First published in 1947; the second edition of The City of Women was published in 1994 with a new Introduction by anthropologist Sally Cole. That second edition is now available again after being out of print for several years."[The City of Women] works on many levels: it is a study of candomblé; the Afro-Brazilian religion of Bahia; of the role of women in candomblé; and of race relations in Brazil. . . . The City of Women has much to offer anyone interested in Brazilian history; comparative race and gender relations; the history of anthropology; and the relationships between researcher and subject in anthropology and oral history. . . ."Because of the importance of women in traditional candomblé; this Afro-Brazilian religion was incompatible with patriarchy. Possession by the gods; the central component of the religious practice; was the domain of women: men supported the candomblé temples financially; but did not run them. . . ."The City of Women ought to be on the 'must read' list of anyone preparing to do field research; especially in ethnography or oral history; in a culture different from his or her own."--H-Net; Mary Ann Mahony; Associate Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University.
#4723352 in Books 2016-08-31 2016-08-31Original language:English 9.50 x 8.50 x 1.00l; #File Name: 0824867726248 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great read. A continual learning experience.By HoalohaAloha;I enjoyed the book. I believe it is best read in bits and pieces; dipping in here and there.The title; to me; appears somewhat misleading. It appears to define a destination of knowledge you will have after reading. Yet; the number of people spoken to not that great.There is also the fact only so much culture; behavior and ways of experiencing reality can be orally handed down generation to generation since Captain Cook arrived in the late 1700s. To presume the old ways are still alive and teachable is expecting a lot. To be immersed in the enculturation and Pavlovian aspects of living the “Hawaiian Knowing†way is quite a goal.Actually; improbable. Yes; one can learn aspects and pieces one can apply in their life; yet to presume full knowledge is an unattainable expectation.Therefore much of this book is "colored†by modern thinking; media stories of outrage; pain and the westernization of Hawaiian modes of behavior and thought. This alters the interviewees thoughts and opinions. Some “talk story†interviews are positive and others repeat the same stories of Hawaii being an occupied country where the occupiers impose their values; mores and behaviors upon the Hawaiians. Yet there seems to be little realization of the true effects colonization had of erasing many Hawaiian modes of behavior.**In fairness it would be difficult without knowledge of how life was before Cook. One can't compare what one hasn't experienced.**To me; this is important. When a country is colonized the occupying powers impose their belief; language and behavioral systems on the occupied. It is an attempt to have the occupied people act more as the occupiers so as to control the population. It is a historical pattern which in modern times is not so much being done by occupation of land but occupation of minds through the media to create behaviors and beliefs which advocate how Western ideals and behaviors are the best.A better title of the book for me might have been: “My search for identity as a Hawaiian hoping to modify my behavior and thought to my idealization of what I believe is being Hawaiian; how to make that "Hawaiian Knowing" ways part of my thoughts and behavior; and what I learned during that search.â€This title is more journey than destination and appears to be what the author is actually writing. The word 'journey' is used in the title yet in the manner which has one believe the journey is complete and the destination has been attained; which cannot be verified by others.The title I suggested seems more a sense of come along for the ride and read I what I experienced. Perhaps you too will learn something.Enjoy the ride. I did and still do.Take the best; leave the rest.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A friend's epiphanyBy David A.I attended High School with the author. A woman of Hawaiian heritage; she was adopted and raised by Anglo parents stateside. She experienced racism at school but overcame it and spent many years teaching and promoting understanding of Asian cultures. Everyone at school called her "Pineapple"; which seems innocuous; but in the end its really just a racial slur. The book is a please. Leilani has published a winner!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy NvSmileExcellent!
