An Anthropological View on the Taboo Incest as a Mean for Maintaining Social and Family Order

Rachel Sharaby

doi:10.4236/aa.2019.94012

Home > Journals > Social Sciences & Humanities > AA

Advances in Anthropology > Vol.9 No.4, November 2019

An Anthropological View on the Taboo Incest as a Mean for Maintaining Social and Family Order ()

Rachel Sharaby

Department of Sociology, Ashkelon Academic College, Ashkelon, Israel.

DOI: 10.4236/aa.2019.94012 PDF HTML XML 584 Downloads 1,133 Views

Abstract

Incest was and is a universal taboo in human society. It is stigmatized as a deviation and leads to sanctions, in particular when minors are involved. Oral and written stories and narratives are stories that interpret and shape reality through the prism of power relations in society. In the present study, I carried out narrative analysis of incest stories in Hebrew Bible texts, those primordial stories and myths that shaped human society today. The article shows that incest was taboo from the onset, and is one of the seven Noahide laws. However, the social order was undermined already after the story of Creation: consanguineous marriages; sexual relations between a son and his stepmother, between a father and his daughters, and between a father and his daughter-in-law. The analysis shows that the brevity and ambiguity that characterize the Hebrew Bible “invited” interpretations and legends which biblical sages wrote over the generations. As a result, the text became part of a dynamic unit that forms new creations out of dialogue with the Book. Furthermore, the text is expropriated from the time axis and also serves as a relevant cultural work today. The feminist interpretation that attributes an important position to the reader enables reading that serves the feminist ideology and turns attention to subversive possibilities.

Keywords

Taboo, Sexual Abuse of Children, Culture, Narrative, Biblical Text, Feminist Interpretation

Share and Cite:

Sharaby, R. (2019) An Anthropological View on the Taboo Incest as a Mean for Maintaining Social and Family Order. Advances in Anthropology, 9, 169-189. doi: 10.4236/aa.2019.94012.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

