TY - JOUR
T1 - The power of the blood
T2 - myths and practices surrounding menstruation in Indonesian diamond mining
AU - Priandhita, Riza
AU - Lahiri-Dutt, Kuntala
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 SOAS University of London.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - This paper is a feminist investigation into the beliefs and practices surrounding menstruation among traditional artisanal diamond mining women in the Muslim Banjar ethnic community in rural parts of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Based on feminist ethnographic field methods, it investigates how these women interpret the religious and cultural restrictions in their everyday lives as miners, and how their beliefs influence their attitudes toward diamond mining. While the women have different economic and social backgrounds, and have experienced and experience menstruation differently, they are all involved in diamond mining. This article shows that, contrary to popular belief, menstrual blood is considered lucky in this traditional diamond mining community, and it considers the wider implications for a deeper understanding of gender in mining.
AB - This paper is a feminist investigation into the beliefs and practices surrounding menstruation among traditional artisanal diamond mining women in the Muslim Banjar ethnic community in rural parts of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Based on feminist ethnographic field methods, it investigates how these women interpret the religious and cultural restrictions in their everyday lives as miners, and how their beliefs influence their attitudes toward diamond mining. While the women have different economic and social backgrounds, and have experienced and experience menstruation differently, they are all involved in diamond mining. This article shows that, contrary to popular belief, menstrual blood is considered lucky in this traditional diamond mining community, and it considers the wider implications for a deeper understanding of gender in mining.
KW - Banjar women
KW - Indonesia
KW - Menstruation beliefs
KW - diamond mining
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85158854324&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/0967828X.2023.2197256
DO - 10.1080/0967828X.2023.2197256
M3 - Article
SN - 0967-828X
VL - 31
SP - 72
EP - 86
JO - South East Asia Research
JF - South East Asia Research
IS - 1
ER -