges are held a great distance away from the camp. In addition, the unfaithful spouse recognizes that one's spouse must always come first, regardless of how passionate the affair must be (Shostak, 1983, p.276). No indicators must be given that could suggest that an affair is occurring. Spending too much time away from camp, responding angrily or sullenly to a spouses comments, or rejecting spousal attempts at bonding can all be signs that a spouse is being unfaithful.
I will further discuss this topic in my next post.
Shostak, M. (1983). Nisa: The Life and Words of a ǃKung Woman. New York: Vintage Books. Retrieved from: http://books.google.com/books?id=IQ5NWIQpXNkC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ViewAPI#v=onepage&q&f=false
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