References

[1]	Ali Khan, F. Z., & Mazhar, S. B. (2018). Current Trends of Consanguineous Marriages and Its Association with Socio-Demographic Variables in Pakistan. International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 7, 1699-1705. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20181898
[2]	Ambrosio, G. (2018). On Incest: Psychoanalytic Perspectives. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429477966
[3]	Amit, Y. (2000). Likro Sipur Mikrai (To Read a Biblical Story). Tel-Aviv: Ministry of Defense (Hebrew).
[4]	Amit, Y. (2009). Narrative Analysis: Meaning, Context and Origins of Genesis. In J. M. LeMon, & K. H. Richards (Eds.), Method Matters: Essays on the Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible (pp. 271-291). Atlanta, GA: Society of Biblical Literature.
[5]	Baird, P. A., & McGillivray, B. (1982). Children of Incest. The Journal of Pediatrics, 101, 854-857. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(82)80347-8
[6]	Bar-Yosef, R. (2007). Sociologia Shel Ha’misphacha le’or Shinuyim Chevratiim Ve’chidushim Biotechnologim (Sociology of the Family in Light of Social Changes and Biotechnological Innovations). In M. Adar-Bunis (Ed.), Mishpachot Be’reiya Sociologit Ve’antripologit [Families from a Sociological and Anthropological Viewpoint] (pp. 255-279). Raanana: The Open University. (Hebrew)
[7]	Bateson, P. (2005). Inbreeding Avoidance and Incest Taboo. In A. P. Wolf, & H. Durham (Eds.), Inbreeding, Incest and the Incest Taboo (pp. 23-37). Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
[8]	Bittles A. H. (2001). A Background Summary of Consanguineous Marriage. Edith Cowen University, Joondalup: Centre for Human Genetics.
[9]	Bittles, A. H. (2012). Consanguinity in Context. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139015844
[10]	Brooks, P. (1994). Psychoanalysis and Storytelling. Oxford, UK and Cambridge, MA: Blackwell.
[11]	Brosh, B. (2016). Dmut Transformatia shel Hamelech/Dmut Hamelech Hanehefecht (Transformation Figure of the King/Transforming Figure of the King). Beit Mikrah, 61, 31-73. (Hebrew)
[12]	Butler-Kisber, L. (2018). Qualitative Inquiry. Canada: McGill University.
[13]	Carlson, B. E., MacIol, K., & Schneider, J. (2006). Sibling Incest: Reports from Forty-one Survivors. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 15, 19-34.
[14]	Chase, S. (2005). Narrative Inquiry. In N. Denzin, & Y. Lincoln (Eds.), The Handbook of Qualitative Research (pp. 651-679). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
[15]	Clandinin, D. J. (2007). Handbook of Narrative Inquiry. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
[16]	Dobbs, D. (2010). The Risks and Rewards of Royal Incest. National Geographic Magazine, 218, 1-60.
[17]	Drori, M. (2012). Haonesh al Gilui Arayot Bemishpat Haivri Vebemishpat Hayisraeli (The Punishment for Incest in Jewish Law and in Israeli Law). In A. Hacohen, & M. Vigoda (Eds.), Ki Tavoh Portion (Vol. 409). (Hebrew) http://www.daat.ac.il/mishpat-ivri/skirot/skira.asp?id=206
[18]	Durham, W. H. (2005). Assessing the Gaps in Westermarck’s Theory. In A. P. Wolf, & H. Durham (Eds.), Inbreeding, Incest and the Incest Taboo (pp. 121-138). Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
[19]	El Guindi, F. (2018). Properties of Kinship Structure: Transformational Dynamics of Suckling, Adoption and Incest. In W. Shapiro (Ed.), Focality and Extension in Kinship (pp.177-201). Canberra, Australia: Australian National University Press. https://doi.org/10.22459/FEK.04.2018.05
[20]	Enoch, Y. (2000). Mavo Le’sociologia (Introduction to Sociology). Tel-Aviv: The Open University.
[21]	Etzioni, L. (2010). Haim Ha’psichologia Yechola Le’shamesh Ke“Mekadem Hagana”? (Can Psychology Serve as “Promoting Protection”?) Shaarei Mishpat, 5, 71-130. (Hebrew)
[22]	Fessler, D. M., & Navarrete, D. C. (2004). Third-Party Attitudes toward Sibling Incest: Evidence for Westermarck’s Hypothesis. Evolution and Human Behavior, 25, 277-294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2004.05.004
[23]	Freud, S. (1950). Totem and Taboo. New York: Norton.
