Thoughts on Incest
Incest is something I find to be abnormal but to different cultures it can be presented as apart of their tradition. Incest allows sexual behaviour between relatives. I find it really odd to practice incest because I know that is is genetically not healthy. The genetic variance is limited and may cause many disorder for offspring. In our society because the majority of us do not practice incest have a unified community with their thoughts as well as laws. The majority who consider incest to be wrong will dominate and can turn on those who practice incest considering them to be outcasts. One connection I have made to incest is the Sambia tribe of Papua New Guinea. This tribe is known for sexual behaviours between same sexes and incest. In this tribe the women are considered witches who are just there to bear children. Boys are considered to be superior and most prized in their culture. In order for their sons to be considered men they are obligated to go through certain tests. The stages in order to become real man are as followed: 1. Boys are removed from their mothers and into mens cults 2. Boys take in as much of their father’s semen which they consider to give them strength and endurance. 3. They are beaten and their noses are forcefully bled in order for them to be purified from their mothers.(Female contamination) 4. They marry brides which is chosen by father and are warned that females are clever. (It is allowed to marry a close relative such as first cousins, and aunts) 5. Nose must bleed for purification using sharp branches 6. When having a child he must stay away from the son for several year until he is ready to join the cult. The Sambia tribe is interesting to study and research about because their culture considers this normal and a way of life. Social cohesion is an important thing in a community and the Sambia tribe considers incest to be culture. Studies have showed it is genetically not healthy and people do judge, but we have to have a culturally relativistic attitude. We need to be able to accept certain terms in different societies and to be able to connect to the real world.