[24]	Friedman, D. (2000). Ha’razachta Vegam Yarashta: Mishpat, Musar Ve’chevra Be’sipurei Ha’mikra (You Have Both Murdered and Inherited: Law, Morality and Society in the Biblical Stories). Tel-Aviv: Dvir. (Hebrew)
[25]	Greydanus, D. E., & Merrick, J. (2017). Incest: Child Sexual Abuse within the Family. International Journal of Child and Adolescent Health, 10, 275-284.
[26]	Grossman, J. (2015). Galui Vemutzpan (Overt and Hidden). Tel-Aviv: Hakibbutz Hameuchad. (Hebrew)
[27]	Herman, J. L. (2012). Father-Daughter Incest. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvjnrv84
[28]	Hirsch, D. (2010). Claude Lévi-Strauss. In N. Gertz (Ed.), Teoriyot Ve’gishot Bechker Ha’tarbut (Theories and Approaches in Culture Research) (pp. 71-74). Raanana: The Open University. (Hebrew)
[29]	Hopkins, K. (1980). Brother-Sister Marriage in Roman Egypt. Comparative Studies in Society and History, 22, 303-354. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0010417500009385
[30]	Jacobs-Kayam, A., & Lev-Wiesel, R. (2019). In Limbo: Time Perspective and Memory Deficit among Female Survivors of Sexual Abuse. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00912
[31]	Kinnear, K. (2007). Childhood Sexual Abuse. New York: ABC-Clio.
[32]	Krippendorff, K. (2013). Content Analysis. An Introduction to Its Methodology (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
[33]	Levi-Strauss, C. (1969). The Elementary Structures of Kinship. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
[34]	Malinowski, B. (1927). Sex and Repression in Savage Society. London: Harcourt Brace.
[35]	Meyers, C. (2008). Women in Ancient Israel-An Overview. In T. Cohn Eskenazi, & A. L. Weiss (Eds.), The Torah: A Women’s Commentary (pp. 41-47). New York: Women of Reform Judaism URJ Press.
[36]	Miller, H. (1990). Narrative. In F. Lentricchia, & T. McLaughlin (Eds.), Critical Terms of Literary Studies. Chicago, IL: Chicago University Press.
[37]	Morrill, M. (2014). Sibling Sexual Abuse: An Exploratory Study of Long-Term Consequences for Self-Esteem and Counseling Considerations. Journal of Family Violence, 29, 205-213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-013-9571-4
[38]	Nitzan, J. (2002). Segulot Ha’sipur Ha’mikrai (Attributes of the Biblical Story). Morashtenu, 15, 153-165. (Hebrew)
[39]	Petersen, J. (2004). Reading Women’s Stories. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.
[40]	Rank, O. (1992). The Incest Theme in Literature and Legend. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.
[41]	Riessman, C. K. (2008). Narrative Methods for the Human Sciences. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
[42]	Rosman, A., Rubel, P., & Weisgrau, M. (2009). The Tapestry of Culture: An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. Plymouth, UK: AltaMira Press.
[43]	Samet, E. (2004). Iyunim Be’parshat Ha’shavua (Studies of the Weekly Portion) (Vol. 2). Jerusalem: Ma’alot. (Hebrew)
[44]	Samet, E. (2005). Encyclopedia Yehudit Daat-Hasipur Ha’mikrai; Iyunim Be’parshat Ha’shavua (Jewish Encycolopedia Daat-the Biblical Story; Studies of the Weekly Portion) (Hebrew). http://www.daat.ac.il/he-il/tanach/parashat-shavua/%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%91%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%A9%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%A9%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A2-%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%91-%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%97%D7%A0%D7%9F-%D7%A1%D7%9E%D7%98-%D7%A1%D7%93%D7%A8%D7%94-%D7%A9%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%94
[45]	Sarmiento de Gamboa, P. (2007). The History of the Incas. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press.
[46]	Seligman, Z., & Solomon, Z. (2004). Hasod Veshivro: Sugiot Begilui Arayot (The Secret and Its Shattering: Problems in Incest). Tel-Aviv: Hakibbutz Hameuchad. (Hebrew)
[47]	Shakeshaft, C. (2004). Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Synthesis of the Literature (p. 22). Boston, MA: US Department of Education.
[48]	Sharaby, R. (2015). Familial Aspects in the Marriage Rites of Ethiopian Jews. Peamim, 141, 105-137. (Hebrew)
[49]	Shemesh, Y. (2010). Eina Reuya Le’hagana: Eshet Potiphar, Heker Ha’mikrai Ve’hahakira Ha’feministit (Not Worthy of Defending: Potiphar’s Wife, Biblical Research and the Feminist Investigation). Beit Mikrah, 55, 46-76. (Hebrew)
[50]	Shepher, J. (1983). Male Election among Second-Generation Kibbutz Adolescents and Adults: Incest Avoidance and Negative Imprinting. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 1, 293-307. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01638058
[51]	Simchai, D., & Shor, E. (2013). Arayot Ve’nemerim Ba’kibutzim: Retia Minit Ve’meshicah Bekerev Yeladim Shegadlu Bebatei Megurim Ba’kibutzim (Lions and Tigers in the Kibbutz: Sexual Deterrence and Attraction among Children Who Grew up in Living Quarters in the Kibbutz). Megamot, 49, 106-133. (Hebrew)
[52]	Smith, B., & Sparkes, A. (2009). Narrative Inquiry in Sport and Exercise Psychology: What Can It Mean, and Why Might We Do It. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 10, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2008.01.004
[53]	Spector-Mersel, G. (2011). Hamechkar Hanarativi Keparadigmat Mechkar Parshanit (Narrative Research as an Interpretive Research Paradigm). Shevilei Mechkar, 17, 63-72. (Hebrew)
[54]	Staal, J. (2017). Applied Cultural and Social Studies Are Needed for a Sustainable Reduction of Genetic Disease Incidence. European Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 2, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.20897/ejsa.201701
[55]	Stav, S. (2010). Avot Vebanot: Hamilkud Shel Gilui Arayot (Fathers and Daughters: The Entrapment of Incest). Teoriya Vebikoret, 37, 69-95. (Hebrew)
[56]	Stein, D. (2013). Noach, Mishpachto Ve’chayot Acherot: Ha’midrash, Ha’sifrut Ha’amamit Ve’parshanut Ha’sipur Ha’mikrai (Noah, His Family and Other Animals: The Midrash, the Folk Literature and Exegesis of the Biblical Story). Mechkarei Yerushalayim Be’sifrut Ivrit, 25, 87-105. (Hebrew)
[57]	Stiebert, J. (2016). First-Degree Incest and the Hebrew Bible: Sex in the Family. London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark.
[58]	Szwarcberg, S. (2001). Variables in Delayed Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 71, 332-341. https://doi.org/10.1037/0002-9432.71.3.332
[59]	Trible, P. (1976). Depatriarchalizing in Biblical Interpretation. In E. Koltun (Ed.), The Jewish Woman: New Perspectives (pp. 217-240). New York: Schodken Books.
[60]	Turner, J., Jonathan H., & Maryanski, A. (2015). Incest, Origins of the Taboo. New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315633985
[61]	Tuval-Mashiach, R. (2009). Sub Text Ve’context: Mabat Narativi al Dialog (Sub-Text and Context: Narrative View of Dialogue). Analiza Irgunit, 14, 7-16. (Hebrew)
[62]	Tuval-Mashiach, R., & Spector-Mersel, G. (2010). Mechkar Narativi (Narrative Research). Jerusalem: Magnes. (Hebrew)
[63]	Watkins, B., & Bentovim, A. (1992). The Sexual Abuse of Male Children and Adolescents: A Review of Current Research. Journal of Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry, 33, 197-248. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.1992.tb00862.x
[64]	Weiss, Z. (2008). Limud Ha’mikra Ke’i Havana (Learning the Bible as a Misunderstanding). Hagut, 8, 141-163. (Hebrew)
[65]	Westermarck, E. (1981). The History of Human Marriage. London: Macmillan.
[66]	Wolf, A. P. (2005). Introduction. In A. P. Wolf & H. Durham (Eds.), Inbreeding, Incest and the Incest Taboo (pp. 1-23). Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
[67]	Wolf, A. P. (2017). Incest Avoidance and the Incest Taboos, Two Aspects of Human Nature. Sexuality and Culture, 21, 323-329. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-015-9327-9
[68]	Wolf, A. P., & Durham, W. H. (2004). Inbreeding, Incest and the Incest Taboo: The State of Knowledge at the Turn of the Century. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
[69]	Zahar, Y. (2008). Bnot Lot (Lot’s Daughters). Telalei Orot, 14, 63-72. (Hebrew)
[70]	Zvi-Gilat, I. (2018). Rov Beilot Achar Ha’baal Be’halacha Yehudit-Atzimat Eynayim oh Re’iya Mefukachat (Most Intercourses after the Husband in Jewish Halakha-Turning a Blind Eye or Sound Viewpoint). In A. Gottlieb (Ed.), Olamot Nifgashim (Meeting of Worlds) (pp. 249-266). Ramat Gan: Bar-Ilan University. (Hebrew)